Fall 2023

As summer slides into fall, Maine’s First Ship and Virginia look back at a summer of sailing, sea trials, crew training, and the resulting rework on the rigging. 

Virginia visited Boothbay for Windjammer Days, and Colonial Pemaquid for the 17th Century Event.

We have had a lot of visitors at the Jane Stevens Visitor Center, who have seen our history exhibits, watched our volunteers working, and visited Virginia.

The Visitor Center will be open summer hours (10-3 Wed-Sun) through October 9 (Indigenous Peoples Day). After that we will be open fall hours (10-3 Wed and Sat) while Virginia is at her wharf.

October 7, 2023 will be a big day at Maine’s First Ship. This is Bath Autumn Fest, Maine Craft Weekend, and Bath Citizen’s Involvement Day. In the morning MFS has a table at Waterfront Park and we celebrate fiber arts at Fiber Day in the freight shed. In the afternoon we host the Midcoast Youth Center’s Chili Chowder Fest. But best of all we plan on sailing Virginia in the Kennebec River near Bath for much of the day. See the events pages for details when they are available.

We plan to down-rig Virginia for the winter the week of October 23. Before that, we hope to get in a couple of more sailings in the Kennebec near Bath.