Rockland’s waterfront is dotted with cozy seafood restaurants, quaint shops, and art galleries, providing a delightful experience for boaters to explore. The annual Maine Lobster Festival, held in Rockland, is a must-visit event, celebrating the region’s rich maritime heritage with delicious lobster dishes, live music, and vibrant festivities.
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ROCKLAND AT A GLANCE
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NOAA Charts: 13305, 13307
The Rockland Story
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The old “Ugly Duckling” story comes to mind when sailing inbound past the impressive and much-loved breakwater protecting Rockland Harbor.
Rockland Public Landing 207-594-0312: Open May 15 to October 15. Offers diesel and gas, moorings, pump-out, showers and laundry. Dockage is free for up to two hours. Overnight dockage available. Contact the harbormaster(VHF 9) for more information.
Hamilton Marine207-594-8181: Venerable marine retailer on Park Drive, near the water. Carries a huge array of boating supplies.
Anchorages:
A good deep-water (15′ – 40′) anchorage, especially in easterly winds, can be found in the northeast part of the harbor, behind the breakwater. The southwest corner of the harbor also offers a protected place to anchor in winds from the west or south. A third anchorage (15′ – 20′) close to town is located near the public landing. Lastly, a nifty (albeit tight) little anchorage is Deep Cove, just west of Owls Head.
Launch Ramp:
A good hard-surface, two-lane, all-tide ramp with ample parking can be found just south of town off Mechanic Street. Fee required
Archer’s on the Pier 207-594-2435: Excellent restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the harbor. Dockage available at Yachting Solutions for $20.
Main Street Markets207-594-8515: Main Street Markets is a grab & go market, espresso bar and catering company conveniently located in downtown Rockland.
Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center, 356 Main St., 207-596-6457: Features more than 6,000 works of original American art, mostly devoted to coastal Maine, located in 5 buildings in the heart of downtown Rockland.
Art galleries: There are nearly a dozen art galleries in Rockland, most of them located on Main Street. A good source of information on the arts is the Maine Gallery & Studio Guide.
Strand Theatre207-594-0070: Restored 1923 theater offering first-run movies, live performances, lectures and more.
Maine Lighthouse Museum 207-594-3301: Large collection of artifacts relating to Maine lighthouses (including a huge collection of Fresnel lenses), the U.S. Life Saving Service and the Coast Guard. Located in the heart of Rockland.
More than a dozen windjammers make their home in Rockland. For more information about the windjammer fleet visit Windjammer Cruises, or call 888-692-7245or 207-236-2938.
Two of the vessels include: A Morning in Maine 207-691-7245: A 55-foot ketch offering half-day trips. Overnight or special charters also available.
The Stephen Taber 800-999-7352: The oldest documented sailing vessel in continuous service in the United States, the Taber is a 115-foot, 2-masted schooner offering 3-day trips or 6-day trips.
The Rockland Lobster Festival 800-LOB-CLAW: 4-day event held every August in Harbor Park, includes a parade, tons of steamed lobster, concerts and maritime displays