Beginning in 1973, Susan St. John was a sea instructor for 30 years with the Outward Bound School, which was then based on Hurricane Island. She taught teens, women over 30, families, executives, and Vietnam Veterans on land, but 90% of the time in the pulling boats. Susan will show slides and speak about experiential education, including her experiences at Outward Bound and creating the book To Sail Beyond the Sunset, which contains stories and photographs from 100 people associated…

Charles Nethersole, a professional captain, will give an account of what happened one fateful night in November, 2016 aboard Leopard, a 57-foot Chris White design Atlantic Catamaran. The Leopard capsized 400 miles north of the Dominican Republic due to a random weather event. The cause of the capsize has been debated by meteorologists, suggesting that a volatile tornado waterspout or a microburst was to blame. The captain and crew had been sailing proficiently prior to the capsize and did all…

The Camden Yacht Club is delighted to host two world-class artists, both with local connections, for an evening of music and poetry. Bennett Konesni, who grew up on Islesboro and in Appleton and who currently lives in Belfast, Maine and Shelter Island, New York, will share songs from the 1900s recordings of Searsport native Joanna Colcord’s collection of sea shanties. He will lead a lively discussion of the successes and challenges he’s encountered during his efforts to revive these songs…

NOTE: This seminar is being held on a Thursday (all others are on Wednesdays) and takes place post-Castine Classic Regatta and pre-Camden Classic Regatta, in which hundreds of classic wooden yachts participate (many of which will be in Camden Harbor). Marilee will be dockside at the Camden Yacht Club. This 40-minute documentary follows the story of Marilee’s meticulous and unique restoration by French & Webb in Belfast, Maine, as well as Marilee’s ambitious and successful racing program throughout New England.…

Arista Holden, captain and longtime seamanship instructor for programs such as Outward Bound, the National Outdoor Leadership School, Atlantic Challenge, and the Wooden Boat School, will present on her recent 800-mile round trip voyage to the Norwegian Arctic in an open boat. She will also talk about her work as Head Trainer for the team representing the USA in the Atlantic Challenge International. Arista is a Lincolnville native and got her start in sailing Penobscot Bay out of the Rockport Boat…

Nordic Aquafarms is planning on building one of the world’s largest inland salmon aquaculture facilities in Belfast, Maine. Aiming for a 2019 start date, they predict producing more 
than 60 million pounds of salmon a year and potentially creating 140 jobs in the $400,000,000 facility. Erik Heim, CEO of Nordic Aquafarms, will deliver information and answer questions about the project. He explains that the land-based tanks set them apart from other systems that raise fish in pens in oceans. This…

Lisa Pohlmann, the executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, will discuss current challenges facing Maine’s ocean waters as they relate to policy debates in Maine, and how the Natural Resources Council of Maine is addressing them. NRCM is Maine’s leading environmental advocacy organization, with more than 20,000 members and supporters in Maine and beyond. Started by Maine people in 1959, NRCM is based in Augusta and is actively engaged in policy making and works statewide to protect…