PORTLAND (AP) – A flotilla of boats escorted Bruce Schwab and his Ocean Planet across Portland Harbor on Friday as the second American to make a solo, nonstop around-the-world voyage returned to his vessel’s home port.

It would be the first time Schwab set anchor in Portland since he became the first American to complete the Vendee Globe race with a ninth-place finish last February. The yacht rigger from Oakland, Calif., hocked his house and ran up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt preparing for the race.

On Friday, sloops, schooners, motorboats and a ferry filled with children formed the welcoming flotilla as the Ocean Planet made its approach. Seven members of the public and four crewman were aboard during the journey to Portland from Robinhood Marina on Georgetown Island.

Before February’s race, Schwab became a fixture in Portland, where he made refinements to the wood-and-carbon fiber sloop at Portland Yacht Services.

And Portland planned a big greeting on Friday. The Brunswick Naval Air Station color guard, a jazz band, school children, humorist Tim Sample and Slugger from the Portland Sea Dogs were expected. There was even someone on hand to sing sea chanteys.

“A bunch of kids in Brunswick rented a ferry. They’re sponsoring themselves. Is that cool or what?” Schwab said.

Although it has limited following in the United States, the quadrennial Vendee Globe is watched closely by tens of millions of viewers worldwide. This year’s winner was Vincent Riou of France, who finished Feb. 2 in a record 87 days.

Prior to Schwab, the only American to make a nonstop solo circumnavigation was Dodge Morgan of Harpswell, Maine, who did it in 1985-86 in 150 days. Morgan planned to be on hand when Schwab arrived in Portland on Friday.

Operating on a bare-bones budget and without insurance on his boat, which ultimately demanded that he sail conservatively, Schwab completed the race 109 days.

Schwab’s trip came 13 years after fellow countryman Mike Plant was lost at sea during the race. Plant’s overturned Coyote boat was found by a container ship in the North Atlantic in the inaugural Vendee Globe in 1989-90.