Appledore II is a distinguished two-masted wooden schooner, renowned for its traditional design and maritime heritage. Launched on August 22, 1978, this vessel is the largest among her four sister ships—Appledore I, III, IV, and V—and was the final schooner custom-built by the Harvey Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine. The ship’s design was conceived by Bud McIntosh, emphasizing durability to withstand heavy weather and open ocean conditions. Constructed as a gaff-rigged schooner on both masts, Appledore II features a hull length of 86 feet (26 meters) and boasts a hull speed of approximately 10.5 knots. Her robust wooden hull and traditional rigging make her a prime example of classic coastal Maine sailing vessels. Her construction history is notable, as she was built during a period when the Harvey Gamage Shipyard was renowned for producing iconic tall ships, including the Mary Day, Shenandoah, Bowdoin, and Spirit of Massachusetts. Appledore II’s maiden voyage was an extensive 18-month circumnavigation, beginning in November 1978 from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. During this voyage, she visited numerous ports worldwide and was chronicled in two books, "Dreams of Natural Places, A New England Schooner Odyssey" and "Sailing Three Oceans," authored by Herbert Smith. This voyage established her as a vessel of both adventure and maritime storytelling. Since her circumnavigation, Appledore II has been active primarily in the Caribbean, offering educational programs and private sailing experiences. She served as the SEAmester vessel for marine biology students from Southampton College for several years. Today, she primarily provides day sails from Camden, Maine, and Key West, Florida, with biannual offshore voyages spanning 2,000 miles between these ports. She is a prominent figure in maritime events, frequently participating in the Key West Wrecker's Cup Race—where she has won multiple times—and the Windjammer Weekend in Camden. Her classic appearance and storied history make her a celebrated symbol of traditional wooden schooners and coastal Maine sailing culture.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.