Marlinspike #11

Summer 2016

Number 11

DRAKEN HARALD HARFAGRE Conquers the Atlantic The Cuba Protocol Re-Rigging the C. A. THAYER Tall Ships Challenge 2016

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4 ❂ Vikings Conquer the Atlantic Draken Harald Harfagre arrives in North America

8 ❂ The Cuba Protocol Running programs in Cuba remains a challenge

14 ❂ Re-Rigging the C. A.THAYER New life for SF Maritime’s 1895 lumber schooner

20 ❂ SAN SALVADOR goes on tour

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28 ❂ 30 ❂ 33 ❂ 34 ❂ 42 ❂ 46 ❂ 47 ❂

Boatyards Calendar Sailing Opportunities Boats, Bars & Beaches Job Listings Show Us Your Spike Crane Stookey

Cabrillo’s galleon will head north this fall MarlinspikeMagazine.com

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The

Icemen Cometh

20-year-old Anna Spring, veteran of such full-rigged sail trainers as Sorlandet and Oliver Hazard Perry, nailed down one of the coveted places aboard Draken Harald Harfagre for this summer’s Expedition America 2016.

Marlinspike spoke to Spring shortly after Draken arrived in Newfoundland about the challenges of sailing the biggest Viking longship in existence across the North Atlantic.

Marlinspike: Four thousand people applied to crew aboard the Draken Harald Harfagre for the Expedition American 2016. How did you manage to land a place on the boat?

Anna Spring: I met Captain Björn at the Tall Ships America conference in Philadelphia in 2015, which he and his team were attending to spread the news of the expedition Draken would be embarking on the following spring.

I started talking with him, was instantly fascinated with the project, and right away made it my number-one goal to join the ship as crew for the voyage. After bothering him at every coffee break and socializing time that the conference offered, I got a tentative promise for a position on board. I guess that Björn saw that I had potential to be an asset on the crew and decided to take a chance on me, even though he had never sailed with me before.

After the conference, I made sure that I e-mailed them frequently so they didn’t forget that I existed. At this past winter’s STI/ TSA conference in Quebec City, I met up with the Draken team again and we made plans for me to join the ship in Iceland.

MS: What was joining the ship like?

AS: Draken left Haugesund, Norway in late April with the full crew for the voyage. Because I was in school, I couldn’t fly out to meet them in Norway at that time, but I flew to Iceland planning to meet them there.

There were some delays that caused the ship to stop over in Shetland, and then again in the Faroes. I was in contact with Draken’s shore crew and they thought it would be better for me to fly to the Faroes and meet the ship there instead.

When I arrived at the ship, I was greeted by the lovely smell of pine tar; the crew was in the middle of a work day. The deck was strewn with rigging tools and cleaning supplies, so I only got a brief tour before dropping my bags off at the hostel everyone was staying at.

At dinner I was bombarded by the names and faces of the 32 other crewmembers, none of which I remembered. Right away it was apparent how international and diverse the crew was; it seemed like each dinner table was speaking a different language. Right now we have around ten different nationalities on board, the majority being Swedish.

MS: What were the first few days at sea like?

AS: From Faroe we sailed to Iceland, which was a very smooth passage.

We spent about a week in Reykjavik and then set out for Greenland on May 16.

I was expecting this leg to be quite harsh, seeing that we were going to round the infamous Cape Farewell. This area is notorious for extreme

weather and I think we were all preparing for the worst. To our surprise, we had mostly calm and sunny days that were spent on deck playing instruments or games or just reading.

We got some good sailing in, and I saw my first iceberg! A sharp lookout was posted to keep an eye out for low-lying growlers, which tend to be camouflaged amongst the white caps.

MS: How long was that passage?

first day. It was so much fun! It took six days total, I think.

MS: Did you break out the oars at any time during the passages?

AS: No, they are on board our follow ship. Draken is quite large as far as traditional Viking long ships go. With this size ship, we rely primarily on the sail for power because rowing such a large ship with so many people (50 oars, with two people per oar) is very difficult.

AS: Five days.

MS: What kind of gear did you bring?

MS: It must have been an amazing feeling to arrive in Newfoundland. What was your greeting like?

AS: It was kind of tricky to pack for this trip. We’re going to experience the cold waters of the North Atlantic and also warm summer temps in the Lakes, and had to pack for both climates. On board the ship we had room to store one dry bag, and there was also room to store a bag on Viking Fjord, our follow ship.

I brought as much knit wool things as I could! The ship gave us foulies, so we did not have to worry about bringing that.

AS: The town of St. Anthony’s is so awesome! It’s very small, but the people are amazing. They have been constantly giving us gifts like canned moose meat, coffee, beer, car rides.

It’s nice to see how much they appreciate the voyage we are on and how ecstatic they are about Vikings.

MS: How long will you stay with Draken? Is there going to be a lot of crew turnover this summer, as the vessel proceeds up the Lakes, or are the crew mostly in it for the long haul?

MS: What were your duties on board? Is there enough for 32 people to do?

AS: I will be on until Green Bay. Now that we have crossed the AS: At sea we have a threeAtlantic, there will be some crew Anna Spring aboard DRAKEN watch system, and I am on the 8-12 changes now and then. The paid watch. On each watch there is a crew will stay on until October, mate, a watch leader and about seven volunteer crew. We when she is docked at Mystic Seaport for the winter. stand lookout with either one or two people and someone takes the helm. The rest of the watch stands by on deck in MS: How is this ship different from some of the others case any sail-handling or underway maintenance needs to you have sailed? happen.

At port, it always feels like we are in a crunch to do all AS: Living on an open-decked ship is a huge difference the never-ending maintenance the ship requires. There is from any other ship I’ve sailed in. definitely enough work to go around!

Also, the sail-handling is a lot more intense. Since she only has one huge sail, it takes everyone on the windlass to MS: How was the trip from Greenland to hoist the yard and man the lines as she goes up. When the Newfoundland? sail is down, the yard rests fore and aft. To set it, we have to haul the aft brace by hand until the yard is vertical — a very AS: This last leg was definitely the toughest. It was very strange sight — and then pull it onto the forward side of the cold and wet for most of the time. When we left Greenland shrouds. From there it gets eased out and then it’s set the wind and waves picked up pretty quickly and the captain athwartships like a normal squares’l. decided to have everyone put on survival suits. That night was pretty uncomfortable because we had to keep them on MS: Have you remained enthusiastic about this trip at all while we slept, and they were soaking wet and freezing. We times, or was there a moment when you thought to yourself, had some more good sailing after that, and then the weather “Why did I want to do this?” picked up again the last day and was even crazier than the 6

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AS: Never! It has literally been constant happiness for the last month. All I have to do is remember that I crossed the Atlantic on a Viking longship, and then I can’t stop smiling for the next three hours. It’s hard to notice the cold, the wet, or the tiredness when life is so awesome.

MS: Pick one moment during the trip that you’ll remember even when you’re an old woman.

AS: When I first saw the ship in Faroe. I stepped on board and instantly felt this rush of pride. That’s something I don’t usually get for a ship until I’ve given it my blood sweat and tears (and believe me there has been plenty of that by now) and really become invested in the ship. Every time I clean something, or fix something, or think about the crazy crossing we’ve completed, the ship continues to amaze me.

MS: What have you learned about Vikings and their ships since you started pestering Capt.

Bjorn a year and a half ago?

AS: Wow, there is so much I have learned about Vikings already, and still I feel like I know hardly anything when people test my knowledge at open ship.

Draken isn’t a replica of any specific ship, but rather a combination of some of the ships they have recovered and were able to study. The shipbuilders took the best hull and rig design they came up with and built Draken.

In Viking times, because of her large size, she probably would have been used as a warship, and the dragon head on the bow tra-

ditionally symbolized that she belonged to the king’s fleet.

Living on board, you realize just how crazy these people were. I mean, we have a lovely, dry (for the most part) tent that we sleep in, two heads, a galley with a stove top, lots of chocolate, and most importantly, we know that there is land on the other side of the Atlantic!

The actual Vikings’ life was unbelievably harsh and brutal. Freezing conditions with no good place to sleep, limited food and water, on a long ocean voyage because they had a ‘hunch’ land would be there. It was a great hunch, maybe the best hunch anybody has ever had, but it takes a group of real hardened people to go through with it. b Draken and her crew will participate in the Tall Ships Challenge this summer on the Great Lakes (see pages 26 & 27 for schedule) and then work down the Hudson River to New York City before wintering at Mystic Seaport.

VISITING SHIP SOUGHT FOR MAYFLOWER II EXHIBIT MAYFLOWER II will be away from Plymouth Harbor for an extended period starting in December 2016, as her restoration continues at Mystic Seaport. Plimoth Plantation is seeking one vessel or a variety of visiting ships to serve as a stand-in for some or all of the time that MAYFLOWER II is away, from April through November 2017.

MAYFLOWER II typically attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each season.

Suggestions can be addressed to: Whit Perry, Director, Maritime Preservation and Operations: wperry@plimoth.org MarlinspikeMagazine.com

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THE Cuba PROT Recently we spoke to Ocean Passages Program Director Sarah Wineberg about her organization’s efforts to build sailtraining programs featuring access to the newly-opened island of Cuba. Wineberg was aboard the Harvey Gamage this winter as the schooner spent two and a half months in Cuban waters.

Marlinspike: Tell us how you got involved with Ocean Passages.

Sarah Wineberg: I’ve been running community sailing programs for Sail Maine for the past two years. One of the people I worked with recommended me to Ocean Passages.

We had an interview, and it turned out that we have very similar ideals and we’re excited about the same things! I’ve been working for Ocean Passages since February.

SW: Yeah, they had to run a school, run a boat, they had to run a non-profit, and that was a lot to be doing, I think. They did an amazing job, and I know a lot of people who sailed with them. It was unfortunate what happened.

MS: They made it work for a long time, but we all know how it ended [see 7,000-word article in Marlinspike #4]. Now you’ve got a boat that has been substantially rebuilt…

MS: At that point, the Harvey Gamage was in Key West?

HOLLY BOULANGER COLLAS

SW: I was hired at the same time the boat was getting ready to leave Portland for Key West.

MS: At that time, what sort of programming were they thinking that Ocean Passages would be built around?

SW: The ideas that we’re working with have changed a little bit. We were going to develop more of an open-platform type, but [Ocean Passages Executive Director] Greg Belanger and I, we’ve been talking about different opportunities for gap-year programming. We are looking at accreditation, we’re not really sure what we’re going to do about that.

That was one of things that was difficult for Ocean Classroom — they had a lot of work, a lot of very difficult things to deal with there, and we want to try to make things 8

a little easier.

MS: When you say they had “difficult things to deal with” … you mean relating to accreditation?

SW: She looks amazing, absolutely amazing! I was actually working at P2, at Portland Yacht Services, this summer, harvesting seaweed commercially, which is something I’ve been doing for a couple of years now. And I was watching the rebuild of the Gamage every day, not knowing that she was in my future! But getting to watch that very extensive rebuild … all the safety systems have been gone over, and there have been a lot of improvements from where she was, which wasn’t too good, unfortunately.

MS: I understand the desire of Ocean Passages to come up with a new paradigm, or maybe as you describe it, a simplification, of the programs that were formerly run on board the Gamage. But people pay for value, and accreditation adds value. Whatever programming you end up with, aren’t you going to have to work that out?

SW: Absolutely. We’re absolutely considering it. We’re still in the process of working out exactly how we want the

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H

TOCOL programming to go. It’s very possible we will be accredited, but that probably won’t happen in our first year. However, we hope to be in the future.

MS: Do you think there’s a market for gap-year programs that don’t offer accreditation?

SW: I do.

MS: What would that program look like? What did you do down in Cuba that has the potential to build a program around?

SW: The programs that we are exploring right now are looking at Cuban cultural heritage, so we’d be bringing students to Cuban towns, having them meet Cuban people, exploring the music, exploring the food, talking to people.

We’re also exploring marine biology, which is my own personal jam, so to speak. It’s what I love, it’s what I’m stoked about. We spent almost three weeks exploring the Gardens of the Queen, one of the largest and most remote marine preserves in the Caribbean.

even more places we didn’t have time to get into, but we were exhaustively going through each little island, finding out what it was all about, snorkeling all the dive spots.

I am a certified dive master. We did a lot of snorkeling, but we did not go scuba diving. We would hope to introduce scuba diving into the program in the future.

The other arm of our proposed programming is to learn about Cuban policy, and that’s where Greg is in his forte. Greg has been working in Washington with policymakers for a very long time and that’s something he’s very good at. I’m really excited to learn more from him about that.

HOLLY BOULANGER COLLAS

MS: Will you be running a gap-year program this year aboard the Gamage?

SW: We certainly hope so!

MS: Based in Cuba?

MS: I’ve seen the photos, they’re amazing.

SW: Aren’t they fabulous?

We had the best time, it was amazing. The Cubans have done an exemplary job of preserving that area. Honestly, there’s a lot we can be learning from that. There are hundreds of tiny little islands and thousands of coral reefs all in this one area on the south coast of Cuba. We were going in and exploring everywhere we could — we’re limited somewhat by our draft in the Gamage. We got into many places; there were

SW: We cannot be based full-time in Cuba. You cannot believe the incredible amount of bureaucracy and difficulty we had in getting the boat down there in the first place and then keeping the boat down there. I was there on a couple of occasions when the crew, myself included, all needed to renew visas. You end up in taxis going all over the city, getting these different stamps. The Cubans took their time seeing what kind of program we wanted to build, developing a personal relationship with Greg and the others who are involved in the policy side of things.

We staged this year’s expedition as a mission of explo-

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ration. We wanted to go down there, get the lay of the land, and figure out simple things like: where can we get groceries? Can we get into this harbor? How does it work to renew a visa?

None of this stuff is known, and it’s constantly shifting and changing.

This idea of transformation is something that is really intriguing to all of us.

preserves, because they’re doing an awesome job without any help from us! It was a great learning experience for all of us, and for me personally.

MS: How many crew were on board?

SW: It fluctuated a bit. I think our largest group was ten people.

MS: And how long were you in Cuban waters?

MS: We were told in the fall that the Gamage was headed to Cuba and would be running an actual program this winter.

Was Ocean Passages forced to change gears when you realized that things were taking much longer than anticipated?

SW: Two and a half months.

HOLLY BOULANGER COLLAS

MS: Was there ever a time when you just wanted to throw up your hands and say, ‘This isn’t going to work?’

SW: Unfortunately, yes.

SW: I never felt frustrated, but I’m also an inexhaustibly cheerful person, so maybe that was more a function of my personality!

One of the things I’ve learned from sailing is how to be flexible, how to be accommodating.

I’ve been a sailor my whole life. You can’t sail into the wind; you have to adjust to the direction of the wind, and trim your sails accordingly. I had no ideas about how things were going to be, because I’d never been to Cuba. I had no expectation of how it was going to work. Everything was new.

MS: I hope the students weren’t too disappointed.

SW: We didn’t have any contracts as of yet, so there wasn’t anything to back out of… we did have programming that was very, very close to being realized that we were not able to sustain.

Honestly, I think it was a good thing that we spent these months exploring Cuba. It gave us a very vivid picture of Cuba, and this kind of program really needs to be tailored to the place. This isn’t a copy-and-paste program. The whole idea is that Cuba is a special place, and we want to explore it on Cuban terms.

MS: Walk us through what one of your programs might look like.

Where does it depart from, where do you go, how long is the program, how many crew, how many students..?

MS: [Laughs] Do we have any choice?

SW: They do a lot of things that are great. We’re not going down there to tell them how to work their marine 10

SW: We’re still developing all of this. I can’t really give you too many details because I don’t want to tell you some-

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thing and then have it change.

MS: Is it realistic to think you could run a program this fall?

larger pool of potential students, or allow you to charge more than similar, accredited programs have charged in the past?

How do these new subjects, this new setting, make your program better and stronger and more sustainable?

SW: We’re hoping to run a program in January.

MS: Let’s say you ran a semester program out of Florida, say, and sailed over to Cuba and did the marine biology piece and the Cuban heritage piece and the marine biology piece… other than the locale, this doesn’t sound very different from what Gamage was doing with Ocean Classroom. Except that now you may not be accredited.

SW: There is another aspect of this program that we’re considering, and that’s integrating it with sustainable agriculture. We don’t have the individual farms picked out yet, but we do have many contacts both here in Maine and abroad, and we’re considering doing two weeks — this is just a possibility at this point, nobody can sign up for this program yet — two weeks on an organic farm in the interior of Cuba, and two weeks of sail training. That would be more of a strict marine bio program.

MS: But from a business-plan standpoint, it sounds like Ocean Passages is going to be similar to Ocean Classroom, except that you’ve got a recently-rebuilt boat to run your programs on, and you’re taking it somewhere new.

SW: I wasn’t aware of Ocean Classroom doing anything with sustainable agriculture.

MS: What I meant was despite the talk about simplifying the business plan, of avoiding the trap of trying to be a school and a boat and a nonprofit, this looks like a traditional sail-training program.

SW: Part of the program that I think is really important is fostering a relationship between the United States and Cuba. That’s one of the cornerstones of what we’re interested in. US-Cuba relations right now are really exciting and really new and in a phase of transformation.

We want to get in on that action in our own little way, and be a part of that dialogue.

MS: So Cuba itself is the product you are selling; the novelty of Cuba. But will Cuba still be a novelty five or ten years from now?

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SW: Well, we like to think that it will be different in that it won’t be a failure.

MS: I didn’t mean to imply that it would fail. But are you thinking that the Cuban policy angle, the Cuban heritage angle, the sustainable agriculture angle — which are of course new ground for sail-training programs — that these are going to draw from a

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SW: I think so. I certainly hope so. I loved Cuba. I was completely enchanted by it and thought it was a magical, wonderful place. What I hope to see is that the transformation that Cubans are in right now is directed by them, is on their own terms, and not on somebody else’s.

MS: What is the Cuban secret to protecting their marine environment?

SW: I couldn’t point to one over-arching aspect of policy that is responsible. I think to some extent it’s simply the lack of industrial development and the lack of a recreational boating industry.

There’s no cruising grounds, no cruisers, unless they are coming from other countries. Cubans don’t own pleasure boats.

They don’t go on the water for fun. Their fleet is strictly for fishing and is very closely monitored.

It will be interesting to see how their policy in the Gardens of the Queen evolves once it becomes easier to get into Cuba.

Honestly, I hope it doesn’t become too easy to get into Cuba, because then it won’t be as much fun any more!

MS: So you’re based in Portland, and the Gamage is heading back there for the summer?

SW: She’s on her way now! [Gamage departed Fort Lauderdale on May 29] MS: What will she be doing for the next five to seven months?

MS: Are recreational boaters really impacting the marine environment relative to, say, agricultural runoff and trash streams from cities?

SW: I’m just saying that when more people go somewhere, development inevitably follows. The Gardens of the Queen are so special because it’s really a wilderness area. There are no towns, no cities, no infrastructure. There are some dive boats that go there, but it’s very low-key.

As I’m sure you know, Cuba’s sustainable agriculture 12

program is second to none. Their use of pesticides and fertilizers is extremely limited, which makes for good, healthy coral and fish.

This is partially a result of the US embargo. It’s not so much that Cuba decided to go organic as they were forced to go organic.

And over the decades, growing the amount of food they need on the island has been a really big deal for them. That’s been a very large focus of the Cuban government, and now as a result they have this stellar organic farming community.

They don’t consider SARAH WINEBERG themselves organic farmers — they’re just farmers! That’s just the way they do things, and they do it very well, because those things, the pesticides and fertilizers, were not available to them.

SW: We’ll be going to East Boothbay for Windjammer Days — everybody should come see us! — and then doing another yard period. We did an extensive refit, as you know, over the past year. One of the things about sailing down in Cuba was that we got to shake the Gamage down and identify the things we want to continue working on. She’ll be going into yard in New Hampshire, in Portsmouth.

And then we have some programming planned for the

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HOLLY BOULANGER COLLAS

end of the summer, but none of that has been contracted for, so I’m not going to get into a lot of detail… we’re having conversations.

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MS: Why Portsmouth?

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SW: They can’t get her out of the water in Portland because her sticks are so big.

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MS: Is it hull work, or rigging work, that you have planned?

SW: Some hull work. I am sure the rig will get a thorough inspection as well, although we did a rig inspection in Key West recently.

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MS: What else should I ask you?

SW: I’m trying to think if there’s anything more about Cuba we should talk about. Honestly, I’ve been in Cuba for the last two months, and I’ve been back four days!

MS: Your head must be spinning.

SW: It is. It’s spinning. But I am stoked, you can say that: super stoked to get going. All of this work we do — working with young people, working on sailboats, environmental advocacy, social justice, this is what I live for. It’s the best stuff in the world, as far as I am concerned.

MS: That’s a great quote to end on. But I have one more question. Feel free not to answer this, but I have to ask.

Your ED, Greg Belanger, is a polarizing figure in our industry. There are people who hold him accountable for the failures of Amistad America and Ocean Classroom — people who would cross the street to avoid him. What has it been like working with Greg?

SW: Greg is very pleasant … in all ways. [Pause] He’s a very hard worker.

I think that he has wanted every boat he’s ever worked with to succeed, and he wants Ocean Passages to succeed as well. b MarlinspikeMagazine.com

rigging basic sail making small boat handling small schooner operation boat repair & construction yards and masts 13

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Cabrillo’s Galleon Sails on Pacific Heritage Tour SAN SALVADOR will visit ports all along California’s coast this fall, and on her return trip will offer sail-training opportunities for the general public on four separate legs In San Diego, a full-scale replica of the first European vessel to explore California is preparing for an ambitious maiden voyage in September.

“The new San Salvador is a faithful, seaworthy recreation of Juan Cabrillo’s flagship. She is the result of 20 years of planning and five years of construction by skilled shipwrights and dedicated volunteers,” says Dr. Ray Ashley, San Diego Maritime Museum President and CEO. San Salvador’s Pacific Heritage Tour will kick off with exhibits and festivities on the San Diego waterfront September 5-7. That event is the start of a two-month maiden voyage celebration that will feature stops at multiple ports along the California coast.

Currently, planned stops include: • September 16-18: Ventura, hosted by Channel Islands Maritime Museum • September 21-23: Monterey, hosted by California State History Park • September 30-October 2: San Francisco, hosted by S.F. National Maritime Park • October 5-8: Vallejo, hosted by the California Maritime Academy • October 10-11: Oakland, Jack London Square, hosted by USS Potomac • October 14-16: Old Sacramento, hosted by California State Railroad Museum • October 21-23: Morro Bay, hosted by Central Coastal Maritime Museum This itinerary is more sweeping than had previously been discussed. But it gets even better: San Salvador’s return trip includes opportunities for the paying public to

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sail on one of three ocean-going excursions: • Sacramento to Morro Bay (October 24-27), • Morro Bay to Santa Barbara (October 28-31), • Santa Barbara to San Diego (November 1-5).

These passages are open to a limited number of passengers, ages 12 and up, for $995/per person or $3,500 for 4 persons.

The Museum’s Susan Sirota says this fall’s tour has been years in the planning, and was inspired by the successful visit, some years ago, of HM Bark Endeavor to California ports.

“I started with Dr. Ashley’s blessing, working with several port partners, about four years ago —once we started building the ship. I had been impressed when the Endeavor replica made its rounds. When she came to San Diego, there was this huge outpouring of support. We inherited 100 docents from that project who stayed with the Museum after the visit. I was pretty new at the time, and that really stayed in my mind. I knew if we were ever in a similar position, I’d attempt to emulate that model.

“In planning this tour, we reached out to a number of museums and maritime organizations up and down the state. For example, I cold-called the Cabrillo Aquarium in San Pedro, for the obvious name connection. And as the ship took shape, we broadened our reach. In the end we received so much support from around the state we decided that the logical conclusion of the trip was Sacramento — after all, that’s where the legislators are! Visiting the Bay Area also allows us to connect with the California Coastal Conservatory, who was a big supporter of the San Salvador project, and the USS Potomac organization in Oakland.

“Overall, there’s great enthusiasm for this tour and we were excited to have ability to extend it. Hopefully, in the future we can visit even more ports, and maybe even retrace Cabrillo’s journey from Guatemala up the West Coast.”

Meanwhile, San Salvador has just undergone her stability test and is looking to nail down her COI. After that, her first commitment is to the Cabrillo National Monument.

“The Park Service is re-doing their visitor film, featuring San Salvador, and that filming will happen in August,”

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PHOTO: JERRY SOTO

says Sirota. The new film will tell the Cabrillo story and also cover the construction of the replica.

“Then we have our Festival of Sail, and the Pacific Heritage Tour Starts.”

Sirota says San Salvador currently features three dozen bunks: “Sixteen in our main hold, eight in the aft cabin, and 12 in the ‘alcazar’ — a semi-enclosed space on the main deck.

“I think we’re going to be giving the enclosed bunks to the passengers, and the crew will be in the 12 alcazar bunks,” says Sirota.

Those who sign on for the offshore passages will be getting more than just sail training as usual.

“We’ve done sail training until the cows have come home,” says Sirota. “We want to do something different.

Dr. Ashley happens to be an excellent instructor in celestial navigation, so we plan to combine the old with the new, looking at the evolution of celestial navigation from Cabrillo’s time to today. Along with traditional sail training, with San Salvador’s older and slightly different rig and hull, we’re going to be doing some lessons with cartography, how maps were created, and how the European view of the world was changing at the time of Cabrillo, during this spurt of exploration.

“We’ll also have lectures from experts in the geology and archeology of the Channel Islands, where we hope to go ashore and do some hiking and learn about the indigenous peoples, the Chumash, and some of the archeological projects that are going on there.

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“I haven’t nailed a lot of this down yet, but these are the ideas I’d like to see happen.”

The Maritime Museum of San Diego enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels. The Museum has one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the world’s oldest active ship, the Star of India, the topsail schooner Californian, and ‘HMS’ Surprise, used for the film Master and Commander but formerly the well-known sailtraining ship ‘HMS’ Rose.

Now, with the latest addition to their fleet, the Museum is taking their show on the road. b

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PHOTO: JERRY SOTO

PHOTO: JERRY SOTO

PHOTO: JERRY SOTO

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In April, Draken Harald Hårfagre, the largest viking ship built in modern times, left Norway and set sail across the North Atlantic. The aim was to explore and relive one of the most mythological sea voyages: the first transatlantic crossing, and the Viking discovery of the New World, more than a thousand years ago.

Expedition America 2016 is all about exploring the world, just like the Vikings did. The project will, like Leif Eriksson, create intercultural meetings and inspire people to go beyond the horizon in a modern Viking saga.

THE LAKES WILL BE This summer’s TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE features two international vessels, DRAKEN HARALD HARFAGRE and EL GALEON ANDALUCIA An international fleet of tall ships will race and sail their way through the Great Lakes this summer as participants in Tall Ships America’s TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Race Series. This will be the sixth time the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Race Series has visited the Great Lakes and, for several of our ports, the sixth time they have hosted the tall ships.

Eight ports throughout all five Great Lakes will be hosting the fleet of 20 vessels from July to September. The ships will be visiting the following ports: Toronto, ON; Fairport Harbor, OH; Bay City, MI; Chicago, IL; Green Bay, WI; Duluth, MN; Erie, PA: and Brockville, ON. Erie Insurance Group is the Official Race Sponsor for this year’s series.

This year’s fleet includes two international vessels. The Spanish 16th century galleon, El Galeón Andalucia, who was part of the tall ships fleet along the Atlantic Coast last summer and this will be her first time in the Great Lakes.

“El Galeón and her crew are really excited and proud to be the first 16th century Spanish galleon to go through the Great Lakes and participate with the fleet of great vessels that will make an incredible event anywhere they go!” said Ulises Custodio, Head of Logistics, Fundación Nao Victoria.

The Norwegian-flagged Draken Harald Hårfagre is the world’s largest replica of a Viking ship built in modern times. As part of their Expedition America 2016, she sails from Norway across the North Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.

El Galeón Andalucia and Draken Harald Hårfagre will join Appledore IV, Appledore V, Denis Sullivan, Empire Sandy, Fair Jeanne, Friends Good Will, Madeline, Mist of Avalon, U.S Brig Niagara, Pathfinder, Playfair, Porcupine, Pride of Baltimore II, Red Witch, St. Lawrence II, When and If and Windy as they sail and race through the Lakes.

The first port of the call in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Race Series will be the Redpath Waterfront Festival in Toronto, 26

ON (towaterfrontfest.com). This will be the third year that Toronto will host the tall ships.

“We are proud to be the launch port for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes Race Series during Canada Day this year and look forward to seeing the majestic fleet of ships docked along our Waterfront once again,” states Lea Parrell, co-producer of the Redpath Waterfront Festival Toronto.

Toronto will also be the first start port for the race series. The ships will race towards the Welland Canal and then will converge in the first U.S. port, and first-time TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Official Host Port, for Tall Ships® Fairport Harbor 2016 (tallshipsfairportharbor.com).

“Fairport Harbor is new to the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® series but they have hosted tall ships in the past,” said Erin Short, TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Manager.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring them on board and we are pleased that they have joined the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® series.”

Fairport Harbor will be the start of the second race across the western end of Lake Erie, towards Pelee Passage.

Tall Ships America uses a special rating system which was developed in the European tall ships races and is used

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EL GALEON

E GREAT to assign vessels of any size a relative performance factor.

This gives all vessels an equal chance of winning if they are sailed well. Based on a formula which takes into consideration their hull, rigging and sail measurements, Sail Training International assigns each ship a Time Correction Factor (TCF) which is then used to determine the corrected time and final race standings.

Tall Ship Celebration: Bay City, three time Port of the Year winner, will host the fleet for the sixth time since 2001.

“I’m sure every community experiences something different when hosting the TALL SHIPS® CHALLENGE fleet,” says Shirley Roberts, event producer. “For Bay City, hosting the fleet has been transformative. It’s the hardest work we’ve ever done and the most rewarding. We wouldn’t miss it for the world!” (tallshipcelebration.com) From Bay City, the ships will race up Lake Huron towards Bois Blanc Island and then rendezvous for Pepsi® Tall Ships® Chicago 2016 at Navy Pier. The five-day festival, which helps to celebrate Navy Pier’s 100th anniversary, will kick off with a Parade of Sail and culminate with a fireworks display. (navypier.com/tall-ships-chicago-2016/ The fourth race of the series will start outside of Chicago and will finish off the coast of Algonac, WI. The ships will then transit the Sturgeon Bay Canal and sail in company into Green Bay for Tall Ship® Festival sponsored

by Nicolet Bank. (tallshipgreenbay.com) Following Green Bay, the fleet will make their way to Tall Ships® Duluth 2016. Starting from Duluth, MN will be the final race of the series across Lake Superior.

“Whenever sailing ships meet and conditions allow, a race usually ensues. Sailors take immense pride in their ship and their seamanship abilities, so it’s only natural to put these to the test through friendly competition,” states Bert Rogers, Executive Director, Tall Ships America.

“The TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® races formalize this proclivity in an exciting series every year, and it is thrilling to witness these magnificent ships sailing at their very best.”

Homeport of the U.S. Brig Niagara, Tall Ships® Erie 2016 (tallshipserie.com) will welcome the fleet to their city for the third time.

“The Flagship Niagara League is excited to host Tall Ships this September,” said Shawn Waskiewicz, Executive Director, Flagship Niagara League. “Tall Ships America has done a great job placing various festivals across the Great Lakes this summer. We’re proud to support our ships and sail training, all while making a significant economic impact in Erie, PA.”

Finally, the ships will arrive at the final port of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2016 in the Canadian town of Brockville, ON. “Brockville Tall Ships® has 10 vessels and 16 classic antique boats scheduled for the last port of call tour, from September 16-18, in the Thousand Islands region,” says David Paul, Director of Economic Development, City of Brockville. “The arrival of a Canadian warship, Halifax frigate will be a new offering with commemorative ceremonies for area veterans.” (tallshipsbrockville.com) TALL SHIPS AMERICA is the hub for tall ships activity, information, and expertise in North America, and is commended by Congress as the national sail training organization representing the United States. As a national membership organization, TALL SHIPS AMERICA supports the people, ships and programs of sail training and tall ships through professional development grants, sail training scholarships, conferences, education, publications, regulatory and licensing information, public events and advocacy.

Tall Ships America organizes the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® annual series of tall ship races and maritime port festivals to celebrate our rich maritime heritage and traditions and to inform the general public about the transformative power of adventure and education under sail®.

In 2016, the tall ship races are officially sponsored by Erie Insurance Group, a FORTUNE 500 company, a Barron’s 500 company, recognized by Forbes as one of America’s 50 Most Trustworthy Financial Companies. For more info, visit www.erieinsurance.com. b

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STAR OF INDIA’s new deck

The San Diego Maritime Museum is in the process of replacing the decks on Star of India.

“The weather decks were leaking so badly that when it rained, it poured down below... I'm embarrassed to say that we purchased tents for the students to sleep in down below for foul-weather occurrences. Luckily for us it hardly ever rains in San Diego,” said the Museum’s Susan Sirota.

Rust inside the ship, caused by rain from leaking decks, had become a serious threat to the vessel. Iron ships decay principally from the inside out as a result of saltwater that comes on board in heavy seas and leaks through the decks, causing salts to be absorbed into the somewhat porous structure of the iron plates.

Having rounded Cape Horn twenty-one times, Star of India shipped a lot of heavy seas. Even though no seas have boarded her for almost a century now, the salts still remain within the iron, and were being activated every time rainwater leaked through the decks.

The project was funded by a $192,000 National Parks Service Maritime Heritage Grant, a grant that was matched by private donors.

Meanwhile, the Museum’s modern representation of conquistador Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s galleon San Salvador has had her stability test and is looking ahead to a August 28

film collaboration with the National Park Service (for more on San Salvador and her fall plans, see page 20).

The Museum also did a lot of work on “HMS” Surprise this winter, with more to come. Executive Director Dr. Ray Ashley told Marlinspike in March that when the current projects are completed, the three-masted ship, ex-“HMS” Rose, will be in as good a shape as she’s been in some time.

The Museum plans a very limited sailing schedule for the vessel in San Diego Bay. H Mayflower II has been towed from Mystic Seaport back to Plymouth, arriving home on June 6. She had her USCG inspection and opened to the public June 8.

This winter’s work focused on replacement of the half deck; all beams, clamps and knees were replaced. The belfry and railing system at the break off the half deck were also replaced.

Much rigging work was accomplished by Matt Otto and his staff and also by Mayflower’s staff. The main and fore topmast shrouds are new, made with custom rope created for Mayflower II by New England Ropes. This is a three-strand spun polyester rope with a Dyneema core in each of the three strands.

All jackstays and footropes were replaced on the course

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and topsail yards as well.

As reported previously, Mayflower II is undergoing an extensive restoration with an eye toward sailing actively in 2020, the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in Massachusetts Bay. However, Mayflower is going to be away from Plymouth Harbor for an extended period starting this fall, as the boatwrights at Mystic Seaport fabricate a structure to support the ship and preserve its shape so under-the-waterline planks, frames, inner keelson and bilge stringers can be replaced.

“We will also be replacing parts of the bow stem area as well as parts of the stern post. Sixty to seventy percent of the oak planking under the water line has to be replaced,” Director of Marine Preservation and Operations Whit Perry told Marlinspike this spring.

Plimoth Plantation is actively seeking a vessel to serve as a stand-in for some or all of the time that Mayflower is away, and particularly for the summer seasons of 2017 and 2018. If you have any ideas, you’re encouraged to e-mail Whit Perry at wperry@plimoth.org.

H One of the biggest challenges in Ernestina-Morrissey’s ongoing rehabilitation is getting good white oak for the planks and other large structural members.

As soon as the current contract was signed, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard started procuring the materials for the job.

White oak has arrived from several states, as well as from Denmark.

The Danish oak is interesting; it is European white oak, an excellent species for boatbuilding. Herman Hinrichsen, when he was the lead shipwright, procured some for rebuilding Adventure through family connections in Denmark. He was also able to pave the way for Ernestina-Morrissey to get some.

Why are these beautiful ship-building timbers in Denmark? During the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark attempted to remain neutral. They had a Navy to protect their shipping interests. The British wanted the Danish ships; they said they were afraid the French would get them. The British forces bombarded Copenhagen until the Danes turned over their fleet.

The Danes were then stuck without a PHOTO: SEMA Navy or enough trees to build one. In

1807, they decided to plant 90,000 oak trees for naval use.

These trees were cared for by pruning and thinning, but naval technology moved on to iron and steel warships as the oaks grew. Now the trees are large and very desirable for building wooden vessels.

“We had a chance to see some of the oak at the shipyard, and it was almost unbelievable. Stacks of three-inch-thick fletches, three feet wide and 36 feet long for planking, and some nine-inch-thick, 36 feet long for structural pieces,” said Ernestina-Morrissey Commissioner (and former mate) Fred Sterner.

For the futtocks, Boothbay Harbor is using live oak, which is being shipped from Georgia. It is harvested in big curved pieces, not long straight timbers. It is much denser than white oak and hard to cut. The Cross Sawmill in Georgia has a special bandsaw that can cut pieces up to six feet wide.

H Planking is complete on the new sail-training brigantine Matthew Turner in Sausalito, although they held off on the whiskey plank until Call of the Sea’s annual gala on June 18.

Matthew Turner will serve as an experiential learning platform for Bay Area youth. The goal is to launch by the end of 2016 and be operational in 2017.

The construction of the new vessel will expand the capacity of programs that are currently running onboard Seaward, which currently serves middle-school-aged youth and engages them in marine environmental education. b Got an update for Boatyards? E-mail us!

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Danish white oak for ERNESTINA-MORRISSEY

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To be included in future editions of our calendar, e-mail your event information to marlinspike1812@gmail.com.

WEST & SOUTH Los Angeles Maritime Museum, Los Angeles, CA (310) 548-7618 * LAMaritimeMuseum.org The Museum is located on the Main Channel of Los Angeles Harbor. Visitors have a front-row opportunity to see the massive container ships in action and learn about international trade, ship terminology, sailor’s art, and the history of the working people who built Los Angeles harbor into the nation’s busiest container port.

Maritime Museum of San Diego, San Diego, CA (619) 234-9153 * SDMaritime.org Cabrillo’s San Salvador: The Pacific Heritage Tour will offer different planned events and immersive exhibits at the followign venues: Sept. 3-5 : Maritime Museum of San Diego Sept. 15-18: Oxnard, Channel Islands Maritime Museum Sept. 23 -25: Monterey, Monterey State Historic Park Sept. 30October 9: Morro Bay, Central Coastal Maritime Museum Association Texas Seaport Museum/ELISSA, Galveston, TX (409) 763-1877 * TSM-Elissa.org “It’s a Sailor’s Life!” is a special overnight adventure offered to youth groups ages 9-14. Highlighted by an overnight stay aboard the 1877 Elissa, this experience allows young people to live like sailors. Participants experience the thrill of working together to hoist sails, share the responsibility of keeping a night watch over ELISSA and learn traditional skills required of all seafarers in the Age of Sail.

Inland Seas Education Assoc., Suttons Bay, MI (231) 271-3077 * Schoolship.org Chuck Dickerson leads two ten-week pram building classes, one starting in February and one in October. Students, in groups of five, work alongside adult volunteers to build an Opti pram.

Upon completion of the course, students receive a scholarship to learn to sail the pram with Traverse Area Community Sailing.

Both sessions are free, but space is limited and registration is required.

Erie Maritime Museum, Erie, PA (814) 452-2744 * FlagshipNiagara.org Niagara offers educational sailing experiences to school groups, encouraging students to explore Erie’s maritime heritage and understand the science of sailing. Maximum capacity on-board: 60 day sail students, including teachers/ chaperones. For more information contact Outreach & Education at 814.452.2744 ext. 225 or outreach@flagshipniagara.org.

Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven, MI (269) 637-8078 * MichiganMaritimeMuseum.org Friends Good Will is available for Educational Sails, Passenger Sails, Dockside boardings, Charters, Weddings, and Conferences.

Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI (866) 724-2356 * WisconsinMaritime.org View a shipwreck diorama featuring the Edmund Fitzgerald as she looks lying deep in the waters of Lake Superior.

EAST COAST

GREAT LAKES Bayfront Maritime Center, Erie PA (814) 456-4077 * BayfrontCenter.org The Center is designing and building a representation of Erie’s historic Schooner Porcupine. Porcupine’s mission will be sailing as the Schoolship for Presque Isle Bay, a hands-on sailing STEM classroom and historic regional attraction, interpreting her important part in the War of 1812, sailing for the US Coastal Survey Office, being a United States Revenue Cutter, and carrying cargo as the merchant schooner Caroline until 1873.

BaySail – Appledore Tall Ships, Bay City, MI (989) 895-5193 * BaySailBayCity.org BaySail is a private non-profit dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship of the Saginaw Bay and the Great Lakes through engaging shipboard experiences aboard our two 30

schooners, the Appledore IV and Appledore V. Our programs include science education for K-12 school groups, overnight voyaging for youth and adults, public sails, charters, group tours, and port visits.

Annapolis Maritime Museum, Annapolis, MD (410) 295-0104 * AMaritime.org Sept. 17. The Museum is hosting the 12th Annual Boatyard Beach Bash. With Coral Reefers, Jim Mayer, Peter Mayer, Brendan Mayer and Doyle Grisham, as well as world-class musicians John Frinzi, Scott Kirby, Aaron Scherz, and James White, set to perform on a waterfront stage!

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD (410) 745-2916 * CBMM.org Rising Tide After-School Program teaches students basic boatbuilding skills in a welcoming, relaxed environment. Students will apply the principles they learn in math and science while using hand and power woodworking tools. When the weather allows, students will gain experience boat handling, navigation,

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and other skills while paddling, rowing, sailing, power-boating, and fishing on the Miles River.

Council of American Maritime Museums Councilofamericanmaritimemuseums.org The 2017 conferencee will be held in San Francisco, hosted by the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Park Association. A call for proposals will be issued in October 2016.

Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, MA (978) 283-0455 * CapeAnnMuseum.org Discover Fitz Henry Lane Online, an interactive resource that includes a catalog of Lane’s paintings, drawings and lithographs; an extensive database of historical information, images and materials related to the subjects within Lane’s pictures; new scholarly essays; and a bibliography and archive of publications.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Hatteras, NC (252) 986-2995 * NCMaritimeMuseums.com Exhibits tell stories of major wrecks including that of the USS Monitor, Titanic, U-85, USS Huron, and Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge.

Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, RI (401) 253-5000 * Herreshoff.org Besides the yachts and models, the Museum has catalogued and displayed hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia significant to the Herreshoff legacy.

Historic Ships in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD (410) 539-1797 * HistoricShips.org Historic Ships in Baltimore provides “hands-on encounters with history.” Tours and activities, live cannon firings, educational programs and more!

Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA (215) 413-8630 * PhillySeaport.org Patriots & Pirates. Discover Philadelphia’s connection to the founding of the U.S. Navy. This new, permanent exhibition features curated objects never, or rarely, seen by the public — highlighting the little-told story of America’s conflict with pirates.

Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT (802) 475-2022 * LCMM.org The LCMM fleet consists of two full-sized replica vessels that visitors may board — the canal schooner Lois McClure and the 1776 gunboat Philadelphia — several restored boats for viewing, and numerous small craft, some on display, and some actively used in our rowing programs.

Long Island Maritime Museum, West Sayville, NY (631) HISTORY * LIMaritime.org Combine dining and sailing with a cruise on board the 1888 oyster sloop Priscilla.

(978) 834-0050 * LowellsBoatShop.com Lowell’s Boat Shop is seeking high school students for the 20162017 apprentice program. Apprentices will learn the art of traditional wooden boat building under the guidance of boatbuilders Jeff Lane and Graham McKay. Apprentices will rebuild a 16’ Amesbury Skiff and build a new 15’ Banks Dory.

Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, ME (207) 443-1316 * MaineMaritimeMuseum.org The Bath Iron Works Story Trolley Tour is running through October 28. The tour begins with an exclusive exhibit highlighting key elements of BIW’s history followed by an introductory video that documents the process of constructing the most advanced ships in the world. Then board the trolley for a rolling tour through Bath where guides will detail the history of the yard, interpret the views, and highlight key elements of the shipyard. Seating is limited, reservations highly recommended.

The Mariners’ Museum and Park, Newport News, VA (757) 596-2222 * MarinersMuseum.org October 1, 1:00-3:00 pm. Polynesian Voyagers Expert Panel Discussion. Panel will discuss how the earth is changing; the ways indigenous cultures, including those of Polynesia and Virginia, have related to their environment; and how we can work together to build a better future. This is a ticketed event.

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT (860) 572-0711 * MysticSeaport.org September 24. The opening celebration for the Thompson Exhibition Building will be at 9 am. There will be a brief ceremony on the Cambridge Plaza in front of the entrance, after which the building will be open for members and visitors to explore all day.

New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA (508) 997-0046 * WhalingMuseum.org Casa dos Botes Discovery Center honors the legacy and heritage of the Portuguese Community. The Discovery Center is located on the same site where members of New Bedford’s Azorean community first began constructing whaleboats in the city in 1997.

Peabody-Essex Museum, Salem, MA (978) 542-1609 * PEM.org Through November 6. American Impressionist: Childe Hassam and the Isles of Shoals. The exhibition features more than 40 oil paintings and watercolors dating from the late 1880s to 1912.

USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown, MA (617) 426-1812 * USSConstitutionMuseum.org See USS Constitution like you have never seen her before. From 2015-2017 Constitution is in dry dock for her first major restoration in over twenty years. This event is a unique opportunity to appreciate the remarkable structure of “Old Ironsides” and to see an active shipyard with preservation work underway. ❂ To list your event, e-mail marlinspike1812@gmail.com.

Lowell’s Boat Shop, Amesbury, MA MarlinspikeMagazine.com

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A select list of sailing programs, summer camps, and passage opportunities open to the public.

Maine Windjammer Association, Midcoast Maine (800) 807-WIND * SailMaineCoast.com Nine traditional sailing vessels offering windjammer cruises on the Maine coast from mid-May through early October.

WEST COAST Grays Harbor Historic Seaport, Aberdeen, WA (800) 200-5239 * HistoricalSeaport.org Two Weeks Before the Mast programs on Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain.

Los Angeles Maritime Institute, Los Angeles, CA (310) 883-6055 * LAMITopSail.org Sail-training for school and youth groups.

Maine Windjammer Cruises, Midcoast Maine (207) 236-2938 * MaineWindjammerCruises.com Three traditional sailing vessels offering windjammer cruises on the Maine coast from mid-May through late September.

Oliver Hazard Perry, Newport, RI (401) 841-0080 * OHPRI.org Week-long summer teen camps; educational programming for students of all ages; sail-training cruises for adults and families.

Schooner Adventuress, Port Townsend, WA (360) 379-0438 * SoundExp.com Overnight programs for teens, adults, seniors, and families.

Schooner Zodiac, Bellingham, WA (206) 719-7622 * SchoonerZodiac.com Windjammer cruises in the San Juan Islands, April-October.

Schooners North, Friday Harbor, WA (360) 378-2224 * SanJuanSailCharter.com Cruises from the San Juans to Alaska on the schooner Spike Africa.

GREAT LAKES

Appledore Tall Ships, Bay City, MI (989) 895-5193 * BaySailBayCity.org Day-sails, charters, educational programs, and overnight sail-training opportunities.

Brigantine St. Lawrence II, Kingston, ON (613) 544-5175 * Brigantine.ca Sail-training programs on the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario.

Traverse Tall Ship Co., Traverse Bay, MI (231) 941-2000 * TallShipSailing.com Education, day-sails, charters, and multi-day windjammer cruises.

US Brig Niagara, Erie, PA (814) 452-2744 ext. 214 * FlagshipNiagara.org Summer 2016 Voyage Programs, for High School students, College Students, Individual Trainees.

EASTand COAST

Barque Picton Castle, Lunenburg, NS (902) 634-9984 * Picton-Castle.com Spending the first half of 2017 cruising the Caribbean. No sailing experience required, just a strong back and willing heart.

Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships, Boston, MA (617) 742-0333 * LibertyFleet.com Windjammer-style Caribbean cruises; day sails from Boston in summer.

Schooner A. J. Meerwald, Bivalve, NJ (856) 785-2060 * BayShoreCenter.org Day and overnight Maritime Camp programs for children 13-17.

Schooner Alliance, Yorktown, VA (757) 639-1233 * SailYorktown.com Public sails and private charters in Yorktown during the summer; Windjammer-style Caribbean cruises during winter months.

Schooner Ardelle, Gloucester, MA (978) 281-0470 * SchoonerArdelle.com Public sails, private charters, and educational programs in conjunction with the Maritime Heritage Center.

Schooner Fame, Salem, MA (978) 729-7600 * SchoonerFame.com Public sails, private charters, and educational programs. Week-long Schooner Day Camp sessions for ages 8-14.

Schooner Mystic Whaler, Mystic, CT (800) 697-8420 * MysticWhalerCruises.com Single-day education programs for youth, overnight cruises for adults.

Schooner Pride of Baltimore II, Baltimore, MD (410) 539-1151 * Pride2.org Heading home from the Great Lakes. Port visits, charters, day sails, youth programs, private events and overnight guest crew experiences.

World Ocean School, Boston, MA (340) 626-7877 * WorldOceanSchool.org Education programs on board the schooner Roseway.

Schooner Sultana, Chesterton, MD (410) 778-5954 * SultanaProjects.org Weeklong “Chesapeake Adventures” programs for ages 11-14.

SEA Semester, Woods Hole, MA (508) 540-3954* Sea.edu Accredited semester-at-sea programs for college students.

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❂ OLIVER HAZARD PERRY set her sails last summer for the first time

ONNE VAN DER WAAL

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❂

Perhaps it’s not surprising that the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry has had some setbacks, after all, she represents one of the largest and most ambitious sail-training projects in the US history. Now, with two painful seasons of missed deadlines in the rear-view mirror, the Perry is prepared to run her first programs later this summer.

“We are doing well!” reports Executive Director Jessica Wurzbacher. “We are very, very close to getting our COI. We’ve had the Coast Guard on board this week for all of the dockside testing [end of May] and that’s going really well. Once we’re done, the only major thing remaining will be underway drills, which will happen in mid-June.”

Wurzbacher says that while a full slate of officers is on board, the Perry is still hiring experienced AB’s and deckhands.

“Our COI is for 13, but we’re going to sail with 17. I think we’re at about 10 right now. Anyone who’s been watching the project and wanting to get aboard and be part of our initial crew, now is the time!”

As many readers will have heard, Richard Bailey, who served as captain during the long build, has moved on, and been replaced by David Dawes.

“He’s a local Newporter,” says Wurzbacher. “He’s been here for 20 years, but is originally from Australia. David was captain of the Denis Sullivan; he was captain of Mirabella V, the largest sailing yacht in the world. He’s got thousands of sea miles and lots of experience managing ships and crews, and is really doing a fantastic job.

“Our chief mate is Mark Crutcher. He was the build captain of the Denis Sullivan and handed over to David back in 2005, so the two of them go back a long way. Mark also worked for SEA for a number of years and has been captain of a lot of Sailing School Vessels, so we feel we have a really strong leadership team in place.”

At the end of May, contractors were working to complete the ship’s black and gray water tanks.

“They were originally plastic, and we’re replacing them proactively with stainless steel,” explains Wurzbacher. “That project took a little longer than anticipated, but once that is done the ship will be habitable again and the crew will move aboard and we’ll be ready for underway drills and sailing.”

Assuming underway drills go as planned and the Perry receives her COI, the ship’s first program will take place in early July with a partner school out of Erie, PA. The Perry’s first summer camp starts on July 31.

“We have an 11-night program from Boston to Portsmouth, NH, and we’re going to be in Portsmouth for their festival, which is the 10th-14th of August. Then we have a six-night program returning from Portsmouth to Newport following that.”

The trips are selling well, according to Wurzbacher, but there were still a few spaces available at press time.

Asked why the build phase has dragged on so long, Wurzbacher blamed not the Coast Guard but rather the organization’s incurable optimism.

“It’s not that the Coast Guard has stood in our way at any time; they’ve been helpful, every step of the way. The problem was that we just weren’t quite ready.

“I think initially we had unrealistic timeframes. There was so much excitement from the board, the staff, the crew, the students, the schools… it got ahead of us. This is an extremely complex ship that nobody has ever attempted in the US. You’re dealing with so many MarlinspikeMagazine.com

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PICTON CASTLE

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contractors and systems, systems that have never all been run at the same time and same place.

“It’s really just the scale of the project. There was no one thing that held us up; we simply underestimated the amount of time it would take us to do this.

“For example, we never built in any commissioning time.

In the Navy, when a ship is built and christened, it then spends up to a year in the yard, troubleshooting systems and so forth. We sailed last summer, and the ship was finished to a degree, but we never allotted time to go through and fix all the bugs and so forth.”

Through it all, Wurzbacher has remained optimistic.

“We WILL get our COI this summer. We’re very, very, very close. I know we’ve overpromised before and not delivered, but we’re really there this time, we’ve got an exciting summer ahead, some adult trips coming up in the fall, and we’re in discussions about some interesting dockside programs. It’s a nice varied summer schedule and I’m feeling upbeat and optimistic about it.” ★ Picton Castle probably won’t stay black-hulled forever — it’s too hot on a tropical voyage — but she has changed her recent white coat for black for a TV shoot this summer.

The TV show is called “La Grand Traversée”. It’s being filmed (in French) to air next year on Radio Canada, the French-language arm of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Ten “colonists” will sail on board the Picton Castle from La Rochelle, France to Quebec City, experiencing life as it was for early settlers in the 18th century sailing from France to New France.

In May, the barque sailed from Lunenburg to La

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The success of the the famous Soggy Dollar Bar in Jost Van Dyke’s White Bay has given rise to two new establishments — an enlarged and improved version of Ivan’s Stress-Free Bar, on the east end of the beach, and to the west of the Soggy Dollar, Gertrude’s Beach Bar and Grill. There is, frankly, not much difference between the three establishments. The Soggy Dollar has a nice shaded seating area, Ivan’s has a rooftop deck and tire swing, and Gertrude’s (pictured) offers a little more peace and quiet. But the Painkillers, the sandy beach and the south-facing view, the million-dollar view, the view you came all this way for, are the same. — MR 36

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Rochelle, just over 3,000 nautical miles, in 22 days. The return trip, sailing back to Canada as the cameras roll, is expected to take about six weeks because the ship will have to head farther south to pick up favourable winds. ★ “There was a time when it looked as if the schooner Virginia was cursed,” wrote the Daily Press of Newport News, VA. “Severe money problems, a muddled mission, political bickering and cracked masts — all of that and more plagued the wooden sailing vessel, a reproduction of a 1917 pilot schooner that once sliced through the waters of Hampton Roads.”

And that article was written in 2012, before the schooner was laid up once again in the summer of 2014, this time for nearly two years.

Virginia was launched by the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation in 2005, providing an educational resource for youth and adults. She conducted sail training voyages, appeared at numerous maritime festivals in the Chesapeake Bay and on the East Coast, and traveled to Nova Scotia, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Operations were funded by student and adult bookings, appearance fees, donations and public funds.

But the 2008 recession led to a substantial drop in philanthropic support and the disappearance of public funding, and the Foundation was unable to make ends meet.

Eventually, she was listed for sale for $1.8 million. The price was later reduced to $1.5 million.

This April, the Virginian-Pilot reported that the Nauticus Foundation would use a $1 million grant to acquire the schooner and base it at their Norfolk, VA complex, which includes the World War II battleship USS Wisconsin.

Nauticus Executive Director Stephen Kirkland said at the time that while the schooner would continue to sail, it would do so only in local waters.

After the April announcement, there were some public complaints made about the suitability of the grant, which apparently came from funds that had been eyed for other purposes. The complaints did not appear to have derailed the acquisition, however. ★ The gorgeous steel Columbia replica will be heading up the East Coast again this summer.

Captain Karl Joyner has confirmed that the schooner will return to Gloucester for the Schooner Festival, at which she spanked all comers in last year’s Mayor’s Cup race.

Columbia will also attend the New London Maritime Heritage Festival, where she toyed with the much smaller Brilliant before pulling away to win.

“We will be spending the bulk of the summer in Newport and in the Martha’s Vineyard area,” said Capt.

Joyner. “We intend to race in the Candy Store Cup in Newport at the end of July, then Gloucester and New London.” ★ In Connecticut, Amistad has been transferred to a newly-

Rum has always been associated with sailors and sailing, especially in New England where for centuries West Indies molasses was imported for the making of rum. Boston was once a hotbed of rum production, but not so much in the last century. Nowadays, however, that is changing. In Essex County alone, there are small local distillers making their own rum in Ipswich, Gloucester, and Salem. Here’s one of my local favorites, from Ipswich, a rum we serve aboard Fame. — MR

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formed nonprofit called Discovering Amistad Inc. The organization is just beginning to populate its website, blog and facebook page.

Amistad was hauled out at Mystic Seaport over the winter. Along with an overdue re-caulking and some work on the topsides, a new mainsail and jib were ordered, and the twin Caterpillar 3304 diesels, with around 5800 hours of use, were removed and sent to H.O. Penn in Farmington, the company that originally installed them, to assess their condition. The Day newspaper reported that both engines would need to be replaced.

Len Miller, the chairman of Discovering Amistad, told The Day that “our worst fears were confirmed that the boat was not maintained properly” and that this winter’s various repairs, budgeted at $300,000, instead cost some $500,000.

By June, the schooner was set to be re-launched,

although the new engines had not yet arrived. The schooner will likely not be leaving Long Island Sound this summer, instead visiting Connecticut ports such as New London, Bridgeport and New Haven. ★ The Arctic schooner Bowdoin was re-launched in early June after a busy winter of work.

The masts were removed, the deck was replaced, and the crew took advantage of the interior access to replace the generator and re-build Bowdoin’s 30-year-old Cummins 855 engine. Cummins donated all of the engine parts for the rebuild, but much of the work was done by Maine Maritime students.

Bowdoin serves as the key training ship for Maine Maritime’s Vessel Operations and Technology and Small Vessel Operations undergraduate programs, as well as the

for Schooner MYSTIC Three-masted schooner, built 2007, steel hull by Freeport Shipbuilding. Staterooms for 34 guests. Lying Jacksonville, FL. Asking $2.99 million.

MYSTIC

Schooner ARABELLA Three-masted staysail schooner, built in 1983, aluminum hull. COI for 149 day sails, 40 overnight. Asking $2,900,000.

Schooner HALIE & MATTHEW Bald-headed schooner, built in 2006, fiberglass hull.

Located Eastport, ME. COI for 100 on deck, 50 overnight. Asking $1,400,000.

Schooner VICTORY CHIMES Three-masted schooner in the Maine Windjammer trade.

1900, oak on oak. Located Camden, ME. COI for 50.

Asking $925,000.

Schooner HERITAGE Two-masted schooner in the Maine Windjammer trade.

1983, oak on oak. Located Rockland, ME. COI for 30 overnight. Asking $995,000.

Schooner AMERICAN EAGLE Bald-headed schooner in the Maine Windjammer trade.

1930, oak on oak. Located Rockland, ME. COI for 56 daysails, 28 overnight. SOLAS and PSSC. Asking $750,000.

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Schooner UNICORN Topsail schooner, currently a sail-training ship. 1947, steel.

COI 12 daysails, 6 overnight. Asking $375,000.

Schooner ISAAC F. EVANS Two-masted schooner built 1886. Oak on oak. Current COI with next inspection due 2018 (frames and fastenings). 22 overnight with 4 crew, 39 day sail. $325,000.

Sloop PROVIDENCE Replica of Revolutionary War sloop. 1976, fiberglass.

Located RI. 59 GRT. COI for 40 daysails. Asking $295,000.

Schooner JEANIE B. Gaff schooner, steel. COI 25 daysails, 15 overnight.

Located NC. Asking $275,000.

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If your definition of beach includes sand, then there is no beach on Misery Island, which lies off the southern coast of Cape Ann. There are, however, two protected, rocky coves, one on the north side and one on the south side of the 80-acre island. Both feature a variety of moorings, legal and illegal, some sketchier than others. The northern anchorage, pictured here, is nicknamed Cocktail Cove, and it is a very popular spot on weekends. As befits its name, it is an excellent place to hunt for beach glass.

During the week, however, it’s a sleepy spot just waiting for a small schooner full of campers to latch onto the big orange fisherman’s mooring at the mouth of the Cove, hang a swim ladder over the side, and declare the pool open.

The water is cold but clean. — MR

platform for MMA’s Sail Training Minor.

When not in use for training purposes, Bowdoin keeps up a busy schedule of public and private tours, appearances, and excursions. A National Historic Landmark, Bowdoin is also the Official Vessel of the State of Maine. ★ Since our spring issue came out, Clearwater’s volunteers, crew and shipwrights have been hard at work. Clearwater’s rebuild began in October on a barge in Kingston, NY. Over eight months, Clearwater’s hull was ripped apart and put back together.

This winter’s project was designed to replace the midships section of the vessel including the centerboard trunk.

The new trunk has been built up through the deck of the sloop, and the interior and exterior of the trunk have been painted and primed. Many new frames have been installed, and new planks fastened to the hull. The seams have all been payed and the hull has been primed and painted. A large section of the keelson was replaced and the keel shoe is back on the keel.

Inside the ship, the engine room is coming back together, all of the engine bedlogs have been replaced, the majority of the systems are in place and the new exhaust for the main engine has been installed. As the new sailing crew arrives, the living spaces onboard still need to be reconstituted.

On June 15th, Clearwater will be transported to Albany

on the barge and splash back into the Hudson River to allow her new planks to swell. The crew are looking forward to the re-launching ceremony on July 4th in Poughkeepsie.

For more information about the sloop restoration, visit www.clearwater.org. ★ The Barbados-based cargo schooner Ruth is expected to start transporting inter-island cargo during the third quarter of this year. The interior of the vessel is currently being fitted with solar refrigeration equipment.

Launched in 2014, Ruth is a pilot of the “Caribbean Sail Cargo Initiative” project of the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneur-ship in partnership with SV Ruth Ltd. “We want to create a sail cargo fleet where Ruth is the first ship, is operating sustainably, working within the green economy and is reducing consumption of fossil fuel,” Ian Dash, Director of SV Ruth Ltd, told Caribbean360.com.

“If the financing becomes available through the Climate Mitigation Fund, we will have a 400 tonne vessel, which we can put into servicing Guyana. In the future, we are looking at large vessels plying the Caribbean with highly technologically advanced sail systems, which can carry grain and other bulk commodities.” b Do you have a newsworthy item for Boats, Bars & Beaches?

Contact us at Marlinspike1812@gmail.com.

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of the

The best way to make sure your brightwork dazzles is to carefully prepare the surface to be varnished, and don’t be rushed when it’s finally time to apply your elixir of choice The number-one rule in real estate is “location, locaAfter sanding is complete, we vacuum the piece and tion, location”. The number-one rule in varnishing is “prepa- wipe it down with denatured alcohol. The denatured alcohol ration, preparation, preparation”. You’re simply not going to evaporates quickly and removes any moisture from the piece. get a nice finished product if you don’t spend the time to In the case of just adding additional coats (a piece not taken prepare your surface first. down to bare wood), the denaTo get the boat ready for tured alcohol softens the existanother season, everything gets ing layer and provides for better a fresh coat of paint or varnish. adhesion of the new coat.

Over the years, coats of varnish The final step to prepare build up and start to look milky the piece before varnishing is or dull and become susceptible wiping it with a tack cloth. to cracking. When this hapTo recap: pens, it’s time to strip it back 1. Sand down to bare wood and start 2. Vacuum fresh.

3. Move the piece to an This year, the navigation area that is as dust-free as possibox where our electronics are ble and where there will be little hooked up was a candidate for foot traffic stripping. The varnish still had a 4. Wipe with denatured beautiful glow but the layers alcohol Stripped, sanded, vacuumed & wiped. had become so thick that it had 5. Wipe with tack cloth Ready to varnish! cracked and allowed some water The more thoroughly each to seep in. Here’s a step-by-step step is done, the better the end look at the process. result will be.

First, I used a heat gun and putty knife to scrape off the Now comes the fun part — varnishing. old layers of varnish. Then came the sanding. We use ranWell, actually, our first coat is wood sealer (like primer). dom-orbital sanders and a variety of sand paper; 80-grit and Because the wood grain is bare, it will soak up a lot of what100-grit for the coarse sanding. Depending on the piece, we ever you apply first. Wood sealer is a nice product that will may use 150-, 180-, or 220-grit for the fine sanding. Most seal the grain and goes on much like varnish despite being a of our varnished pieces get a final sanding with 220-grit. slightly thinner viscosity. I use Interlux Interprime Wood Between coats sanding is done by hand with 220-grit sandSealer Clear #1026. paper or a fine Scotch-Brite pad. Remember to always sand Because wood sealer soaks in and dries so quickly, I will with the grain! often try to apply two coats in one day and then let it set 40

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over night. Many people thin the first coat of varnish. I drips, sags, or curtains before it dries entirely. choose not to. Some add mineral spirits or paint thinner but I’ve never liked the results when doing this. If I ever thin Dust & Debris varnish, I use Penetrol. I usually only do that to revive an Dust and debris in your wet varnish can be caused by older can that has thickened a little over time as the solvents several different things. evaporate.

First, did you rush through I never thin varnish from a the tack cloth step? Be thorbrand-new can. I generally open ough and take your time to be a new can and use a new or sure you’ve removed all the dust fairly new brush for final coats. from the surface you are about There are several different to varnish. brands and types of varnish.

Is your paint brush new or When I’m in a hurry I use Jet very clean? Lint or “dandruff ” Speed and when I want to build (dried varnish from not cleaning up coats quickly on a stripped the brush well after its last use) piece I use Hi-Build. can ruin a coat.

Under normal conditions, Sometimes a brush will my favorite is Pettit Captain’s “spit” bristles — make sure you Varnish. I almost always use a remove these before you let the 1.5” brush with natural bristles. coat dry. Moving your arm back Shining a light on a freshly-varnished and forth to brush on the varVarnishing takes time and patience. If you rush things, nish while wearing a dusty shirt surface can help spot mistakes you’re going to run into probor fuzzy sweater can drop lint lems. Remember: “Preparation, preparation, preparation.” and dirt onto your piece.

Some problems you may encounter if you rush the Finally, is the piece in a place free of foot-traffic, wagprocess: ging dog tails, breezy doors or windows? All these things can kick up dust and ruin your beautiful work! b Orange Peel Capt. Brenda Thomas operates the Schooner Isaac Evans This is a textured appearance that gets its name because of the Maine Windjammer Association. it looks a lot like the peel of an orange. It is a result of the top of the varnish drying too quickly.

I ran into this problem when I varnished outside last month during the unusually warm weather. I tend to apply fairly thick coats and the direct sun dried the top pretty quickly. As the rest of the varnish dries it distorts that very top skim layer that has already dried and creates the texture that no one wants in the final product.

Authentic Tarred Hemp Marline

Holidays We’re not talking Thanksgiving and Christmas here, we’re talking spots that we missed — incomplete coverage.

Getting a nice, even complete coat takes careful attention.

When I think I am done with a coat, I walk around the piece and get the light to play off it just right so I can see that there are no spots I missed. Sometimes I even use a drop light to shine light on the piece just so. If I missed a spot, I can remedy it while the varnish is still wet. If the coat is dry and I notice this imperfection, it means another light hand-sanding and another coat.

If the spot is really big we say, “That’s no holiday — that’s a whole vacation!”

American Rope & Tar

Drips, Sags & Curtains Gravity plays a significant role when varnishing vertical surfaces. One has to find the right balance between too thin (potential holidays) and too thick. If the varnish is applied too thickly, gravity will pull the varnish down, creating MarlinspikeMagazine.com

8115 River Front Ln. Fair Oaks, CA 95628 877 965 1800

www.tarsmell.com 41

A popular feature on the Marlinspike facebook page is NAME THAT BOAT, where readers are asked to identify tall ships and sail-training vessels of the past & present. How many of these vessels can you name?

A

8/8 — Admiral of the Ocean Sea 7/8 — Commodore 6/8 — Captain 5/8 — Master & Commander 4/8 — First Mate 3/8 — Seaman, Able 2/8 — Seaman, Ordinary 1/8 — Swabbie 0/8 — Tourist

ANSWERS: A) Corwith Cramer, B) Pacific Swift, C) Pilgrim, D) Lady Washington, E) Nadezhda, F) Bluenose, G) Fair Jeanne, H) Adventure.

B

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C

D

F

G

E

H

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Keeping our maritime heritage alive—one story at a time ...

When you join the National Maritime Historical Society you take an active role in preserving our maritime heritage while enjoying the lore of the sea in Sea History magazine.

Sea History explores exciting Age of Sail stories, the plight of historic ships, opportunities to preview maritime art and exhibits, up-to-date book reviews and so much more.

Call today to receive your discounted $19.95 membership (mention code MS2016) and discover how Sea History brings our maritime heritage to life!

www.seahistory.org (800) 221-NMHS (6647) ext. 0

BURNHAM BOATBUILDING

P. O. Box 541 / Essex MA 01929 978.290.7168 * haburnham@gmail.com Indigenous, traditional vessels designed and built to pay for themselves.

Our customers are our best sales team: schooner.org in business since 1997 schoonerfame.com in business since 2003 schoonerardelle.com in business since 2011

MATE / BOSUN / ENGINEER MATE / BOSUN Yorktown Sailing Charters Yorktown Sailing Charters operates the 105', three-masted gaff-rigged schooner Alliance and the 65’, two-masted gaff-rigged schooner Serenity in the York River, Chesapeake Bay, in the summer season. They offer two-hour day sails where the crew educate the public on basic tall ship sailing and the local history of the Yorktown area.

Liveaboard position. Experience with traditional vessel maintenance required.

Apply by email with resume and references to: info@sailyorktown.com Yorktown Sailing Charters P.O. Box 238 Yorktown, VA 23690 SECOND MATE SSV Oliver Hazard Perry The Second Mate is responsible for leading a safe navigational watch, supervising deck operations and assisting the Captain & First Mate in vessel operations, maintenance and instructing students in sail operations. The Second Mate maintains the deck logbook and is responsible for keeping all the navigational and safety equipment in order. Experience aboard square-rigged sailing vessels is required. A minimum license requirement for this position is 500-ton Auxiliary Sail.

SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will run programs for student of all ages during year-round operation initially along the east coast. Our programs include 12 week voyages in partnership with academic institutions, as well as teen summer camps and adult voyages.

Employment Dates: March 21, 2015 – October 21, 2016 Positions are full-time, live-aboard. Room and board provided To be paid, candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents.

Apply by emailing cover letter and resume to: jess@ohpri.org AB / DECKHAND SSV Oliver Hazard Perry Deckhands are the core deck crew members working the ship both on deck and aloft. They also lead the trainee crew members (both youth and adult) in all aspects of shipboard operations.

SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will run programs for student of all ages during year-round operation initially along the east coast. Our programs include 1-2 week voyages in partnership with academic institutions, as well as teen summer camps and adult voyages.

Employment Dates: March 21, 2015 – October 21, 2016 Positions are full-time, live-aboard. Room and board provided To be paid, candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents.

Apply by emailing cover letter and resume to: jess@ohpri.org

SUBSCRIBE Sign up today for the quarterly magazine devoted to traditional sailing vessels, sailors, and programs!

One year $25, Two years $40 — save $10!

Subscribe via PayPal to Marlinspike1812@gmail.com via credit card by calling (978) 729-7600 or mail your check to: Marlinspike / 98 Washington Square East #1 Salem MA 01970

DECKHAND Yorktown Sailing Charters Yorktown Sailing Charters operates the 105', three-masted gaff-rigged schooner Alliance and the 65’, two-masted gaff-rigged schooner Serenity in the York River, Chesapeake Bay, in the summer season. They offer two-hour day sails where the crew educate the public on basic tall ship sailing and the local history of the Yorktown area.

Liveaboard position. Experience with traditional vessel maintenance required.

Apply by email with resume and references to: info@sailyorktown.com Yorktown Sailing Charters P.O. Box 238 Yorktown, VA 23690 ❂ Got a job opportunity you’d like us to include in our next issue?

E-mail us at marlinspike1812@gmail.com

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I spent some time cleaning and reorganizing the loft and managed to get all my tools put away in their proper places and remembered your past requests for photos of marlinespikes. I’m not that capable when it comes to modern media but these are the tools of my trade.

From left: a spike w/ wooden handle, a pricker, a spike I picked up at Liberty Tool for small stuff, a custom-made 9” by Tsur Yi, a 10, 14, 18, and 24.

The 10, 14 and 18 are stamped Drew but only the 14 is a real Drew.

The other two are Chinese knockoffs that I ground down to make them usable. The 24 is a WW2 vintage item I found locally that is missing the last 4” or so and when I can find a competent blacksmith I’ll have it repaired.

To the right is the rig I wore at sea for about 13 years when I was in sail. I made the belt myself; the buckle had belonged to my grandfather. The knife is a $20 item that has proven itself in service and while inexpensive, I’d be heartbroken if I ever lost it. It had an English broadarrow stamp when I first got it more than 20 years ago. It was said to have been a stevedore’s knife. I made the sheath myself, the knife having cut through maybe three of them over the years.

I should add that the 12 has a distinctly different shape than the others but more like the 24. It is based on the Mephisto spike I lost in Bermuda while serving in Picton Castle during her first circumnavigation. — Tom Ward

I covered the local Pirate Festival for the local paper, and I wanted to “dress for the party.” Having sailed day sails on the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain, I knew no sailor goes on board without a knife and a marlinspike. This being California, I was uncertain about the weapons policy, so I left the knives behind, and I made a marlinspike out of something that wouldn’t break my heart if it got confiscated: a chopstick.

I made the handle out of spare cordage wrapped over cotton padding, and made a loop at the end so it could be attached by a cord to the belt. I hope to fancify my handle, once I learn proper knotwork. But for now, that simple little marlinspike serves me well, and it has been used to untangle cord knots more than once.

The modified screwdriver is what my husband made after a suggestion from a member of the Lady Washington crew. The fancier beaded one is another chopstick. I made it for covering an Order of the Leviathan induction for Mutiny Magazine.

The screwdriver is pretty hardy, but I am surprised at the strength of the chopsticks! — Beth Weilenman

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CRANE STOOKEY

The Meaning of Work Captain John Beebe-Center taught me how to work.

John was captain of the schooner Harvey Gamage when I sailed aboard her as Chief Mate. It was my first job on a sailing ship, and I had a lot to learn, especially about work.

The Harvey Gamage, a gaff-rigged schooner out of Boston, was known in those days as the “Heavy Damage.”

She was old and tired, and lots of things kept breaking.

Captain John wanted any ship under his command to look sharp, so the crew and I often worked into the evening, hanging over the side painting, chipping at rust on the deck fittings, coating the masts with linseed oil and tar.

It was exhausting, tedious work, and I balked at the endlessness of it. I felt it wasn’t really our problem. The ship’s office should be paying to have the ship hauled out for a proper work period in a commercial shipyard, not leaving it to us underpaid and overworked crew.

Captain John thought I was a spoiled slacker. His view was that if the crew didn’t take care of the ship, the ship couldn’t take care of the crew, and in a storm that could be trouble. He was right. And my attitude was setting a bad example for the crew, which made him pretty angry.

Captain John rode me pretty hard much of the time, often reprimanding me for my work habits. He constantly tried to push me beyond what I thought were proper limits. We chafed against each other in a downward spiral of recrimination and resistance.

Then one evening at anchor, the electric generator that lived in a box on deck stopped running. Captain John didn’t know much about engines, but he tried to fix it. I had the night off, and was getting ready to go ashore, where several of my shipmates had already gone. John had

the generator taken apart on deck and as I passed he asked me to hold a flashlight for him for a moment. I grudgingly did, and asked if he knew how to repair engines. He said no, but he might figure it out, and if it ran we’d save a lot of time and money getting it fixed. If it didn’t run, all he’d lose was an evening.

I couldn’t believe it. Why would anyone waste their time like this? We should just get it fixed in the morning by a mechanic. It wasn’t our problem; the ship’s office should give us better gear.

As I held the flashlight I watched him work. He was covered with grease, a couple of knuckles were bleeding, the daylight was nearly gone, and he’d been crouched on his knees for an hour already. But he seemed content. He was gentler and more relaxed than I’d seen him before.

Something about his doggedness, his private determination to do his best even if he failed, was suddenly compelling to me, and I saw him in a different light: not the unreasonable taskmaster, but the committed captain taking his responsibility seriously. I kept holding the flashlight.

We didn’t talk. I knew nothing about mechanics and had no suggestions to make. He urged me several times to go ashore for my night off, but I stayed. It was a clear, quiet night, with a warm breeze and the sound of water lapping on the hull as John worked. Eventually he had the generator reassembled, and it wouldn’t run.

He said, “Well, it was worth a try,” and went to bed. I went to bed too, and my view of work had changed. ❂ Excerpted from Crane’s book, Keep Your People in the Boat — Workforce Engagement Lessons from the Sea.

MarlinspikeMagazine.com

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H NOW HIRING H Everything you love about Tall Ships, but none of the things you don’t!

130’ rig to climb and seven miles of rope to haul at the start of the day, but hot showers and climate-controlled spacious accommodations at the end of your watch.

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PHOTO:?ONNE?VAN?DER?WAAL