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Schooner Alert- Race Day!

From 175 US dollars
Harbor Loop

Service Description

This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Join us onboard for the Parade of Schooners and the Schooner Race. You will be onboard for a minimum of 6 hours depending on how long the races take. Passengers will board the ALERT at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, while Captain Perry and Captain Bethany are at the Captains meeting getting the course for the race and any other final details. We leave the dock by 10:00 a.m. The Parade of Sail begins near Cape Pond Ice Co. at 10:30 a.m. All the schooners get their sails up and cruise by Stacy Boulevard for Daisy Nell’s introductions. The Parade then heads out through the outer harbor and past the Breakwater. The starting line is usually located just outside Dogbar Breakwater, off Eastern Point. The jockeying for position and strategizing for the start makes for an interesting time until the race begins, usually at 1:00 p.m. The Large and Medium Classes of Schooners start together. The Small Schooners start a short time later. After the exciting start, the rest of the day is spent trying to win the race. The crew is constantly adjusting sail, trying to tweak just a little more speed from the sail trim. The course might be north toward Rockport and back, or south toward Magnolia and Manchester. Weather conditions are different each year, so there is no way to plan for how things will turn out. But there are tight turns to be made around the marks and it is a lot of fun to witness first hand. 2025 Will be our sixth-time racing. We are truly excited about joining in the festival after many years of talking about making this happen.


Upcoming Sessions


Cancellation Policy

Tickets are fully refundable up to 7 days before the trip. Cancelations within 7 days will not receive a refund unless we are able to rebook your tickets. Refund Policy for Sailing Tickets We have a 7 day cancellation policy for special event sail reservations and tickets. You can cancel your reservation up to 7 days prior to sail time without any penalty. If you cancel within 7 days your tickets are non-refundable unless and until they have been reserved by another party because your space is being guaranteed at the event and this is a special sail with limited tickets. We reserve the right to modify or cancel reservations, as necessary. Under such circumstances, we will offer the opportunity to reschedule or provide a full refund. Weather Policy Activity may be cancelled due to severe weather. The activity usually runs in light rain and other moderate weather conditions, but the Captain, may cancel the activity up to the sail time in the event of severe or unsafe weather conditions. If the Captain cancels the event, ticket-holders will receive a refund of their ticket purchase.


Contact Details

  • Maritime Gloucester, Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA, USA

    978-281-0470

    info@maritimegloucester.org


 Hours

Hours of Operation**

Open Daily 10am-4pm

Thursdays 10am-6pm

**Hours may vary based on school trips, public/private events and inclement weather. 

Contact

Email:   info@maritimegloucester.org

Phone:   978-281-0470

Address:   23 Harbor Loop,

                  Gloucester MA 01930

Maritime Gloucester is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

EIN:   04-3480870

Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center,

dba Maritime Gloucester

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Maritime Gloucester Would Like to Thank
the Following Program Contributors
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Maritime Gloucester Would Like to Thank
the Following Event and Program Sponsors
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© 2025 Maritime Gloucester®. All Rights Reserved.

Maritime Gloucester® and Gloucester Schooner Festival® are registered trademarks of Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.

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