Bruce Schwab sailed Ocean Planet into Portland today(now with pics)

[StevenBauer]

I think I'll head down at noontime. When he arrived in France he was met by hundreds of thousands of people. I think today's reception will be somewhat smaller. From his website:

Friday, June 3

WHAT: Ocean Planet returns to Portland, Maine

WHEN:

* 12:00 pm - Ocean Planet and a parade of boats arrive at the dock at Portland Yacht Services, Portland, Maine. U.S homecoming celebration. Colorful waterfront festival. Greeted by supporters, students from area schools, and special guests. FREE and open to the public.
* 1:30 - 2:30 pm - Special luncheon with Bruce Schwab

COST: $35. Call Jan Love at Portland Yacht Services to reserve -- 207-774-1067.

WHERE: Dockside on the waterfront at Portland Yacht Services, 58 Fore St., Portland, Maine

Saturday, June 4

WHAT: Multi-media presentation by Bruce Schwab

WHEN:

* 9:00 am -- Doors open
* 9:30 - 11:30 am - Presentation

COST: Call Jan Love at Portland Yacht Services to reserve -- 207-774-1067
$20 in advance
$25 at the door
$10 Ages 13-18
Free for kids under 12

WHERE: Portand Yacht Services, 58 Fore St., Portland, Maine -- Building 2, 2nd Floor

Sunday, June 5

WHAT: Truly Offshore Seminar
An up close and personal day with Bruce Schwab. Learn the inside details about Ocean Planet and sailing around the world in the Vendee Globe.

1. The morning will encompass the realm of electronics, communications, navigation, routing and weather.
2. The afternoon will focus on the realm of gadgets on Ocean Planet that worked and didn't, trouble-shooting and repairs on the run (especially the autopilot and radar dome), and a discussion about what went on the boat and got left off that shouldn't have.
3. Dockside tour of Ocean Planet. Discussion about design, construction and special engineering features.
4. Seminar participants will be entered into a raffle for a sail aboard Ocean Planet (weather permitting).

WHEN:

* 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

COST: Registration required. Limited enrollment.
Contact Jan Love at Portland Yacht Services to reserve - 207-774-1067

$150 per person - lunch and snacks included
$130 per person for joint registration

WHERE: Portland Yacht Services, 58 Fore St., Portland, Maine -- Building 6, 2nd Floor

[ 06-03-2005, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: StevenBauer ]

[Dave Gray]

Wrong Portland! :D

[StevenBauer]

Gavin had a half day at school today so we both went down to see Bruce come in. I was surprised - there was quite a crowd. The Mayor was there and Dodge Morgan (first American to solo cicumnavigate nonstop), and the master of ceremonies was comedian Tim Sample. There was even a brass band!
Here's the crowd:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid171/pe8e8f35ed202f2a026687eb8542f175e/f3db130f.jpg

And here's Ocean Planet:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid171/p6255ee8425d629f7907913c7d08a534a/f3db131a.jpg

The Portland fireboat led in the parade of sail that accompanied Bruce. Miss Maine was even there to sing the Star Spangled Banner.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid171/p0ac3c445c25ac7f66f571a62c9ddc821/f3db130a.jpg

And the Duck Tours boat came by;

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid171/pec5c290191253c1433ed3523fb091e2f/f3db1361.jpg

And there were even a couple of traditional boats on hand:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid171/pa252947bba2ed8044355deb7876032a5/f3db1356.jpg

It's really amazing what he has accomplished on a shoestring budget against competitors with millions of dollars more to spend than he had. When he first arrived in France everyone laughed at him. His boat was half the size of the others and he had an unstayed rig and no major sponsors! But as the race went on he came to be the public's favorite. He is really quite the celebrity in France. Also there was a representative from Bigelow Labs in Boothbay who helped design the oceanography curriculum that thousands of school children used while following Bruce's progress.
He's not done racing Ocean Planet, keep an eye out for his next race.

Steven

[Concordia..41]

:cool: Wish I'd of known.

[StevenBauer]

Oh yeah, I forgot that the Mayor read a proclamation from the Governor announcing that today is Bruce Schwab day in Maine!

I'm sure you could E-mail him from his website Margo -- www.bruceschwab.com (http://www.bruceschwab.com) or www.oceanplanet.org (http://www.oceanplanet.org)

Steven

[Meerkat]

It's awfully nice of them to offer $20 off if you bring a joint to registration, but I'm not sure it's worth it... ;)

[stormpetrel]

Steve-Thanks for the report and the pics--it was
good to revel in "hapy-ending" boat activities for
awhile.
But, you poor people, with those duckboats!
My office is on the 2nd floor of an old building
on Main St., Hyannis, and the duckmobile goes by
several times a day in the summer, and at the
intersection nearby they all quack (at what, I
don't know), but it's so loud I usually have to
pause in any telephone conversations. . . But,
looking on the brighter side, I can smell the salt
air when I'm working (and daydream about sailing).