Built in 1960 for the windjamming trade, the Firefly sailed for decades under the name Mistress with Maine Windjammer Cruises out of Camden. During that time she was a stepping stone for many young windjamming captains, including Captain Becky Sigwright.
She was sold into private ownership in 2023. There was a plan to rebuild her for private use, but partway through a rebuild, she was put up for sale again.
By this point she needed some serious work. Wooden boats have a natural lifespan of 20 to 30 years before they need to be rebuilt, and the Mistress was coming due. She needed planks replaced, rigging serviced, and seams re-caulked. The engine was in poor condition. Her interior had been stripped; she had only one interior bulkhead, no plumbing, and the stove had been removed.
Captain Becky and her husband Nathan Sigwright bought her and had her brought back up to the Midcoast area. She sat at anchor in Rockland harbor for the remainder of the summer, and was hauled out at North End Shipyard in Fall 2024. Since then, Captain Becky and Nathan have been carefully planning how to return her to the ranks of windjammers on the Maine coast.
As of Fall 2025, the Firefly has a long list of projects ahead of her. In addition to structural repairs, she will need a new engine, sails, awning, ground gear, plumbing and electrical systems, stove, and interior furnishings. There are also several improvements being planned: the tops of the cabin houses will be raised several inches for more comfortable standing headroom, her sail plan will be changed to accommodate a topsail, and there may be an on-deck table for more comfortable outdoor dining.
If you wish to support the rebuild, you can buy a gift card for any amount to be applied to a future sail on the Firefly!
To read more about the Firefly’s rebuild, you can follow along with our blog or receive updates right in your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.
If you happen to be in Rockland, we welcome your visit to the rebuild site at North End Shipyard. If you’re interested in volunteering to help with the rebuild, please email us at [email protected] with your availability and relevant skills.