FROM:             Jim Sharp, Co-Founder - sailpowersteammuseum@gmail.com

DATE:              June 17, 2026

Sail, Power, & Steam Museum Welcomes Executive Director Capt. Greg Bailey

In early June, the Sail, Power, & Steam Museum (SPSM) welcomed Captain Greg S. Bailey to the helm of the Rockland museum. 

Bailey views his leadership role at SPSM as “supporting and expanding all of our community sailing programs, including SKFF (Sail Kids For Free), afternoon youth sailing lessons, and WOW (Women On the Water).”

Expanding WOW, according to Bailey, looks like “an introduction to the possibilities of a life on the water while partner-seeking with schooners and other programs to offer other sail training opportunities,” he said.

“It is far beyond time to focus on working waterfronts and seafaring as ‘not being just for the ‘guys,’ but for all mariners, and everyone interested in sailing. This is particularly important as the American maritime industry is facing a shortage of crew in a traditionally male-dominated line of work,” Bailey said.

“I’d also like SPSM to be a year-round community gathering place, including off-season lectures, classes, demonstrations, recreational functions, concerts; just anything and everything to become more integral to the community,” he said.

Bailey brings an entire lifetime of operational and educational acumen, and experience with his family’s catering business to lead SPSM in the next phase of the museum’s sustainable future, approaching business from a place of mutually beneficial partnerships with community stakeholders.

In June 2025, Captain Bailey, in command of the 305-ton Niagara, completed the 21-day, 2000-nautical-mile journey to Maine, via the St. Lawrence Seaway, arriving at Sample’s Shipyard (established in 1869, and operated by Bristol Marine). Located at the head of the harbor in Boothbay Harbor, Bailey oversaw the 11-month long restoration work, which was completed in late May 2026.

Some pieces of the circa-1813 original ship was integrated into the hull as non-structural components, and nowadays, the ship is used for historical interpretation as a working model of a 19th century sailing ship and dockside attraction, and as a training vessel for new sailors.

Bailey also brings to SPSM a teaching certification which he returned to school to earn after spending the bulk of his career with Ocean Classroom Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building the next generation of ocean stewards through education under sail.

Because Bailey holds a 1600-ton ocean masters license that allows him to command large vessels anywhere in the world, he captained Ocean Classroom Foundation’s schooners, Westward, Spirit of Massachusetts and Harvey Gamage. Ocean Classroom Foundation was a leader in experiential education, with award-winning sailing programs until it became defunct in 2014.

However, earlier in his days as an aspiring sailor, it was his love of sailing that brought him to Maine. “I eventually came to the ‘old wooden boat’ nexus that is Maine. I knew I would end up in Maine, at some point,” he said. So, in 2004, Bailey sailed aboard the Lewis R. French as first mate, under Capt. Garth Wells, and “after the season, I wintered over in Camden,” he said.

Contact the Sail, Power, & Steam Museum (SPSM), or the Midcoast Sailing Center for more information, to schedule interviews, learn about charters, sailing lessons, summer concert series, and more by calling 207-701-7627, or email sailpowersteammuseum@gmail.com. The museum is open May-Oct., Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with year ‘round Sunday jams from 1:30-4 p.m.