July 2010 will be the 50th Annual Homecoming and Regatta of the Friendship Sloop Society, and their 15th year racing in Rockland. Typically there are about 25 Sloops in Rockland for the regatta, but this year the group is attempting to have 50 Sloops join them on beautiful Penobscot Bay!

image courtesy of Friendship Sloop Society

Sloops begin to arrive on Wednesday, July 21st and get settled in on at the Rockland Landing. Thursday morning at 9am there is a Skippers Meeting, going over the racing instructions, course, and introducing boats who haven’t been to Rockland before or who have been unable to make it for a few years. This is also when“crew call” is held. This is an attempt to match anyone who wants to sail with an available sloop and swap some crew around if anyone is short. The same process is done on Friday and Saturday.

Races can be viewed from the Rockland Breakwater from around noon-3pm. All sloops are usually back at the dock by 4:30pm for those that just want to walk around these historical vessels. Saturday just before races start is a Parade of Sloops where each Friendship sails by the Breakwater and is announced to all who gather.

The evenings are spent under the tent with a b.y.o.b.b.q or in town at the shops and restaurants. Saturday evening is the award ceremony and dinner under the tent.

The public is always welcome and invited—you can sail for one day or three — or just come and walk around!

Check out the Friendship Sloop Society’s video here on youtube.

And for more information on how you can get involved, please contact Commodores Wayne and Kirsten Cronin at 207-354-0467 or croninkw@roadrunner.com

Friendship Sloop Society
50th Annual Homecoming and Regatta
July 22, 23, 24 2010
Rockland Harbor, Rockland  Maine

MF&L Staff at Maine Food & Lifestyle magazine.