Tall Ships Return to Portland!

Tens of thousands expected on Portland Waterfront this July

Portland, Maine - Sailing Ships Portland has announced a new maritime festival that is expected to bring tens of thousands of people and a fleet of tall ships to Portland's waterfront this summer.  The festival, called Iberdrola USA Tall Ships Portland 2015, will take place from July 18-20 on the Maine State Pier, Maine Wharf and at the Ocean Gateway Terminal.

The festivities will kick off with a dramatic parade of sail through Portland Harbor on Saturday, including historic vessels from as far away as Spain and the Cook Islands.  At least 8 large vessels are scheduled to visit Portland for the event, including the US Coast Guard barque Eagle, America’s own tall ship. At nearly 300', Eagle will be the biggest of the tall ships to tie up for the festival.

The ships will tie up along Portland's waterfront and visitors can tour these magnificent vessels on Sunday and Monday.

"The City of Portland is pleased to welcome a spectacular international fleet from the Atlantic coast and beyond.  Tall ships showcase our history, our hospitality and our working waterfront," said Mayor Michael Brennan.

"This is an opportunity most people never have to see these beautiful vessels up close, to go aboard and meet the crew, and to step right into our living maritime history.  It takes a village to make this happen," said Alex Agnew, President of Sailing Ships Portland.  "We are honored to have Iberdrola USA as our partner."

Iberdrola USA, which owns Central Maine Power Company in Maine, has signed on as the event's title sponsor.

“We’re pleased to welcome sailing ships and visitors from Maine and around the world to this celebration of our maritime heritage,” said Bob Kump, chief corporate officer for Iberdrola USA. “The employees of Central Maine Power and Iberdrola USA are honored to serve the people of Maine, and our support for Tall Ships Portland is a way for us to say thanks.”

The fleet is coming to Portland as the final port in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® 2015 Atlantic Coast series of tall ships races and maritime festivals, organized by Tall Ships America.

Port cities that host the tall ships typically experience significant economic impact.  Organizers anticipate over 25,000 spectators to attend the three-day festival, which will include food, vendors and music in addition to tours of the tall ships.

“Since ships tend to visit in the summertime, visitors tend to travel from as far away as four hours, and stay a few extra days,” said Bert Rogers, Executive Director of Tall Ships America of Newport, RI. "Portland has the perfect waterfront for visitors to tour the ships, and enjoy rich Maine maritime heritage," Rogers said.

The marine community is offering warm support with non-profits Sail Maine, Maine Maritime Museum, and Maine Maritime Academy. Other key corporate sponsors include WCSH-TV, the Portland Press Herald and the Portland branch of Morgan Stanley.

Megan Jones, Captain of the sailing vessel Frances, welcomed news of the festival. Frances spends the summer on Portland's waterfront and takes visitors on day-sailing trips in Portland Harbor.

"We are so excited to be sharing the waterfront with these beautiful and historic vessels," Jones said.  "They are going to get a warm welcome in Portland and I hope as many people as possible come out to see them."

Sailing Ships Portland, the local event organizer in cooperation with Tall Ships America, is a Maine-based nonprofit and proceeds from the event will go toward youth sail training and education at sea.  Tall Ships and "Tall Ships Are Coming!" are registered trademarks of Tall Ships America.

Tickets go on sale April 3 at 9 a.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.tallshipsportland.com where you can also sign up to receive news about the event, volunteer to work with the ships and learn how you can be out on the water during the Parade of Sail. Tickets are $15 and allow boarding of the ships and access to the festival grounds. Access to the USCG Eagle and viewing of the Saturday Parade of Sail are free.

For more information contact Tall Ships Portland 2015 at tickets@tallshipsportland.com or 207-619-1842.

DEVELOPING: Navy F/A-18 Hornets Crash in Pacific Ocean

Courtesy of the Navy

WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Two F/A-18 Hornets from Carrier Air Wing 17 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) crashed at 5:40 p.m. local time, today, while operating at sea in the western Pacific Ocean. The initial report is that the two aircraft are assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94) and Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113).

One pilot was rapidly located and returned to Carl Vinson, and is currently receiving medical attention. Search efforts continue for the second pilot.

The search for the second pilot includes guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) and helicopters assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 15 (HSC 15) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (HSM 73).

The two F/A-18C Hornets have not been recovered.

All remaining airborne aircraft were safely recovered onboard.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Carl Vinson and embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 are currently underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

ALERT: Schooner Parade TOMORROW July 11th

ROCKLAND, Maine - The annual Schooner Parade past the breakwater lighthouse in Rockland, Maine will be held tomorrow, July 11th from 2-4pm. This annual Schooner event is one not to be missed as it is a great opportunity to get lots of photographs.

The Schooners you will see if you make the walk out the breakwater are beautiful ranging in age from 31 to 143 years old, Victory Chimes the last of her kind three master and ranging in size from 46 feet to 132 feet long. Some of the Schooners you will see are American Eagle (Rockland), Victory Chimes (Rockland), Lewis R. French (Camden), Angelique (Camden), Mary Day (Camden), Stephan Taber (Rockland) and more.

Schooner Parade is put together by the Maine Windjammer Association. Maine Windjammer Association puts on several event such as Great Schooner Race, Schooner Parade and WoodenBoat Sail In.

Please come on out to see these beautiful schooners that are powered solely by the wind and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse tomorrow afternoon from 2pm-4pm, Friday, July 11th in Rockland, Maine.

"It's Another Morning In Maine" The Maine Windjammer Project

"It's Another Morning In Maine"  By Doug Mills

It's another morning in Maine as Mercantile sails past Lincolnville Beach. [09-17-2008]

www.mainewindjammerproject.com

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Search for Missing Navy sailor

Coast Guard, Navy, local agencies search for Navy sailor
HONOLULU - The Coast Guard, Navy, Ocean Safety and Honolulu Fire Department are searching for a Navy sailor near Kaena Point, Oahu, Wednesday.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu was notified that a Hawaii-based sailor was reported missing after he became separated from other members of his command during an open ocean swim training evolution off Kaena Point Tuesday afternoon.

An MH-65 dolphin helicopter crew out of Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point and a response boat-medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu were diverted from a training exercise at 6:30 p.m. to begin searching the area. A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane crew began assisting with the search at 1 a.m. Wednesday. The Honolulu Fire Department Air One helicopter and a fire department land company searched the sea and shoreline until nightfall. Coast Guard rescue crews continued to search the sea and shoreline throughout the night.

Search crews Wednesday include the contracted Navy tug Sea Commando, the Coast Guard Cutters Walnut and Kittiwake, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Honolulu, and Coast Guard aircraft. Ocean Safety crews aboard a jet ski and several assets from the Honolulu Fire Department, including the Air One helicopter, a 24-foot rescue boat and a shoreline crew are searching.

Sector Honolulu watchstanders are utilizing the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System, a computer program which calculates environmental factors such as weather; wind, current speed and direction to determine a search area with the highest probability for locating a missing person in the water. In addition to SAROPS, Coast Guard crews have deployed three Self-Locating Datum Marker buoys to better assist rescue crews in coordinating their search patterns. The SAROPS program is presently in agreement with the physical datum marker buoys on the optimal search area.