Tall Ships Will Sail Up The Penobscot To Bangor In July

I love the idea of sailing. Not the reality, though. Hahaha. Despite my size and stature, I'm just a big scared-y cat that's afraid of most things. Like the dark, for instance. So imagine trying to get me out on the open ocean or river in a giant ship that's at the mercy of the wind. Not a life for me.

However, I do love the water. I also do love boats. So, I definitely love to look at boats from afar. Living in southern Maine as long as I did, you really develop an appreciation for living so close to the ocean. I may not want to sail, but I'll sit in a big safe motor boat and look at those big tall ships.

One year, tall ships came into Casco Bay. Maybe they do fairly regularly. But... in July, those big, bad tall ships are coming right up the Penobscot River for a visit, with a few pit stops along the way. You don't have to go anywhere near that pesky southern part of the state to see these bad boys. Or girls. Aren't ships always ladies?

In Honor of Maine's bicentennial, which was postponed due to COVID, the Penobscot Maritime Heritage Association is sending a few tall ships up the Penobscot, with stops in Searsport, Bucksport, Orrington, and of course Bangor, according to WABI. This will all be taking place between July 9th - 18th.

Here's a brief rundown of their scheduled stops according to a press release from the Penobscot Maritime Heritage Association via WABI:

Tall Ship Nao Santa Maria from Sevilla, Spain will turn heads as it sails from Bucksport, where it will be in port July 9 and 14, to its most northern destination of Bangor on July 15-17. Tours will be given daily. She will be joined by Maine Maritime Academy’s historic schooner, Bowdoin, on July 15 in Bangor. The 175′ U.S. Coast Guard cutter, Abbie Burgess, will be docked on the Bangor Waterfront on July 16 and 17 and will offer tours and information about her special missions. The University of Maine’s 3-D printed boat, 3Dirigo, the largest 3-D printed object in the world, will travel by land and be on exhibit in Bangor, Bucksport and Searsport.

There's a lot going on during these days, and honestly, you could probably take a vacation and just go to the various ports where all these ships are and have a blast witnessing some cool Maine maritime history. As well as maritime history in the making. There are certainly worse ways to kill a week in Maine in the summer. Just sayin'...