For Information on our Sailing and Navigation series, daysails, charters, or sailing lessons, visit our Midcoast Sailing Center Page
Scroll down for information on:
- Captains' Quarters - our winter online speaker series, discussing boats and our maritime heritage from both "yesterday" and today!
- Boat Talk - our Saturday morning gathering with experts to discuss all things "boaty"
- On the Water - classes for both experienced or novice boaters. Classes may contain both on-the-water and classroom components
- Music and Concerts - throughout the year! From every Sunday afternoon music jams to outdoor summer concerts
- Museum Mondays - our summer speaker series about a variety of maritime topics
Captains' Quarters Schedule - Winter 2024-2025
Join us online for fascinating conversations with Captains. Registration is free. Please register for each talk that you will be viewing live. Recordings will be made available following each event.
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February 18, 2025 at 6:30pm
Snow Marine Shipyard (Part 1)- Ship Building in Rockland Maine Registration required (attendance is free): To Register, Click Here Join us for an evening with museum co-founder, Captain Jim Sharp and Captain Doug Lee, as they tell the story of Rockland's Snow Marine Shipyard. The Sail, Power, and Steam Museum now sits on the site of the former shipyard. In operation for 140 years and owned by generations of the Snow family, the yard was the hub of Rockland shipbuilding back in the 19th century, building more vessels than anywhere else in Rockland, Maine, and most of New England! Rockland itself was the 4th largest seaport in the United States in the late 1800's (only Boston, New York, and Philadelphia were busier). |
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March 4, 2025 at 6:30pm
Battle of Ink and Ice with author Darrell Hartman Registration required (attendance is free): To Register, Click Here We are excited to invite you to join us online in welcoming author Darrell Hartman. He will share the thrilling story of a 60-year saga of frostbite and fake news that followed the no-hold-barred battle between two legendary explorers to reach the North Pole, and the newspapers which stopped at nothing to get (and sell) the story. Detailing the competition between American explorers Robert Peary and Frederick Cook to lay claim to the discovery of the North Pole as well as the rivalry between newspapers New York Herald and New York Times, this story will captivate mariners, sailors, adventurers, and adventurers-at-heart. The author will be introduced by museum founder Captain Jim Sharp. |
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March 18, 2025 at 6:30pm
In Slocum's Wake with author Nat Warren-White Registration required (attendance is free): To Register, Click Here Written for sailors and non-sailors alike, In Slocum’s Wake is an autobiographical tale of a hard-won circumnavigation aboard a 43-foot cutter. We are honored to host the sailor and author for this online talk. Nat Warren-White's five-year journey follows many of the same passages and roughly traces much of the route followed by Joshua Slocum who, in the late 1800s, became the first person to sail alone around the world. In Slocum’s Wake compares the challenges Warren-White faced aboard his South African-built sloop, Bahati, with those faced by Slocum aboard his 37-foot Chesapeake Bay oyster-fishing vessel, Spray. The two boats are similar in design and capability though built more than 100 years apart, one in wood, the other in fiberglass. The two captains are similar in background and stature, though born almost 100 years apart. To both men, navigating the world's oceans came from a similar motivation: "...a natural outcome of [a] love of adventure, [and] of [our] lifelong experience" in, on and around the sea. Museum founder Capt Jim Sharp will introduce Warren-White. |
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April 8, 2025 at 6:30pm
Snow Marine Shipyard (Part 2) - Ship Building in Rockland Maine Registration required (attendance is free): To Register, Click Here Join us for an evening with museum co-founder, Captain Jim Sharp, as he tells the story of Rockland's Snow Marine Shipyard. The Sail, Power, and Steam Museum now sits on the site of the former shipyard. In operation for 140 years and owned by generations of the Snow family, the yard was the hub of Rockland shipbuilding back in the 19th century, building more vessels than anywhere else in Rockland, Maine, and most of New England! Rockland itself was the 4th largest seaport in the United States in the late 1800's (only Boston, New York, and Philadelphia were busier). |
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April 15, 2025 at 6:30pm
Mapping Ocean Stories Registration required (attendance is free): To Register, Click Here Mapping Ocean Stories is a collaboration between The First Coast, Maine Sea Grant, College of the Atlantic (COA), and the Island Institute. The goal of the Mapping Ocean Stories project is to find, collect, archive and share oral histories from coastal community members in Maine. The project seeks to document the voices of Maine fishermen and fishing community members so that the stories of our past are remembered and celebrated. The knowledge of fishermen and fishing community members, aggregated from oral history interviews and historical documents, can help illustrate important issues faced by these industries and the communities they call home. |
Captains' Quarters from earlier this year:
Master Shipwright, Rob Stevens, and the Virginia - Maine's First Ship
A captivating history of what it took to build a replica of the Virginia, as told by the Master Shipwright who completed it.
Missed it? Click HERE to see the show on our YouTube channel.
Captain Alexander Peacock - Sailing Schooner Bowdoin to the Arctic (2024)
Travel to the Arctic with Capt Alex Peacock aboard the historic Schooner Bowdoin, with an introduction of the ship's history by Capt Jim Sharp.
Missed it? Click HERE to see the show on our YouTube channel
Travel to the Arctic with Capt Alex Peacock aboard the historic Schooner Bowdoin, with an introduction of the ship's history by Capt Jim Sharp.
Missed it? Click HERE to see the show on our YouTube channel
Women on the Water - Harbormasters' Roundtable
An engaging conversation with three of our local harbormasters: Kathy Givens (Belfast), Abbie Leonard (Rockport), and Molly Eddy (Rockland).
Missed it? Recording coming soon!
An engaging conversation with three of our local harbormasters: Kathy Givens (Belfast), Abbie Leonard (Rockport), and Molly Eddy (Rockland).
Missed it? Recording coming soon!
For links to previous talks on our YouTube channel, click here!. We guarantee you'll find something you like!
Boat Talk Schedule - Winter 2024-2025
Join us for coffee and donuts at 75 Mechanic Street, Rockland, Maine for exciting in-person talks and demonstrations! Registration is requested and walk-ins are welcome! $10 admission gratefully accepted at the door.
Saturday Mornings at 9:00am
February 15, 2025 Outboard Engines - with Jeff's Marine -- Click here to register!
Join us for coffee and donuts at 75 Mechanic Street, Rockland, Maine for exciting in-person talks and demonstrations! Registration is requested and walk-ins are welcome! $10 admission gratefully accepted at the door.
Saturday Mornings at 9:00am
February 15, 2025 Outboard Engines - with Jeff's Marine -- Click here to register!
- Outboard engines! We've all got them - what size should you have? 2-Stroke? 4-Stroke? What gas should you use? What do you need to know to keep yours operating smoothly and reliably? The experts at Jeff's Marine will tell you what you need to know!
- Soooo many things to consider! What are the basics that you need? What are the fun things that might want to add? What's new and exciting? Hamilton Marine will be here to make sure you have what you need to be safe out on the water.
- Sails and rigging - keeping everything in shape, using the right materials ... your boat's performance, whether it's 14' or 60' depends on how your boat is rigged. The folks at Bohndell Sails and Rigging help people plan for new boats, repair old boats, and keep us all "pointed" in the right direction!
- Spring is just around the corner, and as soon as the weather turns (or the wood stove in your shop cranks up) you'll be sanding and scraping, getting ready for next summer. Knowing which coatings and finishes are right for your boat, the conditions you sail in, and the amount of time you want to spend is critical to keeping your boat in "ship shape" condition.
- Being on the water is fun - until it isn't. Getting caught in a squall, developing an unidentified leak or having a thru-hull fail - conditions can change without a moment's notice. Making sure you have what you need to stay safe out on the water is key to boating. We'll be demonstrating how life rafts work (can't wait to see this!) and hear about other equipment that you should have on board for those unexpected occurrences.
NEW for 2025! Coastal Piloting and Navigation Class
with Captain Jen Feeney
Every Saturday in February at 11am.
75 Mechanic Street, Rockland, Maine 04841
$200 for the 4-week course
If you missed the first sessions, you can still attend the remaining classes. Email us here to coordinate
Registration required: Click here to register and pay
Master the essentials of navigation, developing the skills and techniques to confidently navigate coastal waters! This course focuses on the fundamentals of marine navigation and coastal piloting to ensure safe and accurate passage-making.
Perfect for beginners or boaters looking to strengthen their foundational navigation skills, participants will learn the time-honored techniques of coastal piloting, emphasizing practical tools and methods for safe and accurate navigation.
Key topics include:
Reading and interpreting nautical charts
Using compasses, bearings, and landmarks for piloting
Plotting courses and fixing positions with triangulation and running fixes
Applying dead reckoning to estimate positions and track progress
Understanding tides, currents, and their effects on navigation
Integrating basic electronic navigation tools with traditional methods
Through hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will gain practical experience in chart plotting, voyage planning, and problem-solving on the water. Whether preparing for short coastal trips or advancing your maritime knowledge, this course provides the skills and confidence needed to navigate with accuracy and safety.
with Captain Jen Feeney
Every Saturday in February at 11am.
75 Mechanic Street, Rockland, Maine 04841
$200 for the 4-week course
If you missed the first sessions, you can still attend the remaining classes. Email us here to coordinate
Registration required: Click here to register and pay
Master the essentials of navigation, developing the skills and techniques to confidently navigate coastal waters! This course focuses on the fundamentals of marine navigation and coastal piloting to ensure safe and accurate passage-making.
Perfect for beginners or boaters looking to strengthen their foundational navigation skills, participants will learn the time-honored techniques of coastal piloting, emphasizing practical tools and methods for safe and accurate navigation.
Key topics include:
Reading and interpreting nautical charts
Using compasses, bearings, and landmarks for piloting
Plotting courses and fixing positions with triangulation and running fixes
Applying dead reckoning to estimate positions and track progress
Understanding tides, currents, and their effects on navigation
Integrating basic electronic navigation tools with traditional methods
Through hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will gain practical experience in chart plotting, voyage planning, and problem-solving on the water. Whether preparing for short coastal trips or advancing your maritime knowledge, this course provides the skills and confidence needed to navigate with accuracy and safety.
MUSIC - 2025
Music is part of the very fabric of our maritime heritage. Ballads and sea shanties were all part and parcel of life at sea and on shore and their influence can been heard in the music of today. There is debate about their origins, but historians have traced them back well into the 15th century. With close ties to folk music of the British Isles, the instruments, lyrics, and melodies remain popular with modern audiences.
At the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum, we honor this music and are proud to have built an audience who shares our love of traditional music. From Sunday Music Jams, to concerts of internationally known musicians, we invite you to join us in these musical offerings throughout the year.
At the Sail, Power, and Steam Museum, we honor this music and are proud to have built an audience who shares our love of traditional music. From Sunday Music Jams, to concerts of internationally known musicians, we invite you to join us in these musical offerings throughout the year.
Sunday Afternoon Music Jams - Every Sunday, All Year Long!
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Every Sunday from 1:30 -4:00pm
Bring your instrument of choice, warm up your vocal cords, and prepare to tap your toes! Click Here to see a sampling of one of our jams. (caution - you're gonna want to start dancing!) |
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