HOW THE PENOBSCOT BAY SAIL AND POWER
SQUADRON BEGAN
By: Lt Sandra Homer, AP
The idea of the Penobscot Bay Power Squadron was conceived at the
Friendship Sloop Races in July of 1963. While there on the Friendship
Sloop "Chance", Ambrose Higgins, (later to be the first Commander of
the Penobscot Bay Squadron) heard Past Rear Commander William
Danforth of the Wawenock Squadron discussing boating education. This
was the first time Ambrose had heard of the United States Power
Squadron and its programs.
In 1964, Jay Benton, Bill Deighan, George Byant and Ambrose Higgins
studied the piloting course by mail. After passing the examination in
Waterville, they joined the Kennebec River Squadron from which the
Bangor Division of the Kennebec River Squadron was established. All
four taught in the first Piloting Class of eight to ten students and,
at the same time, studied for the Seamanship exam. About this time,
Carl A. Anderson, AP, transferred from Darien, Conn., joining the
Bangor Division. Under his able tutelage most of the early members
progressed to Advanced Pilot.
With these new members, the USPS ensign appeared regularly in the
Penobscot Bay area as well as along the coast to the east and west.
Many questions were asked of members and increased interest generated,
resulting in much growth in the Bangor area. Since the Kennebec River
Squadron meetings were such a distance from the Bangor area, it was
logical to make plans to establish a Penobscot Bay Squadron. Initially,
there was some opposition from some members of the Kennebec River
Squadron - after all, these were their members! In reviewing
correspondence from the time period, the Kennebec River Commander was
rather curt in dismissing the Bangor Division request for endorsement
to become the Penobscot Bay Squadron. Ambrose remained undaunted,
reminding the commander that the Bangor Division had been teaching
Piloting, Seamanship and Advanced Piloting classes and had over 30
members in the Bangor area.
In July of 1967, at the USPS Governing Board Meeting in San
Francisco, Penobscot Bay was awarded their own Charter with an
enrollment of close to 40 members. The March 1969 issue of the "NOW
HEAR THIS" states: "We are greatly indebted to the Kennebec River
Squadron for their assistance and guidance towards establishing
Penobscot Bay and especially to Kennebec River's incoming Commander
Frank W. Packard, AP, and to Past District Commander Richard E.
Davies, N, all of whom were made Honorary Members of Penobscot Bay
for distinguished service to the squadron.
By this time, membership had grown to 81, a 25% increase over 1968.
The early years of the squadron showed tremendous growth in
membership and participation in advanced courses. One Rendezvous per
summer was the norm - access by boat or car. Cooperative Charting
nor Port Captain activites were noted in any of the records.
Early growth was aided by the Bud Leavit of the Bangor Daily News,
frequently mentioning the Penobscot Bay Squadron in the paper as well
as doing an interview on his weekly television program. Local radio
station WLBZ also offered good coverage of announcements and events.
It is interesting to note that the following are listed as both
1966 members of the Bangor Division of the Kennebec River Squadron
and 2001 members of Penobscot Bay. -- Jay G. Benton, AP; P/C William
Deighan Jr., AP; Christopher Hutchins, AP and Marion Vafiadas, AP.
1967 members of the newly formed Penobscot Bay Squadron as well as
the 2001 Penobscot Bay Sail and Power Squadron are -- Carroll C.
Allen, AP; Franklin W. Eaton, AP and Florence P. Eaton, AP.