Photo by Ewa Nogiec. Video by Michael DiGioia.
Schooners Set Sail
At the Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta
By Kahrin Deines
August 27th, 2007
Of all the events in Provincetown, there is one that manages to create suspense and excitement without making much of a sound at all. Quiet and stately, it’s a race of water, wind and skill known as the Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta that will take place this year on September 6.
 | For the race, schooner captains sail in from all over, with crews in tow, to spend a few days sailing in Provincetown’s beautiful harbor. |
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For the race, schooner captains sail in from all over, with crews in tow, to spend a few days sailing in Provincetown’s beautiful harbor.
Years ago Provincetown’s harbor was home to many such swift vessels. These graceful and beautiful ships, which fished the Grand Banks, played an important role in the town’s economy and culture during the 19th century, and must have made for a stunning vista, with sail after sail set in elegant sway along the waterfront.
In honor of the role that schooners have played in Provincetown’s history, each year since 2002 the Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta and Race has been held.
Along with the Regatta on September 6, there will also be a Parade of Sail, where the ships pass in close view of MacMillan Pier, on September 5. For those who want to watch the Regatta Race out on the water, the schooner Bay Lady II will be sailing with spectators on the race day. (To find out more about the Bay Lady II, visit sailcapecod.com.)
Besides offering a glimpse of what Provincetown’s harbor must have once looked like, this event brings people together to celebrate Provincetown’s rich maritime heritage.
A number of parties and other fun events will take place in the surrounding days, including a bonfire at Herring Cove Beach on September 3, a party on Fisherman’s Wharf on September 5, with live music and dancing, and a concert by Roll and Go at the Pilgrim Monument on September 7.
Shakespeare on the Cape, a talented young theater troupe, will also be performing Shakespeare’s maritime drama “The Tempest” in a special benefit.
The Great Provincetown Schooner Race was founded in 2002 as a tribute to the late captain of the Schooner Hindu, John Bennett, who had begun planning a schooner race in Provincetown before his unexpected death that spring.
To find out more about the Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta and Race, go to www.provincetownschoonerrace.com.
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