sailboat accident in maine

Mast of historic boat snaps, killing 1 and injuring 3 off the coast of Rockland, Maine

One person is dead and three injured after the mast of a historic vessel snapped in half and fell onto the deck off Rockland, Maine, officials said.

The Grace Bailey, a schooner that takes passengers on excursions up and down the Maine coast, was returning from a four-day cruise Monday when the "unexpected and catastrophic" mast failure happened, the ship's operators said. One person was killed after the main mast fell onto the deck, the Rockland Fire Department said. Three others were taken to local hospitals and were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the Maine Windjammer Association said in a statement.

The U.S. Coast Guard evacuated injured passengers within minutes, the vessel's operators said, and authorities were investigating the cause of the accident.

"As of now, we do not have a cause," said U.S. Coast Guard First District spokesperson Diolanda Caballero.

The mast splintered and snapped, the Coast Guard said. The ship had been carrying 33 people.

The Grace Bailey can hold a maximum of 29 passengers, according to her webpage. The vessel was not over capacity at the time, because it can hold 29 passengers plus crew, the windjammer association said in an emailed statement.

The names of the victims were not immediately released.

What is the Grace Bailey schooner?

The Grace Bailey is part of the state’s so-called windjammer fleet, a collection of nine historic vessels that take people on coastal excursions. The vessels are individually owned and operated, according to the group's website, and members work together to preserve the history the boats represent.

The ship's captains, Sam Sikkema and Suzannah Smith, said they did not know what caused the mast to fail, according to the Maine Windjammer Association.

“My crew and I are devastated by this morning’s accident, especially since the safety of our guests is always our biggest priority," Sikkema said. "Most importantly, we are beyond heartbroken that we lost a dear friend. Our entire crew extends our love and support to the family members and to everyone affected by this tragedy.”

The Grace Bailey's overall length is 118 feet, according to its official website. It was built in Long Island, New York, in 1882.

The vessel takes several trips during the summer months every year, according to its online schedule. Operators advertise online that the excursions are "fun and comfortable" trips for couples, families and charter groups.

The accident happened on the last day of Grace Bailey's final trip of the season, the Maine Windjammer Association said. The association said it didn't have any information on what was next for the vessel, including whether it would continue to sail.

Contributing: The Associated Press

1 dead, 3 injured after schooner's mast collapses onto boat deck

The medical conditions of the three injured people are currently unknown.

One person is dead and three people have been injured when a mast broke on a schooner in Rockland Harbor, Maine, and fell onto the deck of the vessel.

Thirty-three people were aboard the Grace Bailey, a 118-foot schooner that was approximately one mile east of Rockland Harbor in Maine, when the New England Command Center received a call for help around 10 a.m. Monday morning “requesting assistance after their mast reportedly broke and fell onto the deck causing head and back injuries to four people,” according to a statement from the United States Coast Guard.

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Coast Guard watchstanders immediately dispatched a Coast Guard Station Rockland 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) to the scene of the accident.

“The MLB crew arrived on scene and transferred a woman from the Grace Bailey to Rockland Harbor where she was transferred to awaiting EMS and pronounced deceased,” the U.S. Coast Guard said. “The MLB crew returned to the Grace Bailey with two EMS personnel to retrieve the three remaining injured people. The three people were transferred to EMS at Rockland Harbor and taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.”

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“In this time of sorrow, we offer our deepest condolences to the grieving family, and our most heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to those harmed,” said said Capt. Amy Florentino, the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England commander. “Our investigation aims to identify causative factors that led to this tragic incident.”

Commercial salvage personnel responded following the accident and towed the Grace Bailey to Rockport Harbor where officials will continue their investigation into the schooner’s demasting.

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Person killed, several others hurt when the mast breaks on a schooner in rockland.

There were 28 people on board the well-known Grace Bailey at the time

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One person is dead and three others are hurt after a schooner accident in Rockland Harbor.

The United States Coast Guard learned about a large sailboat in distress just outside the Breakwater at about 10:30 a.m. Monday.

The mainmast on the 80-foot Grace Bailey had snapped and the Coast Guard had reports of multiple people hurt. Rockland rescue personnel were transported out to the boat with the Coast Guard to help care for the injured and coordinate medical care once they could get back to the mainland.

Officials say there were 28 people on board the schooner at the time. The owners of the boat say they were returning from a four-day cruise when there was an "unexpected and catastrophic failure" of the mainmast, causing it to split and come down onto the deck.

Three people were transported from the Coast Guard pier: Two were brought to Penbay Medical Center in Rockport and one to an awaiting LifeFlight helicopter. One other person died from their injuries. The three people who were taken to the hospital were expected to recover.

Officials did not immediately release the names of the people involved.

"My crew and I are devastated by this morning's accident, especially since the safety of our guests is always our biggest priority. Most importantly, we are beyond heartbroken that we lost a dear friend. Our entire crew extends our love and support to the family members and to everyone affected by this tragedy," said Captain Sam Sikkema.

The Grace Bailey was built in 1882 and is owned in part by actor Mark Evan Jackson, who is known for his roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, Parks & Recreation, The Baby-Sitters Club and more.

The Grace Bailey offers 3 to 6 night vacation trips along the Maine coast and is very well known in the area.

"It's sad. Whenever there's a loss of life, it's sad, very sad. And especially in a situation like this. It's a it's a sad day for the Windjammer crew. It's a sad day for the city of Rockland," said Ken Dutelle of Rockland.

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UPDATE: Mast breaks on schooner ‘Grace Bailey’ while under sail, one dead

The mast on the Grace Bailey  schooner broke while just beyond Rockland Harbor after 10 a.m., today, Oct. 9, resulting in one death of a female and several injured.

The woman who was killed has been identified as Emily Mecklenburg, a physician at Pen Bay Medical Center, in Rockport. The cause of her death has yet to be determined, according to Maine’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Three patients were transported from the U.S. Coast Guard pier, with two taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, and one to an awaiting LifeFlight helicopter.

“Unfortunately one additional patient had succumbed to their injuries and the City of Rockland extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victim,” said Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock, in a news release.

A mast on the sailboat had snapped and Knox Regional Communications Center, which took the distress call from the Coast Guard, had reports of multiple people injured, said Whytock.

Rockland Fire and EMS were transported out with the USCG and rendered care to the injured and coordinated medical care once on the mainland.  

The Coast Guard said later in the day that four of the 33 people aboard the schooner were injured, approximately one mile east of Rockland Harbor.

Crew aboard the Grace Bailey contacted the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center around 10 a.m. requesting assistance after their mast reportedly broke and fell onto the deck causing head and back injuries to four people. 

Coast Guard watchstanders dispatched a Coast Guard Station Rockland 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) crew to assist. 

The MLB crew arrived on scene and transferred a woman from the Grace Bailey to Rockland Harbor where she was transferred to awaiting EMS and pronounced deceased. 

The MLB crew returned to the Grace Bailey with two EMS personnel to retrieve the three remaining injured people. The three people were transferred to EMS at Rockland Harbor and taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. 

“In this time of sorrow, we offer our deepest condolences to the grieving family, and our most heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to those harmed,” said said Capt. Amy Florentino, the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England commander, in the release. “Our investigation aims to identify causative factors that led to this tragic incident.”

Charlie’s Marine Services commercial salvage personnel responded and towed the Grace Bailey to Rockport Harbor. 

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

The Grace Bailey , once known on Penobscot Bay at The Mattie , was built in Patchogue, New York, 1882 by Oliver Perry Smith at his boatyard on the Patchogue River, in Patchogue, New York.

The schooner is 118 feet in length, and is a member of windjammer fleet, with a homeport of Rockland.

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Rockland doctor identified as woman killed after mast breaks aboard schooner

Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, 40, of Rockland, was killed when the top of the rear mast of the Rockland-based Grace Bailey split and fell, striking multiple people.

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The top portion of the mainmast lies across the deck of the Grace Bailey as the schooner sits off the coast of Rockland on Monday. Kurt Schleicher via Associated Press

ROCKLAND — A doctor at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport was killed Monday when the top of a mast broke and fell on the deck of the Grace Bailey, a schooner partly owned by actor Marc Evan Jackson .

Dr. Emily Mecklenburg Photo courtesy of MaineHealth

Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, 40, of Rockland, was declared dead when she was brought ashore by a Coast Guard boat following the accident. The Maine Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta said a cause of death has not yet been determined.

Mecklenburg specialized in internal medicine, according to MaineHealth’s website. She had been practicing at Pen Bay since 2016 and Waldo County General Hospital since 2018.

The hospital and medical center said in a statement on Tuesday that they were “heartbroken” to learn of Mecklenburg’s death.

“Emily was friend to so many and well known for the compassionate care she provided to patients,” the statement said, adding that her colleagues would be offered grief counseling and other support.

Mecklenburg graduated from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 2013 and did her residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Advertisement

The two-masted schooner, built in 1882 and restored in 1990, was about a mile east of Rockland Harbor at about 10 a.m. when the top of the rear mast split and fell, striking several people. Mecklenburg was a passenger aboard the Grace Bailey, which was returning from a sold-out, four-night foliage cruise.

Mecklenburg sustained an apparent serious head wound and was taken off the schooner first Monday. The three other injured people were then taken from the ship and transported to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

A passenger aboard the Grace Bailey said the accident happened “out of nowhere.” The passenger, who asked to not be identified, said the winds were not strong and the vessel had not made any sharp tacks when the incident occurred.

Maine Marine Patrol officers meet the crew of the Grace Bailey after it docked at Lermond Cove shortly after noon on Monday. Photo by Stephen Betts

The Coast Guard began investigating the accident Monday, said Ensign Matthew Bartnick, stationed in South Portland. He said the investigation will be handled by personnel from the Marine Safety Detachment in Belfast. Bartnick did not know when the Grace Bailey was last inspected by the Coast Guard or how often it was required to be inspected, but said that information would be part of the investigation.

The failure or snapping in half of a schooner mast, when neither bad weather nor a collision is involved, is an extremely rare event, said Jim Sharp, a former captain of Midcoast schooners with more than 40 years of sailing experience. Sharp, who now runs the Sail, Power and Steam Museum in Rockland, was not aware of another time in his years of sailing when a mast failed on its own while the ship was under sail.

You’ve seen him on TV. Now, you can join him aboard his windjammer in Rockland

Sharp said the cause of such a failure would likely be rot created by fresh water from the rain getting into the wood at certain points along the mast, including where the metal wires that support the masts are attached. He said regular maintenance is required to repair and seal any areas where fresh water can get into the wood. Sharp estimated that the Grace Bailey’s masts are about 75 feet high. Advertisement

“I’ve never seen anything like this, it’s unheard of,” Sharp said. “Usually these windjammers are very safe vessels. I know the man at the helm (Capt. Sam Sikkema) is not an inexperienced man.”

‘HEARTBROKEN’

Sikkema, the captain of the Grace Bailey and one of Jackson’s three partners, released a statement on the accident Monday afternoon:

“My crew and I are devastated by this morning’s accident, especially since the safety of our guests is always our biggest priority. Most importantly, we are beyond heartbroken that we lost a dear friend.”

Sikkema did not respond to questions about the accident emailed and texted to him. Jackson responded to questions about the accident Monday by saying, “We have no comment at this time.” A third partner, Suzannah Smith, did not respond to questions sent through text and email.

The 1880s schooner Grace Bailey, right, at Windjammer Wharf in Rockland in August. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

The Coast Guard responded to a report that the Grace Bailey had “demasted” around 10 a.m. and that four of the 33 people aboard suffered head and back injuries, the Coast Guard’s Boston office said in a statement issued Monday night. Advertisement

A Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Lifeboat was dispatched to the schooner and transferred one woman to shore, where she was pronounced dead. The Coast Guard boat then went back to take the other three injured people to shore and eventually to the hospital. The names of those injured were not released.

Marc Evan Jackson on board the Grace Bailey in August. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

“In this time of sorrow, we offer our deepest condolences to the grieving family, and our most heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to those harmed,” said Capt. Amy Florentino, the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England commander. “Our investigation aims to identify causative factors that led to this tragic incident.”

Charlie’s Marine Services commercial salvage personnel responded and towed the Grace Bailey to Rockport Harbor. 

Jackson, who is known for his roles on TV shows “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Good Place,” had been a part of several of the Grace Bailey’s overnight cruises this year but was not scheduled to be on this one.

He told the Press Herald earlier this year that a major reason he wanted to be involved with the Grace Bailey is to help preserve the state’s fleet of windjammers – sailing vessels that take vacationers on overnight cruises – and make Maine residents more aware of their existence and history.

A FOLIAGE CRUISE Advertisement

According to the Grace Bailey’s website, the Rockland-based schooner had begun the foliage cruise Thursday and was set to return Monday. A folk trio called Skylark was scheduled to perform on the cruise. One of the musicians who was on board, A.J. Wright, declined in an email to give details of the accident, citing the Coast Guard investigation and the lack of information as to what happened.

“The captain and owners of the schooner have no additional information or knowledge of why the mast failed. Out of respect of the privacy of the crew and guests, no names or information about the passengers will be provided at this time, ” Wright wrote in an email.

Jackson and his partners were offering a 40% discount to Maine residents this season and next. Standard cabin prices for upcoming dates range from $1,110-$1,720 per person, meals included, depending on date and duration. The trips last between three and six nights.

The 118-foot, two-masted schooner has 15 cabins with accommodations for 29 passengers. The trips have no itinerary, Jackson told the Press Herald, so the various stops at Maine islands or in hidden coves are completely unscheduled.

Jackson, who lives in Los Angeles, grew up near Buffalo, New York, but was fascinated by Maine windjammers at an early age. He began applying to work as a deckhand on Maine schooners when he was 12 or 13. After college, he worked one summer as first mate on the schooner Mercantile out of Camden. Last year, after hearing the Grace Bailey might be for sale, he became a part of the new ownership group. The Grace Bailey previously had been owned by Ray and Ann Williamson, of Camden, from 1985 to 2002, according to the ship’s website.

The Grace Bailey was built in Patchogue, New York, in 1882 by Oliver Perry Smith and restored in 1990. It was named for owner Edwin Bailey’s daughter, according the ship’s website. In 1906, the ship was rebuilt and renamed for Mr. Bailey’s granddaughter, Martha, who was nicknamed Mattie. From 1906 until 1990, the schooner sailed using the name Mattie, but in the spring of 1990, after the restoration, the original name was used again.

“The city of Rockland extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victim,” the city said in a statement from the Rockland Fire Department.

Stephen Betts is a staff writer for The Courier-Gazette, and Ray Routhier is a staff writer for the Portland Press Herald.

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1 killed, 3 injured when historic Maine schooner’s mast snaps

The coast guard is expected to investigate why the grace bailey’s mast snapped.

Associated Press

ROCKLAND, Maine — The main mast of a historic excursion vessel splintered and fell onto the vessel’s deck on Monday, killing one person and injuring three others aboard the schooner Grace Bailey, officials said Monday.

A nearby Coast Guard vessel began evacuating the injured passengers within minutes of the mast’s catastrophic failure and collapse on the deck, which occurred while the vessel was returning from a four-day cruise, the vessel’s owner said in a statement.

One person died from injuries and three people were transported to hospitals on Monday, the Rockland Fire Department said. A helicopter transported one of the three injured, while the other two were transported to a local hospital, fire officials said.

Afterward, the vessel was towed into Rockland Harbor. Images posted online showed the vessel with the top of its main mast splintered.

The Grace Bailey is part of the state’s so-called windjammer fleet, a collection of sailing vessels that take people on excursions up and down the coast.

“My crew and I are devastated by this morning’s accident, especially since the safety of our guests is always our biggest priority. Most importantly, we are beyond heartbroken that we lost a dear friend,” the vessel’s captain, Sam Sikkema, said in a statement.

The boat’s operators said they had no idea why the mast failed. The Coast Guard will conduct a full investigation into the incident, they said. No names of the victims were released.

The Grace Bailey had posted images on social media earlier in the trip, including an image the day before of passengers carving pumpkins on the vessel.

The Grace Bailey’s overall length is 118 feet long (36 meters) and it can carry 29 passengers, according to its official website. It was built in Long Island, New York, in 1882.

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The Grace Bailey docked after a fatal accident occurred aboard the vessel.

• Photo by Stephen Betts
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Maine Marine Patrol officers met the crew of the Grace Bailey as it docked at Lermond Cove shortly after noon on Monday, Oct. 9 Photo by Stephen Betts

Rockland emergency medical services crew await the arrival of injured people from the schooner Grace Bailey on Monday morning Oct. 9.

Coast Guard boats from the Rockland station took emergency medical crews out to the Grace Bailey .

The Grace Bailey

• File photo from the Grace Bailey

A sign blocking off the dock and float system where the Grace Bailey is docked was placed there Monday afternoon Oct. 9.

Dr. Emily Mecklenburg

• Photo from MaineHealth website

Pen Bay doctor was victim in fatal accident on schooner Grace Bailey

Stephen Betts

• Author email
• Oct 9, 2023
• Oct 9, 2023 Updated Oct 16, 2023

ROCKLAND — A doctor at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport was the victim of the accident aboard the Grace Bailey on Monday, Oct. 9 when the top of a mast broke and fell on the deck of the schooner.

Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, 40, a resident of downtown Rockland, was declared dead when she was brought ashore by a Coast Guard boat following the accident. The Maine Medical Examiner’s Office in Augusta said a cause of death has not yet been determined.

“The Pen Bay and Waldo family was heartbroken to learn that our colleague Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, was tragically killed in a boating accident off the Rockland Breakwater. Emily was a friend to so many and well known for the compassionate care she provided to patients. We have reached out to her family to offer our condolences, and we have arranged for grief counseling and other support for our care team. Along with our community, we grieve Emily’s loss and send our thoughts and prayers to her family,” the hospital system stated in a news release issued Oct. 10.

Mecklenburg specialized in internal medicine, according to the MaineHealth website. She has been practicing at Pen Bay since 2016 and Waldo County General Hospital since 2018.

She graduated from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 2013 and did her residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Three other people were injured in the accident that occurred off the Rockland Breakwater shortly after 10 a.m. The top of the tallest mast split and struck the passengers.

The Coast Guard said it dispatched a Coast Guard Station Rockland 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew to assist. The crew arrived on scene and transferred a woman from the Grace Bailey to Rockland Harbor where she was transferred to awaiting EMS and pronounced deceased.

The crew returned to the Grace Bailey with two Rockland emergency medical services personnel to retrieve the three remaining injured people. The three people were transferred to EMS at Rockland Harbor and taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

A passenger aboard the Grace Bailey said it “demasted out of nowhere.”

“Horrible. Really shocking,” the passenger said, who asked not to identified.

The winds were not strong and the vessel had not made any sharp tacks, the passenger said, when the incident occurred.

The National Weather Service said the winds were at 20 knots at 10 a.m., Oct. 9.

The schooner was towed back to shore by Charles Weidman’s dive service to where it docks at Lermond Cove. Rockland Harbor Master Molly Eddy went out to help escort the schooner back to shore.

Maine Marine Patrol officers met the vessel when it docked.

The Grace Bailey is 118-feet long with a deck 80-feet long and can carry 29 passengers.

The Maine Marine Patrol said the investigation will be done by the Coast Guard.

“The City of Rockland extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victim,” the city stated in a news release from the Rockland Fire Department.

Grace Bailey ‘s website states this was a four-night foliage trip that started Thursday, Oct. 5 and was scheduled to end Monday, Oct. 9 with a musical group for entertainment. This was the scheduled final trip of the season for the schooner, which was built in 1882.

A message was left for the owners of the schooner. The Grace Bailey ‘s website lists Captain Sam Sikkema, Marc Evan Jackson and Suzannah Smith as the hosts for the passenger schooner. Jackson is an actor in shows such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “The Good Place,” “Parks & Recreation,” and “The Baby-Sitters Club.” He worked aboard the Grace Bailey ‘s former sister ship, the Mercantile , 30 years ago as first mate.

Jackson issued no comment to the Portland Press Herald.

The Coast Guard issued a statement Monday evening, Oct. 9.

“In this time of sorrow, we offer our deepest condolences to the grieving family, and our most heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to those harmed,” said said Capt. Amy Florentino, the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England commander. “Our investigation aims to identify causative factors that led to this tragic incident.”

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One dead, three injured after Schooner accident in Rockland

ROCKLAND, Maine (WMTW) - One person is dead and three others are hurt after a schooner accident in Rockland Harbor.

The United States Coast Guard learned about a large sailboat in distress just outside the Breakwater at about 10:30 a.m. Monday.

A mast on the Grace Bailey had snapped and the Coast Guard had reports of multiple people hurt. Rockland rescue personnel were transported out to the boat with the Coast Guard to help care for the injured and coordinate medical care once they could get back to the mainland.

Officials say there were 28 people on board the schooner at the time.

Three people were transported from the Coast Guard pier: Two were brought to Penbay Medical Center in Rockport and one to an awaiting LifeFlight helicopter. One other person died from their injuries.

Officials did not immediately release the names of the people involved.

The Grace Bailey is owned in part by actor Mark Evan Jackson, who is known for his roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, Parks & Recreation, The Baby-Sitters Club and more.

The Grace Bailey offers 3 to 6 night vacation trips along the Maine coast.

Copyright 2023 WABI. All rights reserved.

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Breaking news, doctor, 40, killed after mast snaps on 150-year-old schooner off coast of maine in ‘unforeseen’ tragedy.

A doctor aboard a 150-year-old schooner was killed Monday morning when the vessel’s mainmast shattered under sail and collapsed into the deck off the coast of Maine.

The Grace Bailey, a 118 foot “windjammer” that operates tours in the waters off Maine, was returning from a four-day voyage with 33 people onboard when the mast broke, its owner said in a statement.

A towing service rushed to the scene about a mile out from the Rockland harbor, and arrived to find people performing CPR on one victim.

Emily Mecklenburg, 40, a doctor from Rockland, was later declared dead , while three others were rushed to the hospital with head, spine, and crush injuries.

An emergency responder said they saw somebody trapped beneath the fallen mast.

“It is an unforeseen circumstance,” said Charlie Weidman, owner of Charlie’s Marine Service and the first person to reach the schooner after the accident.

“No one trains to have a giant mast break on a schooner. Everyone acted with professionalism. Everyone was doing the best they could with the gifts that they had.”

Weidman towed the boat into Rockland Harbor, where one of the victims was airlifted out.

The Coast Guard is investigating what caused the break. Officials noted conditions were calm and not windy when the accident happened.

“We want to make sure the investigation is being done thoroughly and that the necessary boxes are being checked,” Coast Guard Ensign Matthew Bartnick said Tuesday.

Though the Grace Bailey was built in 1882, like numerous other tall ships that operate off the coast of New England it had been refurbished many times over the years.

Almost all the planks of wood have been replaced during the boat’s lifetime, and the mast which snapped was not the original, a spokesperson for the boat, Nicole Jacques, said.

The vessel’s owners also said they had no idea why the mast broke.

“My crew and I are devastated by this morning’s accident, especially since the safety of our guests is always our biggest priority,” said the vessel’s captain, Sam Sikkema.

“Most importantly, we are beyond heartbroken that we lost a dear friend.”

Dr. Mecklenburg worked for the MaineHealth system, primarily out of the Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockland.

With Post wires

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33 people aboard schooner at time of fatal accident in Rockland

Update (5:30 p.m.): 

The U.S. Coast Guard said the Grace Bailey, a 118-foot schooner, had 33 people aboard when it was demasted.

In a news release, the Coast Guard said personnel on the boat reached out to the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center requesting help after their mast broke and fell onto the deck. It caused head and back injuries.

Officials said the boat was about a mile east of Rockland Harbor at the time of the demasting.

"The MLB crew arrived on scene and transferred a woman from the Grace Bailey to Rockland Harbor where she was transferred to awaiting EMS and pronounced deceased," the release stated.

The Coast Guard returned to the Grace Bailey with EMS personnel to retrieve the other injured individuals. Three were hospitalized.

“In this time of sorrow, we offer our deepest condolences to the grieving family, and our most heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to those harmed,” Capt. Amy Florentino, the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England commander, said in the release. “Our investigation aims to identify causative factors that led to this tragic incident.”

Officials said the Coast Guard is continuing to investigate the cause of the incident.

Original story: 

One person has died and others were injured in a sailboat accident in Penobscot Bay on Monday morning, officials say.

Officials received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard about a "large sailboat in distress" just outside the breakwater in Rockland Harbor, the Rockland Fire & EMS Department said in a news release.

Rockland Fire & EMS Chief Chris Whytock told NEWS CENTER Maine the boat involved in the accident was the Grace Bailey Schooner.

Officials said the call came in at about 10:30 a.m.

According to the release, a mast on the sailboat snapped, and there were reports of multiple people injured.

Fire and emergency personnel worked with the Coast Guard and cared for several injured boaters. Three patients were hospitalized, and an additional patient "succumbed to their injuries," the release stated.

"The City of Rockland extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victim," the release said.

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Schooner with broken mast that killed passenger had previous incidents

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ROCKLAND, Maine — Editor's note: The video attached to this story was published Oct. 10. 

A historic sailing vessel on which a passenger was fatally injured by a broken mast was involved in three previous accidents in 2022 and 2019 when the schooner was under different ownership, according to Coast Guard records.

The Grace Bailey, built in 1882, was returning from a four-day excursion when its main mast splintered and tumbled onto the deck, killing a doctor and injuring three other passengers Monday outside Rockland Harbor.

The most serious previous incident happened on July 8, 2022, when the Grace Bailey's skipper apparently misjudged distance while maneuvering and struck another schooner anchored in Rockland Harbor, with the Grace Bailey’s front boom hitting the American Eagle. American Eagle’s mainsail suffered a large gash, and Grace Bailey’s boom crashed into the water, according to a Coast Guard report.

The Grace Bailey also ran aground in 2022 and in 2019. Both times, there were no injuries and only minor damage, according to Coast Guard reports. The schooner floated free at high tide in both instances.

RELATED: Victim of fatal accident on schooner in Rockland identified as Maine doctor

The vessel was under new ownership this season, according to a spokesperson. It underwent an annual inspection on May 31 and was in compliance with all regulatory requirements, the Coast Guard said.

The mast failure in routine sailing conditions suggests the mast must’ve been weakened, probably by water intrusion and rot, said Jim Sharp, a former schooner owner who runs the Sail, Power and Steam Museum in Rockland.

The Bailey Grace was carrying 33 passengers and crew when the mast snapped Monday morning. “It’s unbelievable that this could happen this way. It takes me aback,” Sharp said Wednesday.

RELATED: Community speaks to importance of schooner safety, local impact after fatal accident in Rockland

Nicole Jacques, spokesperson for the Grace Bailey’s owners, said it's “conjecture” to offer theories about why the mast failed. The cause will be determined by the Coast Guard, she said.

It's unclear when the mast was last inspected. Those inspections are less frequent than annual inspections and require the mast to be removed from the vessel and inspected on land, Sharp said.

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Maine sailboat involved in deadly mast break in Rockland reportedly has history of mishaps

by Ariana St Pierre , WGME

This photo provided by Kurt Schleicher shows the schooner Grace Bailey with its main mast broken off the coast of Rockland, Maine, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Kurt Schleicher via AP)

ROCKLAND (WGME) -- A Maine schooner, which had its mast snap and kill a passenger earlier this week, has reportedly sustained extensive damage in the past, according to the Bangor Daily News.

On Monday, the Grace Bailey was returning to Rockland after a four-day cruise when the main mast snapped and fell onto dozens of passengers below.

• Also read: Maine doctor identified as victim killed after sailboat mast snaps in Rockland

Officials say 40-year-old Emily Mecklenburg, a doctor at Pen Bay Medical Center, died, and three others were hurt.

The BDN reports the Grace Bailey has a history of significant damage while under different ownership.

According to the BDN, the Rockland-based sailboat ran into the schooner American Eagle in Rockland Harbor on July 8, 2022, while attempting to make a turn. No injuries were reported. However, the collision reportedly totaled around $100,000 between both ships.

Four days before the collision with the American Eagle, on July 4, 2022, the BDN reports the Bailey ran aground off of Scott’s Island near Stonington. It also ran reportedly aground three years prior on Cross Island Ledge in Penobscot Bay with 20 passengers onboard in August 2019, according to the BDN.

• Also read: 'We lost a dear friend:' Captain, crew devastated after person killed in Rockland sailboat accident

After the Grace Bailey’s collision last summer, the ship was repaired and then recertified by the Coast Guard on July 27, 2022, according to the BDN. The Grace Bailey’s most recent certificate of inspection expires on in 2027.

The latest incident remains under investigation.

Troy R. Bennett with the Bangor Daily News contributed to this report.

Victim killed by falling mast on Maine schooner carrying tourists was a doctor

ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — A woman killed when  a mast snapped and toppled onto the deck  of a historic sailing vessel that carries tourists off the Maine coast was a physician at the hospital where three other victims were taken for treatment, officials said Tuesday.

Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, 40, of Rockland, was declared dead Monday after she was evacuated from the stricken vessel Grace Bailey by the Coast Guard, Nicole Jacques, a spokesperson for owners of the schooner, said Tuesday. Three others who were injured were taken to PenBay Medical Center in Rockport where Mecklenburg worked, officials said.

The Coast Guard is investigating why the schooner’s main mast snapped in conditions that were not windy. The schooner was about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east of Rockland harbor, the Coast Guard said.

There’s no timeline for the investigation, which could take weeks or months.

“We want to make sure the investigation is being done thoroughly and that the necessary boxes are being checked,” Ensign Matthew Bartnick, a Coast Guard spokesperson in Maine, said Tuesday.

The Grace Bailey was part of Maine’s windjammer fleet comprised mostly of large historic sailboats that take tourists on multi-day outings. The Grace Bailey was returning from a four-day excursion when the mast snapped late Monday morning.

An emergency medical technician who assisted said that one person was briefly trapped under the fallen mast. Three others suffered head and back injuries, he said.

While the Grace Bailey was old, built in 1882, there are several older vessels that carry passengers off the Maine coast. The Lewis R. French and Stephen Taber were both built in 1871, Jacques said.

All of those vessels have been refurbished multiple times over the years, and most of the planks and other components have been replaced, Jacques said. The mast that splintered was not Grace Bailey’s original mast, she said.

The Grace Bailey, which was carrying 33 passengers and crew, was formerly known as the Mattie before coming under new ownership and being renamed in the past year. One of the new owners is actor Marc Evan Jackson, who is known for his roles on TV shows “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Good Place.”

Jackson used to sail on windjammers as a young man and comes back year after year to sail in Maine, Jacques said. He decided to become a part owner when the opportunity presented itself, she said.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Home → News → Marine Patrol Investigating Recreational Boating Fatality Near South Harpswell

Marine Patrol Investigating Recreational Boating Fatality Near South Harpswell

August 17, 2024

South Harpswell - The Maine Marine Patrol is investigating a recreational boating fatality that occurred yesterday at approximately 7:50 p.m. According to Marine Patrol reports, Samuel Sharpe, 23, of Harpswell fell from a 19-foot center console boat while operating it near South Harpswell. Based on observations of his injuries, Sharpe appeared to have been struck by the boat's propeller.

Good Samaritans who witnessed the incident pulled him from the water and transported him to shore at Potts Point Landing in South Harpswell. Members of Harpswell Fire and Rescue attempted lifesaving measures however he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

His body has been transported to a local funeral home and will be examined by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. 

US Coast Guard personnel secured the boat, and the Harpswell Harbormaster brought it to shore.

Assisting agencies included Harpswell Fire and Rescue, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Search continues for NH man missing off Maine coast

FALMOUTH — Search and recovery teams continued their efforts Saturday in Casco Bay for a New Hampshire native who went missing after going overboard on the Fourth of July.

Edward H. Berke, 31, a New Haven, Conn. resident and Bow High School alumnus, fell into the water around 7 p.m. Thursday from the 21-foot motor vessel “Ternina” during its operation between Chebeague Island and South Portland.

The boat was piloted by Portland-area resident Benjamin Woodbury, reported to be one of Berke’s closest friends.

Authorities have been scouring the area since Berke’s disappearance, facing challenges posed by the cold waters of the bay.

The search has included multiple agencies, alongside local volunteers, who have contributed to the effort by sea and air.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Marine Patrol, and several local fire departments are involved in the operation, which has continued through the weekend.

Despite their efforts, Berke remains unaccounted for.

Officials urge anyone with information regarding Berke’s whereabouts or the circumstances leading up to his disappearance to contact local authorities.

The search is expected to continue as conditions permit.

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Watch CBS News

Teen critically injured in tubing accident on Lake Winnipesaukee

By Neal Riley

Updated on: August 14, 2024 / 3:38 PM EDT / CBS Boston

GILFORD, N.H. - A teenager was critically hurt while tubing on New Hampshire's Lake Winnipesaukee .

Maine patrol officers with the New Hampshire State Police responded just before 5 p.m. to the Little Camp Island area in Gilford. The 17-year-old reportedly "became unconscious while out tubing with family members," police said.

First responders were on the scene within minutes and boarded a boat where the teenager's father was "attempting life-saving measures," police said. Officers continued those measures as they took the teen ashore and rushed him to the hospital.

Photos from a neighbor show multiple emergency vehicles responding to the scene.

Teenager in "critical but stable" condition

The 17-year-old's condition was described as "critical but stable."

Police did not share additional information about how the teenager was hurt. They are investigating the incident and anyone with information is asked to call 603-227-2112.

New Hampshire law states that a boat cannot tow more than six people on tubes at a time, and there must be at least one observer watching the tubers. Police did not say how many people were tubing at the time of the incident on Lake Winnipesaukee. 

• New Hampshire News

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.

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