Lighthouse Challenge “First” Occurs During
2009 Midcoast Maine Event
The 2009 Midcoast Maine Lighthouse
Challenge featured lighthouses that visitors could tour and learn about
– some very seldom open to the public, a fine museum with a host of
lights and a few more lighthouses best viewed by water during a
fun-filled evening cruise, but that’s not all.
The third
annual event, sponsored by the Friends
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
The 65-foot U.S. Coast Guard cutter
TACKLE, based in Rockland, Maine
of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, a chapter
of the American Lighthouse Foundation, also contained a historical first
when it comes to all of the lighthouse challenges that have occurred on the
Atlantic seaboard over the last decade.
For the first time
in lighthouse challenge history a Coast Guard cutter was a destination for
the public to visit and tour – a proud black-hulled cutter that helps keep
the lights ‘winking & blinking’ in Maine’s Penobscot Bay.
The 65-foot USCGC
TACKLE (WYTL 65604), based in Rockland, Maine, and under the command of
officer-in-charge Boatswain’s Mate Chief (BMC) John Anders, offered
lighthouse challenge participants the opportunity to come aboard the ship
and learn about the TACKLE’s aids to navigation
Photo by Dominic Trapani
Crew of the TACKLE...
(L to R) SN Warren Gardner, Auxiliarist
Bob Trapani, Jr., BMC John Anders,
SN Matt Goode, BM1 Keith Nichols,
SN Dan Kimbrell and MK2 Eugene Peters
mission on
June 27, 2009 from noon to 3:00 pm.
Over 100
visitors planned their day around this unique opportunity so that they
could tour the TACKLE and learn how the U.S. Coast Guard maintains
historic
lighthouses and other navigational aids in the 21st century.
The TACKLE’s
crew set up a tri-fold exhibit complete with photos
depicting various
aspects associated with maintaining the cutter’s four lighthouses, which
includes Curtis Island, Eagle Island, Grindle Point and Saddleback Ledge.
In addition, an
array of lanterns, using both traditional incandescent lamps and cutting
edge technology in the form of light emitting diodes, were on display; as
were colorful dayboards triangular and square in shape, and various
components of the solar equipment that powers all of the TACKLE’s lighted
aids to navigation.
And just like the
seven land-base lighthouses and one museum that participated in the 2009
Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge, visitors
were delighted
to learn that they could have their commemorative event booklets stamped
with a specially made TACKLE ink stamp, and obtain a postcard of the
ship to add to their collection of mementoes from the experience.
Visitors were
also treated to a tour of the ship, while crewmembers explained the
TACKLE’s other missions, including
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
An overview of the TACKLE's educational
exhibit on aids to navigation for the Midcoast Maine Lighthouse
Challenge
wintertime
icebreaking on rivers such as the Penobscot and Kennebec, as well as in
harbors like Camden and Rockport.
The cutter TACKLE,
which is no stranger to public affairs opportunities, impressed all those
who took advantage of touring the ship during the Midcoast Maine Lighthouse
Challenge.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
MK2 Eugene Peters answers questions
about the TACKLE's four lighthouses
By
participating in the event, not only did TACKLE make lighthouse
challenge history in becoming the first Coast Guard asset to take part
in such an event, the crew of the cutter also shined a ‘bright light’ on
the Coast Guard’s aids to navigation mission and longstanding tradition
of ‘keeping a good light’ at America’s lighthouses.
To learn more
about the Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge and/or the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse, visit:
If you are
unfamiliar with the lighthouse challenge event, download the
, which will explain
the concept of the event and touch on the sites that participated,
including: Dice Head, Fort Point, Grindle Point, Marshall Point, Owls Head,
Pemaquid Point and Rockland Breakwater lighthouses, as well as the Maine
Lighthouse Museum.
The USCGC TACKLE,
and Curtis and Indian Island lighthouses, which were seen during the event’s
evening cruise, were bonus sites during the 2009 Midcoast Maine Lighthouse
Challenge.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Close-up view of
the TACKLE's photo exhibit showing various aspects of maintaining the
cutter's four lighthouses
A view of some lanterns and dayboards
that comprised the TACKLE's educational exhibits
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
BMC John Anders explains the
multi-faceted missions
of the cutter to visitors
Auxiliarist Bob
Trapani, Jr. talks about the new light emitting diodes (LED lights) that
are slowly taking the place of traditional incandescent lanterns
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
SN Dan
Kimbrell takes extra care to make sure he applies a good ink stamp
depicting the cutter TACKLE on a visitor's event booklet
SN Warren Gardner welcomes
lighthouse challenge participants aboard the
cutter TACKLE
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
BMC John Anders
explains the difficulties associated with accessing an offshore light
like Saddleback Ledge
(L to R) MK2
Eugene Peters and SN Dan Kimbrell talk with visitors about the TACKLE's
aids to navigation mission
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
BMC John Anders
speaks with Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge coordinator Eric Davis
and his wife Laura Davis during the event
The TACKLE's aids to navigation
technicians...
(L to R) SN Matt Goode, MK2 Eugene Peters
and Auxiliarist Bob Trapani, Jr.
