Appledore II
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name: | Appledore II |
| Owner: | John P. McKean, S.E.A., Ltd. |
| Builder: | Linwood Gamage, Gamage Shipyard |
| Launched: | August 22, 1978 |
| Homeport: | Camden, Maine |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Schooner |
| Displacement: | 52 tons |
| Length: | 86 ft (26 m) overall, 65 ft (20 m) on deck |
| Beam: | 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m) |
| Draft: | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sail, auxiliary engine |
| Sail plan: | Gaff-rigged, two-masted topsail schooner |
| Speed: | 10.5-knot (19.4 km/h) hull speed |
| Complement: | 49 passengers, 4 crew |
Appledore II is a traditional two-masted wooden schooner, currently privately owned and operated out of Camden, Maine and Key West, Florida.
Construction
Launched on August 22, 1978, Appledore II is the largest of her four sister ships, Appledore I, III, IV, and V. Appledore II was the last schooner custom built by the Harvey Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine, which had previously built the tall ships Mary Day, Harvey Gamage, Shenandoah, Bowdoin and Spirit of Massachusetts, among others. Designed by Bud McIntosh, she was structured to endure heavy weather and the open ocean.[1]
Appledore II is gaff rigged on both her masts, with a hull speed of 10.5 knots and a length of 86 feet (26 m) overall.[2]
Maiden Voyage
Her maiden voyage was an 18-month circumnavigation, which commenced in November 1978 from Portsmouth, New Hampshire and concluded there after the Appledore II visited many ports of call around the world. This voyage has been chronicled in two books, Dreams of Natural Places, A New England Schooner Odyssey and Sailing Three Oceans, both authored by Herbert Smith. Since that time, Appledore II has sailed extensively throughout the Caribbean, conducting educational and private tourism. For a number of years she served as the Semester At Sea vessel for marine biology majors from Southampton College of LIU. As a prime example of a historical wooden schooner, the Appledore II is regularly featured in books, movies, advertisements, and post cards evoking traditional coastal Maine sailing.
Today
In 1986 the McKean family (John & Jane) purchased the vessel at auction. After a major refit the she began offering day sails from her home ports of Camden, Maine and Key West, Florida. Twice a year, Appledore II makes a 2,000-mile (3,200 km) offshore voyage between these destinations. The Appledore II regularly participates in the Key West Wrecker's Cup Race (a regatta she has won on numerous occasions) and is a mainstay of the annual 'Windjammer Weekend' in Camden, Maine. After 30 years of managing the boat in Camden, John AKA "The Commodore" decided to semi-retire and allow his partners in Key West to purchase half of the operation and with his guidance take over the operation in Camden Maine.
Sebago Watersports Involvement
Sebago Watersports is a tour company in Key West, established in 1989 by partners Paul H. McGrail and Sean G. Rowley. They agreed to manage the Key West operation for Appledore II in 2003. In May 2016 they along with their General Manager (Rod Veal) agreed to become full partners with the Commodore for both Key West and Camden operations.