Naughtical mishap - American Eagle bites the -er- rock

by Blackwattle Studios on 18 Jul 2009 Nobody knows why it happened, but in a naughtical mishap that could have spelled the end of the 92ft American Eagle, the magnificent windjammer sailing boat went aground last week on Thursday at 10.30am.

There were 24 people on board when she went aground on a rocky ledge called Townsend Hull Gut in Boothbay Harbour in Maine, USA.

The Coast Guard launched a 47-foot motor life boat and a 25-foot response boat, which arrived on scene quickly from the nearby station there.

All 24 people were wearing life jackets, and the vessel’s master said he would attempt to re-float the white-hulled boat on the high tide.

Marine investigators from Coast Guard Sector Northern New England in Portland, Maine also rushed to the scene.

“We monitored the situation carefully from our small boats,” said a straight-faced Senior Chief Petty Officer Chuck Chavtur with Station Boothbay Harbor. “We are on scene to ensure the safety of everyone on the sail boat. We don’t know how the vessel went aground, but will investigate the matter.”

Crewmen aboard the sailing vessel American Eagle finally re-floated the 92-foot boat from its rocky ledge as the tide came in.

No injuries were reported and the vessel was at anchor in the harbour as Coast Guard marine inspectors from Sector Northern New England aboard tried to determine if the while-hulled boat was safe to return to the dock.

'As the tide came in, we were glad the sailing vessel was able to re-float itself,' said Mr. Kenneth N. Stuart with Sector Northern New England. 'The good news is there are no reported injuries. We will investigate why the vessel ran aground in the first place.'

No doubt in the unusual circumstances the passengers on board may have consumed more champagne that they would have usually while they waited to be refloated by their faithful crew.

American Eagle was launched in 1930 as a Gloucester fishing schooner, and sailed from Gloucester for over 50 years. Captain John Foss purchased her in 1984, and took her to Rockland, Maine, where she underwent a complete rebuild. In 1986 she began her career as a passenger-carrying windjammer. Each fall she returns to Gloucester to participate in the annual schooner race there.