THe Best of 2012: Tall Ship Timberwind New Beginnings

Photos and Story by Doug Mills

  It was a cool April morning.  When we arrived at the North End Shipyard on the north end of Rockland, Maine, there is a bit of rain in the air.  Today as has happened on this waterfront for over 200 years a schooner was hauled out of the water for a cleaning and repainting of the hull.

  The pilot schooner Timberwind arrived just after noon and is gently slipped into the railway cradle.  Once she is positioned just right, the cradle is hauled onto the shore ,as the rain begins to fall in earnest.  Half an hour later the cradle is on dry land ,as the rain soaks all the workers.
  Over the next week they will do whatever is needed to get her ready for the upcoming sailing season.
  It has been nearly 81 years since she was first launched in Portland, Maine in the year 1931.  Herbert Hoover was the president, US unemployment was at 8 Million.  In Germany, the National Socialist Party is gaining strength under the leadership of Adolf Hitler.
  Timberwind served as the Portland pilot until 1969 when she was replaced with a new diesel powered steel hulled pilot.  She was brought to Rockport and transformed to carry passengers for 3-6 day trips along the coast of Maine
  Much like his boat, captain Bob Tassi started a completely new life in 1998 when he moved his family from Nashville, where he was a successful music promoter, to Maine where he took a job as a deck hand on a local schooner.  He worked his way to Mate and soon to Captain.  Now he is the owner and captain of the Timberwind.  He is a long way from Nashville living out his dreams on the coast of Maine.

  The Timberwind sails out of the picturesque harbor of Rockport Maine carrying it's passengers on the vacation of a lifetime.  For more information on Timberwind visit: www.schoonertimberwind.com