The Spirit of Bermuda started the Schooner Race in Massachusetts with a crash, as it collided with a schooner half it's size.
Luckily no one was hurt and neither the 112-foot Spirit nor the 50 foot Perception is to have suffered major hull damage.
The Spirit was taking part in the 25th annual Gloucester Schooner Festival over the Labour Day weekend when the accident happened on Sunday as the two boats were seconds from crossing the start line. Eyewitness Larry Rosenfeld, who was on board the ship as a navigator and participates in 200 sailing races annually, said the crash happened in an instant. Thirteen seconds before the race started he said he did not see another vessel in front of Spirit.
"At about three seconds before the start signal (six to seven seconds before impact) I saw the bow sprit and then the bow of Perception on our starboard bow and told the helmsman to turn to left because collision was imminent and this was the best alteration of course in order to minimise damage."
Mr. Rosenfield said the helmsman was turning left as he said the command because he too saw that impact with the other boat was imminent.
"The captain who was standing further to the left of the ship, then ordered the helm left as soon as he saw the situation," Mr. Rosenfeld said. "We did not have a lot of speed, so while the action of the helmsman was extremely quick, the boat itself was somewhat sluggish to respond."
Malcolm Kirkland, who is the executive director of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation which runs the Spirit, was also on board for the race.
"Spirit's 16 foot bow sprit punched through Perception's main boom and ripped into her lifelines about one third forward of her stern.
"After immediately ascertaining that no one was injured on either vessel and that Perception was not in danger of sinking if Spirit disengaged, Spirit reversed by motor — thereby retiring from the race — and dropped her five sails.
"All this occurred calmly within 90 seconds. Everyone of us was naturally shocked as the collision unravelled. Then calm took over.
"We had some very sharp guests on board who saw the collision transpire. Although most were not sailors, they described the sequence in important detail.
"How our bow sprit first struck the main boom of the Perception. This confirmed that she was indeed on the same gybe, sailing free, as was later to be verified on film.
"This was important because the impact pushed the boom to the other side then turned the ship clockwise making it look like they had been on a starboard [which means they would have the right of way]."
The Sloop's Chairman Alan Burland, who was the helmsman at the time of the accident, went through a debrief with the entire crew and reminded everyone that it was an important life lesson and asked that they remain respectful if a dispute started with the other crew.
"We hope to be able to participate in the Gloucester Schooner Festival next year," Mr. Kirkland said. "There was a genuine interest in Spirit, her work and Bermuda.
"We need to make amends in the Mayor's Cup as well. It was a spectacular event for Perception and Spirit to miss."
The oldest schooner in the fleet American Eagle built in 1930, the last original Gloucester fisherman still sailing won the 25th Annual Gloucester Schooner Race.