On a sunny afternoon in July 2019, the three-masted schooner Surprise out of Rockland, Maine, was carrying passengers for a scenic sail along the Maine coastline. With 15 passengers and four crew members onboard, the 130-year-old schooner was making its way back to its home port in Rockland after an uneventful morning sailing. Unknown to the crew and passengers, danger was looming.
As the Surprise sailed into the mouth of Rockland Harbor around 2 pm, strong winds suddenly kicked up whitecaps on the water. What had been a pleasant sail earlier in the day was transforming into hazardous conditions as a fierce storm brewed offshore. Captain Richard Nelson of Rockland struggled to maneuver the schooner through the choppy seas and rising winds into the safety of the harbor. With waves crashing over the bow, Nelson realized they were fighting a losing battle against the forces of nature. The disaster was about to strike.
What Happened That Fateful Day
- Strong winds gusting over 30 knots swept in with little warning, catching the Surprise Broadside as it entered the harbor.
- Giant waves crashed into the beam of the schooner, heeling it over dangerously to one side.
- Water started flooding into the open-air passenger area through portholes and gaps in the wooden hull.
- Captain Nelson desperately tried to turn the bow of the ship into the wind for stabilization, but it was too late.
- Within minutes, the schooner rolled over completely, flipping passengers and crew into the 50-degree waters.
- 9-1-1 calls started flooding into emergency dispatch from other boaters who witnessed the accident unfolding
- Nearby fishing and recreational boats raced to the scene to conduct a frantic search and rescue operation.
Having an accident on any boat is frightening, but capsizing a three-masted sailing vessel with passengers aboard was one of Rockland Harbor’s worst maritime disasters. The quick response of nearby mariners and emergency crews saved many lives that afternoon, but not without injury. Read on to learn more about the courageous rescue efforts and aftermath of the Rockland, Maine, schooner accident.
The Heroic Rescue Efforts
Knowing that seconds counted as victims were tossed into the cold waters, nearby boaters sprang into action without hesitation. Chris and Jackie Welch, on their vessel Tancook, witnessed the Surprise overturn and were the first on the scene. They plucked two survivors from the water who had made it onto a capsized life raft. Mike Murphy and his partner Anna Lutz-Murphy aboard the Polly Nelson were next to arrive. Between their boat and another nearby vessel, they pulled six additional survivors from the water, all suffering from various injuries and hypothermia.
Rockland, Maine, schooner accident
Whitecaps tossed the waters, reducing visibility and making the rescue all the more treacherous. Local lobstermen Lonnie Bowden and Kevin Plowman on the Laura J jumped in with their 35-foot boat, hauling several others from the frigid ocean. As word spread on VHF radio of the disaster, the U.S. Coast Guard dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod along with a response boat from Station Rockland.
Paramedics and fire crews also rushed to the scene at the Rockland Municipal Landing to set up a triage area and treat victims. With the cooperative efforts of good Samaritans and emergency responders, all 15 passengers and four crew members were successfully rescued within an hour of the Surprise capsizing. It was a true example of a community pulling together in their neighbors’ time of desperate need.
Injuries and Aftermath
Miraculously, considering the extent of the accident, only one passenger suffered life-threatening injuries – a broken leg. Others were evaluated for hypothermia, lacerations, and blunt force trauma from being thrown into the shallow water and submerged under the capsized vessel. Eight people required hospitalization, but all 19 were expected to recover. The heroic efforts of the local boaters who rushed into the treacherous waters undoubtedly saved lives that afternoon.
In the aftermath, questions were raised about what caused the stable schooner to suddenly roll over on a sunny day with calm seas just minutes before. An official investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard found that microburst winds estimated at 45 knots hit the Surprise broadside as it entered the harbor. This unexpected wind shear was ultimately to blame for destabilizing the top-heavy schooner and flipping it in a matter of seconds. Sailing incidents are rare in the sheltered harbor, making it all the more shocking.
As for the handsome 130-year-old Surprise, it was sadly beyond salvage after capsizing. The wooden hull was too damaged to ever sail again after being submerged upside down. The schooner was ultimately cut up on site and removed piece by piece from the harbor bottom, a sad end for such a historic Maine vessel that had logged tens of thousands of miles and enchanted passengers for decades. Captain Nelson and his close-knit crew of the Surprise were left devastated by the accident. Still, they stayed by the passengers’ sides throughout their recovery, a testament to their commitment to service and community.
What’s Being Done to Prevent Future Incidents
In the wake of the accident, local officials and the Coast Guard met to evaluate harbor safety protocols and identify areas for improvement:
- Installing an automated weather station at the harbor entrance to better monitor changing conditions
- Upgrading local VHF radio channels and communications networks
- Introducing mandatory safety drills and boat inspections for passenger vessels carrying 10+ people
- Stocking additional first aid and rescue equipment on patrol boats
- Improving nautical charts and signage around identified microclimate hazard zones
- Establishing a harbor-wide emergency response plan and conducting practice exercises annually
While nothing can undo the tragedy, steps are being taken to help prevent and minimize future maritime emergencies in Rockland. The community also came together to honor those lost and affected through a memorial dedication, underscoring the tight-knit bond between mariners that makes Maine’s coastal towns so unique. The accident served as an important lesson about how quickly conditions can turn at sea, even in familiar waters, and the ongoing need for vigilance, training, and preparedness.
In Closing
The historic schooner Surprise’s capsizing in Rockland Harbor on that fateful summer afternoon was one of Maine’s worst passenger vessel accidents. Through the heroic acts of fellow mariners and first responders, all lives were saved from the treacherous waters. An investigation found the vessel was overturned by an intense and unexpected microburst, highlighting how rapidly conditions can change near the coast.
While a tragic shipping incident, it has brought the community even closer through shared experiences of loss and triumphs of rescue. Lessons on harbor safety, emergency response coordination, and boater education were learned. Most importantly, the courage and compassion shown by those who selflessly rushed into the chaos to aid strangers in distress exemplifies the tireless spirit of Maine’s maritime community. Though the Surprise is gone, her story and those she carried will forever be linked to Rockland’s naval heritage. May her passengers rest easy, and may all who journey on the surging seas stay safe in their passage.
