Friends of Windjammer Days

What Friends of Windjammer Days does

Friends of Windjammer Days (legal entity: Friends of Windjammers) is a private, volunteer-only nonprofit organization founded in 1963 by Captain Marion Dash — the first licensed female boat captain on the coast of Maine — and her husband David Dash in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The organization presents and operates the annual Windjammer Days Festival, a week-long maritime heritage celebration held each June and now in its 64th year (June 21–27, 2026). Programming centers on the Gathering of the Fleet (historic windjammer schooners arriving under sail), Decorated Boat Parade, Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party, Pirates of the Dark Rose performances, Street Parade, Fireworks over the Harbor, and Artist's Alley, with 2026 thematic focus on honoring the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Women on the Working Waterfront.

Name

Friends of Windjammer Days

Legal name

Friends of Windjammers

Website

https://boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Friends of Windjammer Days is a volunteer-run nonprofit that presents the annual week-long Windjammer Days Festival in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, featuring schooner gatherings, parades, fireworks, and maritime heritage events for regional residents and coastal tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Festival Events

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships) (THAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food, Drink & Culinary Community Festivals (Community-Led) (MPAGAEAF), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA), Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Maritime festival events
• Community event organization
• Nonprofit festival operations
• Windjammer sailing heritage
• Boat parade events

Headquarters

HQ city

West Boothbay Harbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Event Ticket Sales: The organization generates revenue through ticket sales for premium events such as the Pier Party ($65/person) during the annual Windjammer Days festival.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations sponsor various festival events including Pirates of the Dark Rose, the Vintage Boat Parade, Fireworks, Street Parade, and the Women on the Waterfront celebration.
3. Donations: The nonprofit accepts donations through their website and P.O. Box for supporting the annual festival and maritime heritage preservation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends of Windjammer Days is a volunteer-run nonprofit community organization that produces the annual Windjammer Days Festival, a week-long maritime heritage celebration held each June in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The festival gathers historic windjammer schooners and offers a slate of sub-events including a Decorated Boat Parade, Pirates of the Dark Rose performances, Gathering of the Fleet, Street Parade, Fireworks over the Harbor, Artist's Alley, and a ticketed Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party. Revenue is generated through premium event ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and community donations supporting maritime heritage preservation.

Product overview

Friends of Windjammer Days is a nonprofit community organization that presents the annual Windjammer Days Festival, a week-long celebration of maritime heritage held every June in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The festival centers on historic windjammer sailing vessels and includes a collection of events including the Decorated Boat Parade, Pirates of the Dark Rose performances, Gathering of the Fleet, Street Parade, Fireworks over the Harbor, Artist's Alley, and the Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party. The organization also facilitates schooner tours, sponsors US Navy and Coast Guard honorees, and celebrates women working on the waterfront through special recognition programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Windjammer Days Festival The annual Windjammer Days Festival is a week-long maritime celebration held in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, honoring historic windjammer sailing vessels and maritime heritage. The 64th Annual event runs June 21-27, 2026.
• Decorated Boat Parade A colorful early-evening boat parade featuring decorated vessels competing for prizes, held on Sunday of festival week at 7 PM with a watch party at Mine Oyster. Boat owners register to participate with prize incentives including $500/$300/$200 for top three finishers and $100 fuel cards for all participants.
• Gathering of the Fleet A signature event where historic windjammer schooners gather off Cabbage Island and glide into Boothbay Harbor under full sail, starting around 1 PM on Wednesday of festival week.
• Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party A showcase of classic vessels at least 25 years old held at Sample's Shipyard (Bristol Marine), featuring live music, appetizers, cash bar, haunted maritime stories by Mysterious Harbor Tours, and a ticketed Pier Party at $65 per person including entry and one drink ticket.
• Pirates of the Dark Rose Interactive pirate performances held in Whale Park featuring cannon demonstrations, puppet shows, sword fights, and family-friendly activities on Tuesday and Wednesday of festival week.
• Artist's Alley An outdoor art exhibition and craft fair held in Whale Park featuring artists painting onsite and creative demonstrations over two days during the festival on Thursday and Friday of festival week.
• Windjammer Days Street Parade A community parade route starting at Boothbay Region High School proceeding through town on Route 27, Townsend Avenue, and Commercial Street, featuring floats and community groups on Wednesday of festival week.
• Fireworks over the Harbor A fireworks display held Wednesday evening at 9 PM illuminating the sky over the harbor and the masts of windjammers, weather permitting.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fisherman's Wharf InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Pirates of the Dark Rose pirate reenactment event during Windjammer Days festival.
• Boothbay Harbor InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Pirates of the Dark Rose pirate reenactment event.
• Tugboat InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Pirates of the Dark Rose event and mentioned as endpoint for Street Parade route.
• Linekin Bay ResortcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerous sponsor of the Women on the Working Waterfront celebration dinner honoring inspirational women in the maritime community. Provides venue for the annual dinner honoring 16 women selected by schooner sponsors.
• Hodgdon Marina - Boothbay HarborcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Decorated Boat Parade, providing $100 fuel cards to all participating boats as thank-you for joining the parade.
• Bristol Marine / Sample's ShipyardcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for the Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party event. An 186-year-old shipyard that provides backdrop for the celebration of maritime legacy.
• Pinkham SeafoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party event.
• The Smiling CowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party event.
• Downeast Yacht ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party event.
• Boothbay Harbor Yacht ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party event.
• Mysterious Harbor ToursminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of Haunted Maritime Stories experience at the Vintage Boat Parade, presenting local folklore and maritime heritage through storytelling walks and e-bike tours.
• Boothbay Region TVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal television partner that films and produces video coverage of the annual Windjammer Days festival.
• Boothbay Region Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for special exhibit honoring the US Navy connection to local shipyards as part of the national 250th anniversary of America celebration.
• U.S. NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 2026 Windjammer Days theme proudly honors the past, present, and retired members of the United States Navy. Features profiles of local Navy service members and their contributions.
• U.S. Coast GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindjammer Days spotlights dedicated individuals who serve or have served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Includes Meet & Greet event and profiles of Coast Guardsmen and Guardswomen honored by schooner sponsors.
• Wreaths Across AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit honoring veterans and active military members by placing live wreaths on headstones. Featured as community hero organization.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eggemoggin Reach Wooden Boat Regatta: Maine-based annual regatta and gathering of classic wooden sailing vessels, also free to the public and reliant on volunteer organization. Directly comparable New England maritime heritage event serving sailing enthusiasts and tourism audiences.
• Working Waterfront Festival (Maine): Maine nonprofit festival celebrating commercial fishing, maritime heritage, and working waterfront culture. Comparable volunteer-driven community model with educational and heritage preservation mission.
• Tall Ships Portland: Maine-based gathering of tall ships and historic sailing vessels offering public deck tours and waterfront programming. Comparable model of community-organized tall ship festival experience in New England.
• Camden Windjammer Festival: Maine coastal community festival also celebrating windjammer schooners, parades, and waterfront programming. Closest geographic and thematic peer in the same Maine Midcoast region.
• Wooden Boat Festival (Port Townsend, WA): Annual maritime heritage celebration on the West Coast featuring wooden boat gatherings, parades, and educational programming. Most directly comparable community festival centered on traditional sailing vessels and maritime craftsmanship.

Broad incumbents

• National Maritime Historical Society: National nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting American maritime heritage. Comparable mission around maritime tradition stewardship, though operating at national rather than community scale.
• Mystic Seaport Museum: Larger, established maritime heritage institution operating year-round as a museum with festival programming. Comparable mission of preserving and presenting New England sailing heritage, though at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Wreaths Across America: Maine-headquartered nonprofit honored as a community hero partner at Windjammer Days. Comparable volunteer-driven nonprofit model with annual commemorative programming and broad grassroots volunteer base.

Regional players

• Boothbay Region Historical Society: Direct partner organization on the 2026 Navy 250th anniversary exhibit and historical preservation programming. Comparable nonprofit model focused on Boothbay Harbor heritage education.
• Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce: Local community organization that promotes Boothbay Harbor tourism and events, partnering directly with Windjammer Days. Comparable nonprofit community-promoter model in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of Windjammer Days