“Windjammer Days is still scheduled as planned. We are tracking the COVID-19 pandemic closely, and if we need to make changes to our event, we will post it here and on our social media channels immediately. We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. We are all in this together.” - Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days website

The Friends of Windjammer Days (FWD) are navigating uncharted waters in 2020. The FWD Committee met via Zoom April 14 to discuss options for the 58th Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days & (this year) Tall Ships Festival scheduled for June 21-29.

At the March meeting, Dianne and Mark Gimbel said they were still planning to wait until June 1 to make a final call on the region’s longest running festival. A decision would be based on Maine CDC recommendations.

Pete Ripley, the committee’s longstanding liaison with the windjammer captains, said the Heritage and American Eagle are “coming no matter what!” Alert, from around Bailey’s Island, is also coming; and Harold Burnham, captain/owner of Ardelle, told Ripley he was coming. The Victory Chimes, returning to the Festival after almost two decades, also still plans to come. Ripley said the Bowdoin, Maine’s official state vessel, now has a scheduling conflict.

“All of the ships want to come, but ... who knows what will happen ... virus-wise,” said Ripley.

Darrell Gudroe asked if there was a way to modify events to reflect, for example, the six-foot distancing. For example, drones and cameras could be used to broadcast events like the Antique Boat Parade; and tug of war could have just three on a team, six feet apart.

Parade chair Stephanie Hawke asked if it would be possible to divide the festival, hold half in one month and half in another. Ripley said the idea wouldn’t float for the Rockland-based windjammers and others coming from farther away; cruises and other events are booked for the season early on. 

The event subcommittee chairs agreed to brainstorm with their teams over the next few weeks to determine if their event could be modified to reflect CDC recommendations, or if the event should be canceled. The committee will reconvene in May to discuss the decisions each committee arrived at.