Yacht Sails
Rigging
Maintaining the science and tradition of sailmaking for thirty-one years. P.O. Box 71, Lincoln St., East Boothbay, Maine 04544 (207) 633-5071
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summer, her TV contracr fulfilled, Picton Castle resumed her training and educational programs as she moved up rhe easr coast roward her home port in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. For those desiring to participare in her more ryp ical program (i.e. no pillaging), berths are available for their May 2008 departure for Europe for a 15,000 mile journey. Destinations include: the British Isles and Northern Europe, D enmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Holland and Germany. The ship will then cross the English C hannel and down the coast of France to Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar, explore the islands of Madeira, the Canarys and Cape Verde, before carching the tradewinds to rhe West Indies. (Barque Picton Castle, POB 1076, 132 Montague St., Lunenburg, NS BO] 2CO CANADA; Ph.: + 1-902-634-9984; e-mail: info@picton-casde. corn ; www.picton-casde.com) . .. Speaking of pirates, despite the ongoing popularity of the theme in movies, toys, museum exhibits, and new books for both young and old, don't forget that the real thing isn't fun, glamorous, or redeemable. Just ask the five-person crew of the Danish ship Danica White. The l,563dwt cargo ship was hijacked by pirates on 1 June off Somalia while en roure from Dubai to Kenya. Carrying 1,000 to ns of bui lding materials, the shi p was taken by gunmen approximately 240 nautical miles off the coast. Other pirates in the region shor and killed a crewm ember aboard a Taiwanese fis hing vessel rhe nexr day. The two vessels and rhree orhers, ar rhe rime of rhis printing, are being held for ransom-rhe D anish ship is being held for $ 1.5 million (US). The warers off Somalia have become rhe world's most dangerous in which to navigate because of pi rares . . . . Mystic Seaport has announced they still have spaces open for the fall 2007 and spring 2008 Mystic-Williams semesters for undergraduates. Mosr college fin ancial aid packages rransfer and rhe program offers addirional scholarships. The program is also opening a new Marine Science Cemer. The program accepts 20 sophomores, juniors, and seniors from colleges across rhe country who spend a sem esrer at the museum srndying maririme history, marine policy, lirerarure, and marine ecology or oceanography. Addirionally, rhree exrended seminars take srndents off campus on a sailing shi p deep-water voyage, Pacific coasr srndies, and a rrip to rhe Louisiana coast. Students interested should contacr rhe program immediarely. (The Mariti me Studies Program of Williams College & Mysric Seaport, POB 6000, 75 Greenman ville Ave., Mystic, CT 06355; e-mail: admissions@wil li amsmystic.org; www.williams.ed u/williamsmys ric) ... Matson Navigation Company is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The co mpan y was launched on 10 April 1882 when Capt. W illiam Marso n sailed his 3-masred schooner Emma Claudina from San Francisco to Hawaii , carrying food, plantarion supplies, and general merchandise. Today, Matson provides ocean rran sporration, intermodal, and logistics services. Ir is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. of Honolulu. (A brief history of rhe company can be fo und ar www.marson.com/corporate/about_us/history.html) . . . In July, the Swiss Alingi team successfully defended their trophy at the 32nd America's Cup in the waters off Valencia, Spain, holding off Emirates Team New Zealand in the final race. W irh borh boars approaching rhe top m ark, separated by jusr a few yards, Team New Zealand, on a
SEA HISTORY 120, AUTUMN 2007