Schooners that graced a Maine-themed quarter or hosted Cousteau rest at the bottom of a NYC canal

For more than a century, the Pilot and the Victory Chimes — two historic schooners with towering sails — have between them served the country in wartime, hosted the likes of Jacques Cousteau and graced the Maine state quarter.

But an inlet just off New York City's famously polluted Gowanus Canal could be their final port of call.

The boats — now owned by a company that turns historic vessels into floating bars and restaurants — sank there in early July while docked on the Brooklyn waterfront.

Now many in the maritime community are calling on the company to do what it can to save them — and to account for how they sank in the first place.

The 121-foot (37-meter) Pilot, which is a little more than a century old, and the 128-foot (39-meter) Victory Chimes, which dates to 1900 and is the ship that graces the 2003 Maine quarter, are owned by New York City-based company Crew. Both schooners sank around the time of strong squalls, though the exact cause of the sinkings has not been fully determined.

Crew is working with insurers, marine salvage experts and marine surveyors to determine what to do about the sunken boats, said Alex Pincus, the company's CEO.

“Raising wooden vessels of this size is a highly complex operation that requires specialized equipment, careful planning and extensive coordination,” Pincus said. “The vessels remain submerged as part of that ongoing process while assessments and planning continue.”

Many in the maritime community are calling on the company to do what it can to save the ships and to account for why they sank. Brad Vogel, a member of a canoe club called the Gowanus Dredgers, whose members paddle near the site, called the potential loss of the ships “a shame” and “in some ways unforgivable.”

“People in Maine, people in New York City, do want answers, and want to know what's going on. And it's not at all certain that there is a commitment to raising the vessels,” he said.

The Victory Chimes is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the last surviving Chesapeake ram, a kind of flat-bottomed schooner designed to navigate narrow and shallow waterways. Crew acquired it at auction about three years ago.

The loss of the ship is “heartbreaking for Maine and the nation's maritime heritage” because it's the last schooner of its type, said Steve Bromage, executive director of the Maine Historical Society.

“While salvaging her requires tremendous effort and expense, it would be very unfortunate to lose such an important part of history,” he said.

The Pilot once ferried maritime pilots to larger ships in Boston Harbor. It also made trips for the Coast Guard during the World War II era. It became an educational and research vessel in the 1970s and 1980s, and Jacques Cousteau spent time aboard it during that period. Crew acquired the vessel in 2015 and turned it into an oyster bar.

Even if the ships can be raised, rebuilding them would be extremely difficult and expensive, in part because the kind of timber they were built with is no longer readily available, said Charlie Weidman, of Charlie's Marine Service in Rockland, Maine, who once shared a dock with the Victory Chimes. He described himself as “unsentimental” about the sinking of the ships and the ill-fated attempts to turn them into floating restaurants.

“They're not the saviors that they paint themselves to be. They're like, we're saving the boat,” Weidman said. “You're trying to monetize that boat. You're just trying to make a buck here.”

The schooners were docked at Brooklyn Bridge Park before being relocated to Henry Street Basin, just off the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood. The canal is a federal Superfund site regarded as one of the most toxic waterways in the country, though a long-term cleanup is underway.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, which manages the park, didn't respond to a request for comment. Coast Guard and New York City officials also didn't respond to questions about the sinking of the ships.

The loss of the boats is “sad, but not entirely unexpected,” because maintaining such historic schooners is very difficult, said Amanda Pleau, spokesperson for the Maine Maritime Museum. Most turn-of-the-century schooners lasted less than 20 years, she said.

“That’s also why historic vessels are so special; it’s not uncommon in Maine to come across a home that’s more than 100 years old, but the remaining ships are few and far between,” Pleau said.

Debris of the Victory Chimes and the Pilot floats next to abandoned Red Hook Grain Terminal in the Henry Street Basin, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Debris of the Victory Chimes and the Pilot floats next to abandoned Red Hook Grain Terminal in the Henry Street Basin, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Debris of the Victory Chimes and the Pilot floats in the Henry Street Basin, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - The Victory Chimes passes the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse during the Maine Windjammer Parade, July 17, 2009, in Rockland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Debris of the Victory Chimes and the Pilot floats in the Henry Street Basin, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey secured the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts’ Senate primary Tuesday, once again fending off a push for generational change as he seeks a third term.

Markey, 80, defeated U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, 47, who had attempted to argue that it was time to do away with the “status quo” in his pursuit to oust the octogenarian.

Yet Markey successfully pointed to Moulton’s more moderate positions to argue that it was Moulton — not the older incumbent — who was out of touch with the state’s voters. Perhaps no other issue defined the race more than transgender rights, and Markey repeatedly hit Moulton for previously saying he would not want his daughters to play against transgender athletes.

“Massachusetts needs a senator who stands up and fights back, a senator who never forgets who they are fighting for,” Markey said during his victory speech. “That has been the mission of my life, and it always will be.”

In heavily Democratic Massachusetts, the primary is considered the most critical election hurdle, where Democratic winners are expected to prevail in the general election in November. Markey will face Republican John Deaton, who who lost to Sen. Elizabeth Warren by about 20 points in 2024 and was unopposed in his primary Tuesday.

Markey has been a fixture in Massachusetts politics since the 1970s, prompting Moulton to make his “status quo” arguments on the campaign trail and to question Markey’s accomplishments during his lengthy time in office.

“Generational change isn’t about compromising, to do the small things better,” Markey said Tuesday. “It’s about fighting to do the big things best.”

In a concession speech, Moulton said he would now support Markey.

“Challenging the establishment and calling for a new generation of leadership isn’t easy. But it is necessary,” Moulton told supporters. “We started conversations that needed to happen.”

“We didn’t achieve our goal tonight, but I am confident others will be inspired to buck the system when they’re told to wait their turn,” he added.

The Senate race was not the only generational challenge for Democrats on the ballot. Similar dynamics played out in several congressional races, but ultimately, the older incumbents won Tuesday. In the 8th Congressional District, longtime incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch defeated Patrick Roath. And in the 1st Congressional District of western Massachusetts, Rep. Richard Neal defeated public school teacher Jeromie Whalen to advance to the general election.

During the campaign Markey repeatedly pointed out that Moulton, in 2024, raised eyebrows among some in the party for saying he did not want his daughters playing sports against transgender girls.

Critics said he was echoing President Donald Trump’s talking points against allowing transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

Moulton later apologized for his remarks, saying it was not his intention to hurt the transgender community and stressing his support for other transgender rights bills.

“If you’re in the trans community or you’re a trans kid feeling the weight of the Trump administration and the Supreme Court, you matter,” Moulton said during an August debate. “You’re valued, and I will always have your back.”

Moulton, who enlisted in the Marines after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and served four tours of duty in Iraq, was first elected to Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District in 2014. He launched a 2020 presidential campaign but dropped it after a few months.

Markey was elected to the Senate in 2013. Before that he represented Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District from 1976 to 2013.

Markey notably fended off a challenge in 2020 from Rep. Joe Kennedy III, a younger rival from one of the nation's most famous political families. Markey did so by aligning himself with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

Antoine Hilaire, a 76-year-old Democrat who voted for Markey in Brockton on Tuesday, said being older can be a positive because it offers people experience and wisdom.

“If the older one is doing the better job, I don’t know,” he said. “He’s doing a good job. It’s not a big, big, big problem.”

Lynch, 71, has held the 8th District seat in south Boston since 2001. He won Tuesday's primary against Roath, a 39-year-old lawyer who contended that it is time to end “wait-your-turn” politics. Lynch stressed the value of experience inside Congress.

Lynch has fended off other youth challenges in the past, but Roath’s campaign hoped for a boost of excitement after longtime Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. John Larson was defeated by former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin in August in neighboring Connecticut. Like Roath, Bronin called for the need for generational change while running against an establishment politician.

In the 1st District Democratic primary in western Massachusetts, Neal, 77, bested Whalen, 39.

Neal, known as the dean of the New England House delegation, was first elected in 1988. Whalen ran to the left of Neal, calling for Medicare for All and questioning whether Neal has done enough to oppose Trump’s agenda.

Whalen was endorsed by Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Associated Press reporter Leah Willingham in Brockton contributed.

The story has been updated to correct Larson’s first name to John, not Jim.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., reacts with his wife Susan Blumenthal after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., speaks alongside his wife Susan Blumenthal after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Attendees cheer after U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., won the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., reacts alongside his wife Susan Blumenthal after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., along with his wife, Susan Blumenthal gestures after winning the Democratic nomination during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Rep. Seth Moulton speaks after losing the Democratic primary during a primary election night event Tuesday Sept. 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Reba Saldanha)

Supporters of U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., react during a primary election night event Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A supporter reacts to first results after polls closed during a primary election night event for U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton campaigns outside Cary Hall, the town hall and polling place in Lexington, Mass., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (Lauren Feeney/Lexington Observer via AP)

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton campaigns outside Cary Hall, the town hall and polling place in Lexington, Mass., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (Lauren Feeney/Lexington Observer via AP)

FILE - Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., speaks during a news conference on Feb. 18, 2026, in New Albany, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

Patrick Roath, a Democrat candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) in the 8th Congressional District, talks with residents at a retirement community, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Westwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

In this combination photo, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, March 27, 2025, left, and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., speaks during a candidate forum, Aug. 3, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo)

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. who is campaigning to unseat Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., speaks to prospective voters Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Wakefield, Mass. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Sen. Ed Markey speaks during a Get Out the Vote event supporting Markey, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)