‘The sails will mend their tatters and the mast will rise again’

I watched a wooden schooner sail (and motor) into Portland Harbor today. Then, a bunch of young and old idealists loaded its hold, which once held 80 tons of fish, with Maine-made and Maine-grown stuff. Friday, they set sail for Boston, just like the old days.

It was a pretty cool story to shoot.

It made me remember going to Schooner Fare concerts when I was in high school and their song “Day of the Clipper.” It’s about returning to sail once the oil in the ground runs out.

I like to think I saw the start of just that, in Portland, today.

Sailing ships and sailing men will sail the open water,
Where the only thing that matters is the wind inside the main;
So all you loving mothers keep your eyes upon your daughters,
For the sails will mend their tatters and the masts will rise again.

– Day of the Clipper, by Steve Romanoff

The schooner Adventure in Portland Harbor.

The schooner Adventure in Portland Harbor.

Troy R. Bennett

About Troy R. Bennett

Troy R. Bennett is a Buxton native and longtime Portland resident whose photojournalism has appeared in media outlets all over the world.