The Gloucester community celebrated a birthday Wednesday but not for a person, for the city’s flagship vessel.
Schooner Adventure celebrated her 100th birthday in an all-day event that brought people aboard for tours and a birthday sail before celebrating with a specially made cake.
The event held at Maritime Gloucester drew people down to the vessel from the morning into the evening and was accompanied by informational booths, live music and activities for kids.
The day of fun was capped off with Adventure’s birthday sail and cutting of the cake, which depicted a cod leaping out of the water. Joining the birthday sail was the schooner Ardelle, which carried additional passengers who did not get a seat on Adventure.
As people began making their way down for deck tours Tuesday morning, many of the Schooner Adventure nonprofit volunteers and staff reflected on what it means for this vessel to reach 100 years old.
“There’s something amazing about sailing on a boat that was built by hand and it has so much history,” said volunteer Jay Yakera. “It was a highliner in its day, it’s been restored pretty much to its original sailing configuration when it first launched but then over the years it became a hard fishing ship. What does it mean to me? It’s just an amazing part of history.”
Adventure’s story dates back to Sept. 16, 1926, when she first launched into the Essex River. The 121-foot vessel began as a Grand Banks dory-fishing schooner, served as a windjammer and is used today as a floating classroom and community vessel stewarded by the Schooner Adventure nonprofit.
The vessel has also been recognized as a National Historic Landmark. State Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, presented Schooner Adventure staff with a resolution from the Senate recognizing the vessel’s importance.
Also in attendance were Boston residents Caron and Bill Campbell, who have seen Adventure several times throughout the decades because Caron sailed on her in the late 1970s out of Camden, Maine.
“The first couple of days was a little bit of seasickness but it was just a fantastic experience — like nothing a city kid had ever done,” Caron Campbell recalled.
Both also reflected on meeting former Adventure Capt. Jim Sharp and visiting his museum in Rockland, Maine.
“He let anyone who wanted to get at the wheel, he just wanted you to fall in love,” Caron Campbell said.
Adventure has also had other 100-year celebrations, like taking part in the Sail Boston event that brought more than 50 tall ships to the city and leading the annual Schooner Parade in Gloucester Harbor.
“I think there is a great amount of pride and great amount of honor to be able to carry (Adventure) into its second century,” said Schooner Adventure executive director Emily Pearce.
Moving forward, Pearce said she plans on kicking off the next 100 years with some updated programming, including expanding Girls on Adventure, which introduces middle school-aged girls and female-identifying students to all things maritime in a “fun and silly” space.
“We’re going to take that model and expand it into something for high school-age students and something for college-age students, so I’m really excited to see that grow,” she said.
Staff Writer Bobby Grady may be contacted at 978-675-2714 or bgrady@gloucestertimes.com.