HISTORY AND GRACE
Surprise under sail 1923
Edwin Levick Photo
Built by
the Waddell shipyard in Rockport, Massachusetts for Martin Kattenhorn,
Surprise began her life as a racing
and cruising yacht. Mr. Kattenhorn had commissioned Thomas McManus,
the most famous American designer of fishing schooners, to design
a vessel of about 45 feet, which could be safely sailed by a crew
of no more than three persons. In early 1918, Surprise
slid down the marine railway. Her final dimensions were:
Length overall 57 feet, Length on deck 44 feet, Beam 12 feet,
Draft 7 feet, Displacement 21 tons.
Her topsail
schooner rig allowed Mr. Kattenhorn to fly a mainsail, foresail,
staysail , jib, main topsail, and a fisherman staysail. Her working
sail area, not counting topsails, was just under 1000 square feet.
Surprise was a respected racer. In
1923, she captured sixth place in a fleet of 22 vessels in the
first race to Bermuda after World War I. Mr. Kattenhorn was a
founding member of the Cruising Club of America, and Surprise
carried the club's ensign from Bermuda to Nova Scotia and ports
in between from 1918 until Mr. Kattenhorn's death in 1959, an
incredible sailing career!
Mid 1930's in Echo Bay, New Rochelle
The Kattenhorns Underway, mid 1930's
A series
of owners continued to sail her throughout the East Coast and
the Caribbean until she was purchased by Ed and Cindy Benedict
who brought her to Falmouth on Cape Cod and restored her over
the course of three years. They had her certified as a passenger
vessel and she entered the passenger trade in Falmouth Harbor.
We purchased her from the Benedicts in 1986 and brought her to
Camden, Maine, where we have been taking passengers ever since.
In 1991, Surprise was entered on
the National Register of Historic Places,
which recognizes her as an important part of our country's maritime
heritage. We have carried out four major restoration projects
while she has been under our stewardship, and she is in superb
condition!
We invite you to our
90th anniversary celebration throughout the 2008 season!
Captain Jack
and Barbara Moore
We are proud
of our reputation as the most preferred daysailing trip in Camden
Harbor. We have been written up as "highly recommended"
by "The Discerning Traveler" newsletter. We have also
been featured in magazine and newspaper articles from New England
to New Orleans. We sail from Camden's Public Landing in the center
of town, where there is plenty of free parking. Our season runs
from Memorial Day weekend until the middle of October. We sail
every day that the weather man lets us, on two
hour trips. We would love to welcome you into the world
of the Maine windjammer!
Surprise On
Penobscot Bay