DAY'S RUN Report of the American Sail Training Association
Gron/and: A 114-year-old Polar Jagt Takes the Young Idea to Sea An historically significant museum ship which is successfully operated as a sail training vessel, the 114-year-old Gron/and was built by the naval architect Toleff Toleffsen in Skanevik on the Norwegian west coast in 1867-8. A gaff-rigged cutter, she was intended for polar sailing, and especially for seal hunting. Acquired by the German Polar Committee, after some refitting she sailed on May 22, 1868 under a Captain Koldewey, with a complement of two officers and seven able-bodied seamen from Germany, and two Norwegian sailors (the latter having had previous experience in Arctic sailing). Travelling to the east coast of Greenland, she went along the ice boundary to Spitzbergen, exploring the region up to latitude 81 ° 05' North, the most northerly point ever reached by a sailing ship without auxiliary engine. At that point, the ice forced her to turn about, and on October 9 the small wooden ship reached her new homeport of Bremerhaven, after a long and successful voyage without major accident. In a short time, enough money was collected to send a second German Arctic expedition on its way. However, this time it was aboard Germania rather than Gron/and (which was then resold to Norway in 1871). She survived there as a coaster until after the First World War, when she fell into oblivion somewhere in Germany. Little is known of this part of her history except that she was equipped with a small diesel engine. In 1972, her Norwegian owner, Emil Bjorn Hansen, was persuaded to show the ship during the Olympic Games in Kiel. She was one of the greatest attractions during the Sail Training Association's visit to Kiel in conjunction with the Olympic sailing competitions. The Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum became her new owner, and on September 5, 1973, Captain Wulf brought Gron/and back to the River Weser. She was welcomed to her home port of Bremerhaven with all honors, and is now an integral part of the museum fleet in the historical "Old Harbor" of the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum. The return of Gron/and to Bremer haven intensified the wish to keep her under sail, and in June 1976 when the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum entered into an agreement with the Bremerhaven Polytechnic School, stating: ''Staff and students alike are to make an experience of seafaring, going beyond the limits of pure training in navigation and 24
''TALL SHIPS'' FESTIVITIES The cities of Philadelphia and Newport have planned many activities for the Captains, crew, and cadets, of the visiting "Tall Ships," as well as offering opportunities for the general public to see the ships and their trainees at work and play. Inport schedules are subject to change. For last minute information, contact the "Century IV Tall Ships" office, Philadelphia (215-923-9030) or the ASTA office, Newport (401-846-1775).
seamanship. Their aim is to develop an attitude of their own towards Gron/and and towards sailing an historic vessel." Staff members and interested students turned to on a volunteer basis to begin restoring the ship to enable her to go again on long voyages under sail. Now in peak condition, Gron/and is under sail almost every weekend in the summer, carrying ten trainees aboard. The lasting enthusiasm of the crew and the Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum is a safeguard for her future under sail-as a true museum ship totally committed to sail training.
*
*
*
*
*
Two new ships are making their entry on the sail training scene: the brigantine Ji Fung, recently launched in Hong Kong, and the new Mexican bark Quetzacoatl, which will be commissioned in July. We expect to review both ships further in a future Sea History.
New Classifications The division of sail training ships into classes was amended by the Sail Training Association at its November 1981 meetings in London. New classifications are: Class A: All square-rigged vessels and any fore-and-aft rigged vessels of 160 feet LOA and over. Square-rigged vessels include ships, barks, barkentines, brigs, and brigantines Class B: Fore-and-aft rigged vessels between 100 and 160 feet LOA. Fore-and-aft rigged vessels include topsail schooners, schooners, ketches, yawls, cutters, sloops. Class C: All other fore-and-aft rigged vessels with a waterline of at least 30 feet. Class A may be sub-divided into Division I and Divison II, according to size, so that the small square-rigged vessels are not in the same division as the large full-rigged ships. Classes Band C will ony be divided if the numbers demand it.
PHILADELPHIA Tues. , June IS-Ships finish Race from LaGuaira, Venezuela off Delaware Capes. Wed., June 16-Ships make their way up the river and anchor near Philadelphia. Thurs., June 17-8AM Ships assemble for Parade of Sail into Port of Philadelphia. 12 Noon Class A Ships dock at Penn's Landing. 3PM Class B & C Ships in place at Penn's Landing. SPM Captains' call on Mayor William Green. By invitation only. 7PM Buffet Supper for trainees on the quay. Sponsored by Council for International Visitors. By invitation only. 8PM Mayor's Reception for masters and officers. By invitation only. Fri., June 18-9AM Trainees to parade from Penn's Landing to Independence Square. IOAM Ships open to public until 6PM. HAM Awards Ceremony at Independence Square. 2PM Picnic for trainees in Fairmont Park. Sponsored by Women for Greater Philadelphia. By invitation only. 6PM ASTA Reception for Captains and officers at Penn Mutual Tower. By invitation only. Sat., June 19-8AM Vessels will dress ship. IOAM Captains' Briefing for Race 2 (Cape May to Newport) and Cruise-in-Company (Philadelphia to Newport) with exchange of cadets in the auditorium of the museum building at Penn's Landing. IOAM Ships open to public until 6PM. 7PM Buffet and Philadelphia Style Party for trainees in Judge Lewis Quadrangle in Independence National Park. Sponsored by Friends of Independence National Historical Park. By invitation only. Sun., June 20-9AM Roman Catholic mass at Stephen Girard Pavilion. Interdenominational service at the overlook. IOAM Ships open to public until 6PM. 7:30PM Dockside Concert for trainees and invited guests at the Stephen Girard Pavilion at Penn's Landing. Sponsored by the Century IV Committee. By invitation only. IOPM Fireworks over the Delaware River. Mon., June 21-IOAM Ships depart for Newport. NEWPORT Wed., June 23-Class Band C Ships will finish Races 2 and 2B. Thurs., June 24-IOAM Trainees will participate in Inshore Regatta. HAM Ships open to public until 6PM. 4PM Naval Captains call on RADM Edward Welch, President, Naval War College. SPM Captains' call on Mayor Paul Gaines and Governor J. Joseph Garrahy at the Colony House. By invitation only. 6PM AST A
SEA HISTORY, SUMMER 1982