Annual December Gathering
On Sunday, December 7, sixty-five members and guests assembled at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath for the Club’s annual December Gathering. The event began with a social hour where attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, including a popular oyster raw bar, and a selection of beverages. This provided an excellent opportunity for members and guests to mingle and catch up before the evening’s main presentation.
Before the featured speaker took the stage, Doug and Dale Bruce were honored as recipients of the 2025 Richard S Nye Trophy, an award presented by the Club’s Governing Board to recognize meritorious service. In announcing the award, Tom Babbitt highlighted the Bruces’ longstanding and significant contributions to the Club. Their achievements include rewriting the CCA Cruising Guide to Newfoundland, leading the production of the Club’s annual magazine, Voyages, for seven years, and redesigning the Canadian Maritime Cruising Guides. They also created the Viking Route Guide, launched the online CA Cruising Guide to Maine, served in various Post officer positions, and participated in numerous Club Committees, including Safety and Seamanship, Awards, Nominating, Station Membership, and Communications. The assembled members expressed their sincere appreciation for Doug and Dale’s dedication with a standing ovation.
After an introduction by Commodore Jim Harvie, featured speaker Max Fletcher delivered an engaging and entertaining presentation on his voyage to Antarctica. Through stunning photography and videography, Max shared the extraordinary challenges of navigating poorly charted waters and coping with fierce, unpredictable weather conditions. He emphasized the importance of skill, resilience, and self-sufficiency in successfully completing such a demanding journey. The audience was captivated, and all present no doubt agreed that Max’s expedition truly embodied an “adventurous use of the sea.”
March 7: Front Street Shipyard (Belfast, ME) Visit
30 members assembled at Front Street Shipyard in Belfast for a tour lead by Front Street president JB Turner. Front Street was founded in 2011 and recently became part of the Safe Harbor Marinas family. JB employed an engaging story-telling style to highlight the yard’s extensive capabilities – the largest travel lift north of Newport RI (440 mt), a precision high pressure water cutting machine, refit capabilities for every type system on virtually any type of vessel, extensive indoor and outdoor storage and much more.
Front Street operates a very welcoming marina service in-season, capable of accommodating yachts up to 200’. Belfast is a charming coastal Maine town with retail shops and restaurants / pubs housed in attractive old brick buildings along Main Street. It is a smaller rival to nearby Camden and well worth a visit. The group renewed old, and made new, friendships while enjoying lunch at nearby Darby’s Restaurant after the tour.
