s/v Virginia is our modern reconstruction of the first English style ship built in the Americas.
In 1607, a group of English colonists landed at the mouth of the Kennebec River, Maine, near modern-day Popham Beach State Park. They established, in search of riches, what was called the Northern Colony. And they built the pinnace Virginia, the first English-built vessel in the New World. Thsee explorers abandoned the location fourteen months later using Virginia to return to Plymouth England. The pinnace Virginia returned to Americas in a recorded second transatlantic crossing, arriving back as part of the supply chain for the Jamestown Colony.
In 2011, more than 400 years later, an all-volunteer crew in Bath, Maine, began work on a reconstruction of Virginia, based on historical evidence and extensive research.
On June 4, 2022, the second Virginia was launched into the Kennebec river in Maine. The mission,”to use our reconstruction of the 1607 pinnace Virginia to immerse the public in an exploration of the region’s early history, craftsmanship, relationships, and the impact on our community and environment today.”
s/v Virginia and its role in modern day Entrepreneurship
” to immerse the public in an exploration of the region’s early history, craftsmanship, relationships, and the impact on our community and environment today.”
For 11 years I wrote the Boston and Maine Connection. This was my monthly column in The Cryer that matched Maine’s strengths with Boston’s leading edge technology.
Consider now Maine’s First Ship (MFS), Virginia, in the context of 21st century Boston. Our educational mission fits well in Boston’s entrepreneurial environment. The Virginia Project was the dream of four founders sitting around a kitchen table over coffee. Led by Jane Stevens, at the time Registrar of Deeds for modern day Sagadahoc County.
The group envisioned a way to preserve traditional ship building methods. Successful efforts were made to engage local youth along with volunteers from all walks of life. The middle schooler who participated at the laying of the keel, became the woman who christened the ship. s/v Virginia at launch, helped Bath continue to live up to its motto “City of Ships.”
As with most start-ups, no one really knew how much work it would take or whether the ship would succeed in achieving US Coast Guard certification. Maine’s First Ship exceeded expectations and each year has added new ‘firsts’ to its long list of achievements.
We head to SailBoston 2026 in July to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Distinctive black and white chevrons along with tan bark sails make us easily recognizable. s/v Virginia honors our past. Our arrival will celebrate the many volunteers who brought her to life. Likewise, s/v Virginia’s presence at SailBoston 250 unfurls opportunities for future teaching and learning for all ages.
The Magic of Maine’s First Ship
Here are the old and new logos. Virginia was built by more than one hundred volunteers over an eleven year period. The organization continues to transform from shipbuilding to a teaching, learning, traveling representative of collaboration and cooperation. Maine’s First Ship is a 501c3 non-profit. We are unique in Maine as a member organization. (Both MFS and Maine Public are defined as member organizations). This means we need our membership to vote. This is a requirement to transact business.
There is a magic here at Maine’s First Ship that entices shipbuilders, riggers, and tradespeople to add expertise to s/v Virginia in their off hours. We’ve been helped along the way by experts at Bath Iron Works. Befriended by folks from Maine Maritime Museum. This adventure is in part supported by the 60 people who attended the JR Maxwells sponsored fundraiser. An event that helped push us to achieve the financial goal to make the trip possible.
Adventure financiers of yore are today matched by supportive businesses like JR Maxwell’s, willing to create fundraising events that put money behind the vision and opportunities in front of the volunteers. Consider also MFS’s Director of Education, Matt Blazek, who, to maintain momentum, quickly stepped into the interim executive director role. Our history is long and strong as we predate the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, and the American Revolution.
The English are Here
We are a perfect example of what entrepreneurship looked like 400 years ago when the London company settled Jamestown and the Plymouth Company explored to the North. When we arrive in Boston we will visibly and simultaneously be the oldest representation of English and American ship building, cooperation and community.
This article is a slightly modified version of the original which appears in the May 2026 CRYER. Midcoast Maine’s most widely read monthly print newspaper.
full disclosure:
Keith Spiro is a Business Strategist, Community Builder who does freelance work for The Cryer and since 2022 has been a volunteer crewe member, on the board of advisors to, and lead on the Communications team at Maine’s First Ship.