Post-Event Report

to the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Community

10-30-09

2009

September 4 thru 6

Camden harbor from Harbor Park, Friday September 4^th. By Elizabeth Poisson

Summary

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we'd like to thank everyone involved with this year's Camden Windjammer Festival for the outstanding support and contributions. By all accounts, this year's festival was a resounding success. Following is a recounting of this year's event along with key measures.

Attendance Estimate: 6-7,000 attendees over the course of three days.

Website Traffic: 5,100 visitors from 31 countries

Volunteers: 100+ over three days

Exhibitors/Presenters: 36

A Smooth-Running Transition Year

While there has been an organized windjammer event every Labor Day Weekend in Camden going back 15 years now, this year's event truly "went public" with the spring decision by the Town of Camden to assign overall management to the Camden Rockport Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce. Its very capable Director Dan Bookham quickly pulled together an Organizing Committee that tapped some of the community's best minds and hands. While the result may not have been a wholesale re-invention of the event, there were significant refinements that helped re-establish the wholesomeness and authenticity of a community-led initiative.

We enjoyed perfect weather, and there's no question that it helped. But there also was a lot of careful planning and near-seamless execution that brought everything home.

Among the elements that didn't change were:

Arrival of The Fleet

The traditional kickoff for the weekend is always wonderfully narrated by Captain Jim Sharp, who never saw a sailing vessel or steam engine that he didn't love. His enthusiasm is genuine and his words are equal parts inspiration and information. It was a glorious day with a soft breeze pushing the tall-masted ones up to the docks.

Schooner Crew Talent Show

It was worth attending this packed event if only for the chance to see CRL Chamber Director Dan Bookham in a skirt (aka, traditional Scottish attire).

Fireworks

A cloudless night, a gentle fall breeze coming off the ocean, the harbor filled with tall-masted ships, Camden's main street choking with foot traffic, a palpable buzz of excitement in Harbor Park as everyone settled in for "the start" Norman Rockwell couldn't have painted a better backdrop for the evening's finale. What followed was the year's most spectacular display of the time-honored dance between fire and gravity. Special thanks to lead sponsor Cellardoor Winery and supporting sponsors Admiral's Buttons, Camden National Bank, and P.G. Willey for lighting this year's skies.

Lobster Crate Race

You can't be in Maine without bumping into a few lobster crates, so we've always made a race of it. It's a great crowd-pleaser as contestants from all walks juggle agility, speed, and weight and a little bit of luck! This year we extended the line to include 26 traps, but it didn't seem to phase most of the contestants although they were visisbly slowing down toward the last few crates. We saw some spectacular dashes and even more entertaining splashes. Cedar Andrus of Camden repeated his 2008 performance to come away with the victory, crossing 1061 crates.

Build-A-Boat Contest

"Funny" doesn't begin to describe the scene as glue and sawdust mixes with wood and well-intended families building a boat to beat all boats in 24 hours. "Hilarious" doesn't begin to describe the race itself barely controlled chaos and good old-fashioned fun takes over once they're off and paddling. Fortunately for one that came unglued early, the race ended as fast as it started and they swam away from their sinking ship all told, 10 boats made it around Camden Harbor to the wild cheers of the crowd gathered along the piers and docks. Special thanks to EBS and SikaFlex for providing materials for this year's contestants. The design contest was won by Glenn and Max Ruesswick of Camden, while the race was won by Brendan Carey and Ryan Splaine of Lincolnville.

Chowder Challenge

Several area restaurants gave us their best blend for this year's chowder contest. It was a tough call by judges from around the world, but in the end Bayview Lobster walked away with the blue ribbon. Thanks go out to all the participating restaurants for providing chefs and ingredients that raised thousands for the festival and the good causes supported year-round by West Bay Rotary Club.

Parade of Boats

This year saw the largest number of vessels ever participating in the Sunday Parade of Boats. Both commercial and private craft made their way through Camden harbor in front of an unprecedented crowd. Special thanks to Wayfarer Marine for sponsoring this year's parade.

Outdoor Movie: "Captains Courageous"

The classic windjamming movie of all time was brought back by popular request to an amphitheatre overflowing with moviegoers Saturday night. Featuring two of the windjammers parked in the harbor and many of our local celebrities (e.g., Captain Jim Sharp), it was a time when the images literally jumped off the screen and into your backyard, since those same boast still grace the harbor.

Scavenger Hunt

Anita Brosius-Scott scoured the library and picked local peoples' brains to create 80 seafaring and local history questions that tested even the most resourceful festival-goers. Ten teams participated in the four-hour adventure on Sunday. In the end, Ginger (mother), Megan and Philip Lane of Rockport were the winners. They also were champions at cranking homemade ice-cream for the crowd!

Sunday Night Concert: Castlebay and Nick Apollonio & Kristin Techer

Local traditional musicians Castlebay and Nick Apollonio & Kristin Techer brought the weekend to a harmonious close with a wonderful concert on the Harbor Park stage, Sunday night.

New to this year's windjammer event were:

Maritime Heritage Fair

In an effort to preserve the spirit of the original festival, this year we shifted the nature of presentations and exhibitors to focus exclusively on a theme of celebrating Camden's Maritime Heritage. This effectively eliminated commercial vendors on the Public Landing and allowed visitors to enjoy a long list of exceptional presenters and maritime exhibits, including:

• Adirondack Guide Boat
• Artist-in-Residence: Buckley Smith
• Blacksmithing
• Bollard Line Toss
• Cardboard Boat Building
• Donkey Engines Display
• Early Marine Engines
• Knot Tying
• Maine Lighthouse Museum (interactive)
• Mast/Pole-Making
• Model Boats
• Sea Birds
• Timberframe Cutting
• Steam-Bending Wood, Toboggan Building
• Traditional Pinkie Schooner
• Woodburning Cookstove

Special thanks to The First for its sponsorship of this year's Maritime Heritage Fair.

Pancake Breakfast

Camden Rotary Club was in full swing with its spatulas to greet festival goers Saturday morning. The Rotary served hundreds of pancakes and mountains of goodwill while raising over $2,000 for the festival and the ongoing good deeds of the Camden Rotary.

Lobster Boat Demos

"Buggin'" means something different to Mainers, and now the whole world is getting the message of this special piece of Camden heritage. Special thanks to Glen Brown for providing colorful presentation from the deck of "Lost Claws."

Guided & Self-Guided Walking Tours

Local historian and man-about-town Dave Jackson generously devoted his time and charisma to what proved to be a popular addition to the festival. We hosted two guided walking tours of Camden's Library Amphitheatre and Harbor Park. Both were well attended and by all accounts, Dave has a tour of duty for life. Thanks again, Dave

Another new program was the Self-Guided Tours which included window-placard displays featuring historical information from the Camden Historical Society and Library. The window displays went up around town earlier in the month, and that helped build anticipation for the festival weekend among residents as well. Special thanks to the following participating businesses who supported another new program, Self-Guided Walking Tours: Admiral's Buttons, Camden National Bank, Camden's Merchant Coop, Cappy's, Once A Tree, Paolina's Way, Small Wonder Gallery, Smiling Cow, Theo B. Camisole, Wayfarer Marine.

Imara & Sahara Desert Dancers

Windjammers are a wonder to behold but the visual highlight for many visitors likely was this year's belly dancing, the likes of which we can safely say has never been seen on Camden Harbor. The dancing ladies gave a special "nautical twist" to their exotic movements, or at least their gyrations raised quite a few sailors' eyebrows around the Public Landing. A true crowd-stopper even under a mid-day sun.

A crowd gathers for the crate races

Business Impact: The positive impact of this year's festival on local businesses far exceeded expectations, with multiple reports coming into the Chamber of Commerce of retailers, activities, and restaurants having their best weekends of 2009. The ultimate compliment as to the effectiveness of the Windjammer Festival as a business driver came from Jack and Barbara Moore of the Schooner Surprise, who reported their best Sunday of business in 26 years.

Businesses reported lines of customers throughout the weekend, and many noted that the activities on the Public Landing boosted sales activity and foot traffic rather than drawing business from other parts of town and the surrounding area. Many lodging establishments reported healthy occupancy, with many able to hang their "no vacancy" signs all weekend.

The impact was not limited to downtown Camden, either. Businesses in Lincolnville, Rockport, and Rockland all reported increased business over previous Labor Day weekends that they attributed to the draw of the Windjammer Festival. Based on national studies, the average visitor to a cultural event of this nature spends $27.80/day, which means, conservatively speaking, the festival generated an economic contribution to the region of $166,000-$194,000.

Financial Summary

As the following charts show, this year's Festival generated revenue of $26,143 and expenses of $17,658, for a surplus of $8,485, all of which will be reserved for future festivals. To assist the early stages of development, the Festival received a bridge loan of $4000 from the Town of Camden, which has been repaid in full.

2009 Marketing/Publicity Results:

• Print Advertising:
  • 2/3 page ad – Down East magazine-August 2009
  • 2/3 page ad – Down East magazine-September 2009
  • Spadia wrap – Village Soup Herald Gazette & Republican Journal newspapers 9/3/2009
  • 2/3 page ad co-op & schedule – The Free Press, 9/3/2009
• Postcard mailings to:
  • Included with CRLCC Jewel mailings, July & August 2009 (2,300)
  • Down East subscribers & book buyers
• Press Releases:
  • Village Soup (Camden Herald Gazette, Republican Journal, Capital Weekly, Bar Harbor Times: print and online)
  • Portland Press Herald
  • Bangor Daily News
  • Boston Globe
  • Yankee Magazine
  • Working Waterfront
  • Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors
  • Free Press
• Additional Print Coverage:
  • Village Soup papers & online ("Historic Tours" 9/3/09; front page photo 9/3/09; calendar inset box, 9/3/09; Castlebay concert preview, Arts section, 9/3/09; "Fireworks" 9/5/09; "Welcomes Fleet" 9/5/09; "Festival Continues "9/6/09)
  • Portland Press Herald ("Sail Ho!" Windjammers Parade to Camden" 9/3/09)
  • Bangor Daily News Beacon (front page "Camden Windjammers Set to Sail", 9/3/09)
  • Bangor Daily News ("Throngs turn out for Camden.." 9/5/09)
  • Free Press (Front page "Camden Windjammer Festival Arrives" 9/3/09)
• Television coverage – regional:
  • Channel 5-Bangor (9/3/09 & 9/4/09)
  • Storefront/POP posters displayed by regional retailers (100)
  • Sponsor window decals
  • Maritime heritage window plaques, displayed by participating businesses
• Websites:
  • camdenwindjammerfestival.com (went live 7/10/09). See Website Report.
  • downeast.com home page and events calendar (all summer 2009)
  • villagesoup.com home page and events calendar (all summer 2009)
  • visitcamden.com (CRL Chamber website, all summer 2009)
  • Sponsor websites throughout summer 2009
  • Camdenmaineexperience.com (Camden Downtown Business Group, all summer 2009)
  • visitlincolnville.com
  • visitmaine.com
  • therealmaine.com (PBR Chamber website, week of event)
• Online/print calendar listing submissions (in addition to those above):
  • maineevents.com
  • yankee.com
  • Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram
  • Uncle Henry's
  • Bangor Daily News
  • Boston Globe
  • Maine's Midcoast (Midcoast Chamber Council)
• Email blasts:
  • Downeast.com (40,000 x1)
  • CRL Chamber Fridaygram (x multiple)
  • CDBG member lists (x multiple)
• E Newsletter:
  • Downeast.com-August & September 2009 (22,000)
  • Maine's Midcoast Summer/Fall 2009 (2,000)
• Rack card (5,000):
  • Distributed throughout region via visitor centers and restaurant/lodging establishments
• Event signage:
  • Camden Elm Street pole
  • Camden Public Library
  • Lincolnville-Route 1 south
  • Rockport- intersection of Route 1 north and Route 90
  • The First, Commercial Street, Rockport
  • Harbor area signage (Maritime Fair, Welcome x 2, Fireworks/Cellardoor, Maritime Fair/The First, Parade of Boats/Wayfarer Marine, Information (all sponsors logo-ed), Schedule signs- Harbor Master's office, Camden Town Office, Chamber Office, Maritime Fair entrance gates
• Public Address system:
  • Camden Public Landing (all weekend)

Event Sponsors

Gold:

Down East, Cellardoor Winery, The First Bancorp

Silver:

Wayfarer Marine

Bronze:

Camden Harbour Inn, Hartstone Inn, Maine Veterinary Referral Service, Point Lookout, Village Soup

Additional Financial Support:

Camden National Bank, PG Willey, Paolina's Way, The Smiling Cow, Cappy's, Theo B. Camisole, Small Wonder Gallery, Once a Tree, the Camden Merchant's Co-op, Ducktrap Bay Trading Co., Admiral's Buttons

Special Thanks to our In-Kind Sponsors

While conventional sponsorship is the fuel that makes events such as the festival possible, there are a lot of In-Kind Sponsors that helped grease things along the way and just generally ensure that everything keeps running smoothly. Special thanks to the following In-Kind Sponsors:

Committee Members:

• Joyce Lawrence
• Susan Howland
• Anita Brosius-Scott
• Jeffrey Lewis
• Sam Manning
• Susan Manning
• Gilbert Norton
• Linda Norton
• Amy Rollins
• Galen Todd
• Louis Bettcher
• Ken Gardiner
• Tim Lawrence
• Kerry Hadley
• Tom Sadowski
• Rick Bates
• Cathie Dorr
• John Morin
• Anita Zeno
• Robin McIntosh
• Mark Siegenthaler
• Bob Walther
• Dave Jackson

Please Note: The Camden Windjammer Festival is a community celebration under the auspices of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce, an IRS designated 501c6 non-profit organization. Donations are not eligible for charitable deductions but should be considered a business expense.