The Friendship Sloop Society's 44th Annual Regatta ROCKLAND-THOMASTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BURNHAM WELCOMES BOAT THE FRIENDSHIP SLOOP SOCIETY BUILDING TO & ROCKLAND, MAINE DESIGN July 27-29 11 BURNHAM COURT, P.O. BOX 541 Join the Friendship Sloop Society members for a public supper and free entertainment on Wednesday. The public is also welcome to ESSEX, MA 01929 attend breakfasts and skippers' meetings each morning, and visit (978) -768-2569 sloops dockside at the Public Landing. There will be races each day, and a parade of sloops on Wednesday (see page 4 for a full schedule). OR SEE OUR WEBSITE: OTHER SUMMER EVENTS burnhamboatbuilding.com July 4 Thomaston 4th of July TRADITIONAL WOODEN BOATS FOR COMMERCIAL PASSENGER July 10-11 North Atlantic Blues Festival AND PLEASURE USE August 4-8 IN ADDITION TO NEW BOATS WE Maine Lobster Festival www.mainelobsterfestival.com PROVIDE FRIENDS AND FRIENDSHIPS For more information on the area, contact the WITH NAUTICAL CONSULTING, AND Rockland-Thomaston Area Chamber of Commerce SHIPS TIMBER AS WELL AS P.O. Box 508 • Rockland, ME 04841 1-800-562-2529 or 207-596-0376 TRADITIONAL SAILS, SPARS E-mail: infotherealmaine.com • Web Site: http://www.therealmaine.com AND RIGGING Friendship Sloop Society Officers 2004 During the deep freeze of January 2004, the Executive Committee of the Friendship Sloop Society set out to secure the longevity of our fine organization. Each Committee member was given the names of approximately 20 sloop owners to survey. The purpose of the survey was to: • Connect with our membership • Learn what it is that keeps members coming back to events each year, or Commodore John B. Rand 20 Dryad Woods Rd, Raymond, ME 04071 what we could be doing differently to help retain and build our membership • Update our contact information for all members Vice-Commodore Charlie Burnham 30 Southern Ave., Essex, MA 01929 Secretary Caroline Phillips 72 Molasses Hill Rd., Brookfield, MA 01506 The long term goal of these efforts is to use the survey results to push our membership Treasurer Jonathan Leavy 4 Eden Ave., Newton, MA 02165 numbers well above 200 and to increase participation at our regattas. Newsletter Editor & Webmaster John Wojcik 347 Lincoln St., Norwell, MA 02061 We were successful at getting input from about 15 percent of the owners listed in the back Yearbook Editors Beth & Rich Langton 868 Cross Pt. Rd., Edgecomb, ME 04556 of the yearbook (a participation rate that exceeds most town meetings !) The survey results were telling, with four common themes being echoed from all compass points: Asst. Yearbook Editor Roger Duncan P.O. Box 66, East Boothbay, ME 04554 Publicity Chairman Bob Monk 14 Paulson Dr., Burlington, MA 01503 1. Include a non-racing venue at the regattas, such as a family sailing day. Membership Chairman Bob Monk Jr. 2. Welcome and mentor new members to speed the process of feeling 3 School Hill Lane, N. Reading MA 01864 comfortable with the group. Scholarship Chairman BillZuber 35A Tideview Lane, Friendship, ME 04547 3. Increase our publicity and invite the public to sail with us at regattas. Scholarship Treasurer David Bell 35 Pumpkin Cove Rd., New Hbr., ME 04554 4. Encourage local sailing (and other year round) events to make it easier for enthusiasts to participate and promote the history and tradition of Friendship Sloops. Coordinate Scholarship Secretary Caroline Zuber 35A Tideview Lane, Friendship, ME 04547 these events with other traditional sailing craft organizations to build momentum. Race Committee Chairman & David Graham 7 Batchelder Rd., Marblehead, MA 01945 Marblehead Regatta Chairman Taking action on these items will not happen overnight. However, the information is now available to us as we consider and plan for small changes from our tried and true method of Chesapeake Bay Race Chairman Tom Berry 3356 Runnymede P., NW Washington DC celebrating Friendships. We need to embrace well planned changes and seek out those who will New London Race Chairman JackVibber 5 Soljer Dr., Waterford, CT 06385 help us implement them. Keep an eye on our Newsletter and website ( http://www.fss.org/) to Southwest Harbor Race Chairman Miff Lauriat 47 East Ridge Rd., Southwest Hbr., ME 04679 follow progress and upcoming events. We welcome input from any and all on how best to keep our organization moving forward. Friendship Day Chairman Bill Zuber 35A Tideview Lane, Friendship, ME 04547 Chandlery Charipersons Bill &Kathy Whitney 75 Kingsbury St., Needham, MA 02192 Many thanks to our Race Committee, Support Vessels and crews, the Executive Committee and the general membership who put in the effort to make our regattas and events happen. A Original Sloops Chairman Harold Burnham 141 Main St., Essex, MA 01929 special thanks to the City of Rockland.The Rockland Harbormaster and dock crew, Share the Measurer Dick Salter 151 Bridge St., Manchester, MA 01944 Pride, the Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Lobster Festival (for our tent), and the dedicated Inspector of Mast Wedges Peter Toppan fundraising group that gives us an awesome dinner on Wednesday night! 26 Thomas Clapp Rd Scituate, MA 02066 Cannoneer Pamela Hooydonk P.O. Box 93, Spruce Head, ME See you on the Bay ! Piper Donald Duncan Southport, ME 04576 Honorary Members: William Danforth, Roger and Mary Duncan, John Gould, David Graham, Cyrus Hamlin, Marcia Morang, and Betty Roberts. 2004 Homecoming and Rendezvous 2004 Events of Friendship Sloop Society Schedule of Events in Rockland & Friendship July 10th & 11th New London Regatta • New London CT Contacts: Greg Roth, 510 Montauk Ave, New London, CT 06320 • 860-442-2747 Monday July 26 or Jack Vibber, 5 Soljer Dr., Waterford, CT 06385 • 860-442-7376 Sloops arrive in Rockland Harbor and tie up at the Public Landing (no charge). Moorings will probably be available on Monday afternoon at $20 per night. Call the Harbormaster Ed Glaser or the Assistant Harbor Master Pete Thibodeau on Channel 9. Tent, chairs and barbecue will be set up. July 24th Southwest Harbor Regatta • Southwest Harbor, ME Tuesday July 27 Contact: Miff Lauriat, 47 East Ridge Rd., Southwest Hbr., ME 04679 • 207-244-4313 9:00 AM Skippers Meeting under the tent 11:30 AM Race starts off the breakwater 4:30 PM Rowboat races - all ages welcome to participate July 26th -30th Homecoming Rendezvous and Regatta • Rockland, ME 5:00 PM BYO Barbecue under the tent Contact: John Rand, 20 Dyrad Woods Rd. Raymond, ME 04071 -207-655-4277 Wednesday July 28 or Charlie Burnham, 30 Southern Ave, Essex, MA 01921 • 978-768-7146 9:00 AM Skippers Meeting under the tent 10:30 AM Parade of Sloops Noon Races starts off the breakwater 4:00 PM Sloops on public display at the dock July 31st Friendship Day • Friendship, ME 6:00 PM Public dinner under the tent followed by Contact: Bill Zuber, 35A Tideview Lane, Friendship, ME 04547 • 207-354-8036 informal music and entertainment. Bring your own musical instrument. Thursday July 29 9:00 AM Skippers' Meeting under the tent August 14th & 15th Marblehead Regatta • Marblehead, MA 11:00 AM Race starts off breakwater Contact: David Graham, 7 Batchelder Rd., Marblehead, MA 01945 • 781-631-6680 4:00 PM Awards Ceremony or Charlie Burnham, 30 Southern Ave, Essex, MA 01921 -978-768-7146 6:00 PM BYO Barbecue under the tent Friday July 30 Day to sail or drive to Friendship September 4th Gloucester Schooner Festival • Gloucester, MA Contact: Gloucester Harbormaster Saturday July 31 9:OOAM Memorial Ceremony in the town of Friendship honoring deceased Sloop Society members and builders of Friendship sloops. Located at the Memorial stone (where the flagpole used to be) on Davis Point Loop. Directions on land: Take Harbor Rd south; at the fork bear left on to Davis Point. November 13th Annual Meeting The Memorial stone is next to Sloop Days Cottage. Note that Friendship Day has a road race starting at Best Western Merry Manor Inn 8:OOAM, so be careful of runners. 700 Main Street, South Portland, Maine Contact: Caroline Phillips, Secretary 72 Molasses Hill Rd. Brookfield, MA 01506 508-867-0503 Cover: Tern, built by Wilbur Morse c 1900 Dedication to Remembering Bill Danforth By Bill Danforth Roger Duncan For twenty years, from 1963 to 1983, Bill Danforth was Chairman of our Race Committee. He In looking back through 43 years presided over three races each year for a unique group of sailors: some of long experience; some of yearbooks I found that a number of very limited experience; some who knew the racing rules chapter and verse, many who had of issues have been dedicated to peo- some idea of some of the rules and a few whose idea of "right of way" was "don't you hit my boat." ple who have contributed to the Friendship Sloop Society. Some of Bill's first concern was for our safety. I cannot remember any storms, but he would often call off these people I knew, or knew about, a race or shorten a course if fog shut down. Then with radar antenna whirling, he would go in some of them were people I only search of errant sloops. learned of through the dedication of Before every race, skippers would gather on the wharf below the porch of the Roberts' house in the yearbook. In the Sloop Society, Friendship. There stood Bill and announced the course for the day, the precise time of the start where the focus in on sailing your and the weather prediction. We would all synchronize our watches with his and he would boat, it is often difficult to get to explain any confusion or misunderstanding of the racing rules such as the difference between port and starboard tacks, what you do if you hit a mark and the mysteries of buoy room.