About the Friendship Sloop Society

The Society was formed in April 1961, actively promoted by Bernard MacKenzie of Scituate, Massachusetts, then owner of Voyager, registered as #1 in the Society's roster. Bernie was inspired after sailing Voyager in a Boston Power Squadron race in 1960 — winning in strong winds — which led him to organize the first Homecoming Race in Friendship, Maine.

Other notable founding members included Edward "Ned" Ackerman, Charles "Charlie" Burnham, and Roger Duncan, pioneers who recognized the historical and cultural significance of these elegant working boats.

The first Sloop Yearbook in 1961 listed 22 members, and fourteen craft participated in the inaugural race. Today, the Society proudly maintains a registry of 286 Friendship Sloops, with the greatest growth occurring in the 1970s when 50 fiberglass sloops joined the fleet.

Social and racing events were originally held in Friendship, Maine until 1984, when the growing fleet necessitated a move to Boothbay Harbor in 1985. In 1995, the annual Homecoming relocated to Rockland, Maine, where it continues today. The Society also hosts the Southwest Harbor race the weekend before Rockland, and has historically held regattas in New London, Connecticut and Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Annual Homecoming Regatta

Our flagship event, held each July in Rockland, Maine, brings together Friendship Sloops for three days of racing, camaraderie, and celebration. The 2010 event marked our 50th Homecoming with thirty sloops participating. Whether racing or simply rafted at the dock, the sight of these classic vessels gathered together is truly spectacular.

Annual Meeting

Each November, members gather for the Annual Meeting in South Portland, Maine (held at Martin's Manor since 2003). This event combines Society business with storytelling, renewed friendships, and community building.

The Society publishes two key publications: the Annual Yearbook released each July, which chronicles the history of the sloops, and a newsletter published three times yearly covering Society activities and news. The Marlinspike and Tech Tips series provide ongoing seamanship and maintenance guidance to members.

Browse the full publications archive →

Origins

Friendship Sloops were developed around 1880 by fishermen and boatbuilders in Muscongus Bay on the Maine coast, particularly in and around the town of Friendship. These vessels evolved from the fishing and lobstering needs of local watermen, with design influences from Gloucester fishing boats.

Design & Construction

Master boatbuilders including Wilbur A. Morse — known as the "father of the Friendship Sloop" — along with the Carters, McLains, Collomores, and Winchenbachs created these distinctive vessels. While not a "class boat" with standardized dimensions, Friendship Sloops ranged from 21 to 50 feet in length, averaging 30–40 feet.

These gaff-rigged sloops featured elliptical sterns, clipper bows, and were built from local pine and oak. They were designed for the demanding work of seining for herring, hand-lining for cod, sword fishing, mackereling, and lobstering in the Gulf of Maine.

Historical Significance

Wilbur Morse's prolific shop in Friendship launched a new sloop every two or three months. In 1903 alone, 22 sloops were being built on the shores of Bremen Long Island. Fishermen typically built their boats over winter, fished with them all summer, then sold them in fall for $350–$500, beginning the cycle anew.

The advent of motors around 1915 nearly relegated these beautiful craft to extinction, but their fine lines, seaworthiness, and sailing performance ensured their survival as beloved recreational vessels.

The Society maintains strong relationships with maritime institutions to preserve sloop history and design records:

• Maine Maritime Museum, Bath — Home to extensive maritime archives and exhibits showcasing Maine's shipbuilding heritage, including comprehensive documentation of Friendship Sloop construction and design.
• Sail, Power & Steam Museum, Rockland — Features restored vessels and maritime artifacts highlighting the transition from working sail to mechanized craft, with special focus on Penobscot Bay maritime history.
• Friendship Museum, Friendship (established 1964) — Located in the birthplace of the Friendship Sloop, this community museum preserves the town's rich boatbuilding legacy and houses artifacts, photographs, and records documenting the sloops' working history.

These partnerships ensure year-round access to historical records and artifacts for research and education.

Since 1983, the Society has administered the Friendship Memorial Scholarship Fund, providing educational support to residents of Friendship, Maine. The Society makes annual contributions to this fund and the Friendship Museum as part of its commitment to the community.

Learn more about the scholarship fund and how to apply →