Schooner Brilliant Relaunches After Restoration by Rockport Marine

Rockport, Maine — Brilliant, the 93-year-old Sparkman & Stephens schooner owned by Mystic Seaport Museum, is sailing again after a winter-long restoration at Rockport Marine in Maine. The work focused on renewing structural elements and systems to prepare the storied vessel for another season of sail training and educational outreach.

Following successful sea trials in Maine, Brilliant has returned home to Mystic, Connecticut, and will be on public display at the WoodenBoat Show from June 27–29, where she will join more than 100 fine examples of traditional boatbuilding.

Built in 1932 at Nevins Yard in New York, Brilliant was originally commissioned by Walter Barnum and became famous for setting a transatlantic record in 1933—15 days, 1 hour, and 23 minutes. In 1953, she was donated to Mystic Seaport Museum by Briggs Cunningham and has since carried more than 11,000 students and sailed over 100,000 nautical miles in her role as a youth sail training vessel.

The recent work carried out at Rockport Marine included replacement of floor timbers, frame ends, sections of planking, and driveline upgrades. While standard fare for the shipyard, the project stood out due to Brilliant’s long history and legendary status.

“It would be an ordinary piece of work for us,” said Sam Temple, President of Rockport Marine, “but for the fact that Brilliant has such extraordinary qualities and history. It was a privilege to work on such a well-built vessel and in partnership with the Museum.”

Also featured at the WoodenBoat Show will be another of Rockport Marine’s recent projects—Narwhal, a 63-foot L. Francis Herreshoff design whose restoration included structural, systems, and interior work. Her freshly painted black hull and varnished spars are expected to turn heads.

The Brilliant restoration continues the partnership between Mystic Seaport and Rockport Marine, which has become known for its work on iconic wooden yachts including Bolero and Adventuress. The shipyard’s team blends traditional craftsmanship with modern methods like wood-composite construction to meet both historic and performance goals.

For those interested in seeing Brilliant up close, tickets for the WoodenBoat Show are available at the Mystic Seaport Museum website. Visitors can also learn more about Brilliant and the museum’s sail training programs online.

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