Disney and the Mystery of the Black Pearl
Yesterday I posted about the minor controversy surrounding the HMS Bounty’s recent tour of the UK. Last night I received the below Google Alert Black Pearl Sails into Plymouth. Interestingly, the URL for this alert is the Disney’s Official Pirates of the Caribbean website.
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Mattapoisett Community Sailing Association (MattSail)
I’ve had the pleasure to help a group of community volunteer leaders launch a new nonprofit in my hometown of Mattapoisett, MA. The Mattapoisett Community Sailing Association was founded to accomplish a number of worthwhile objectives.
The real catalyst for MattSail was the death of Billy Mee, a fixture on the Mattapoisett waterfront and friend of many. The organization’s first program was named the William E. Mee Youth Sailing Program in order to honor his legacy as an expert sailor who introduced a lot of area residents to the sport and his passion.
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Brig Sale Away?
Last night I got a Google Alert which pointed me to a blog that reported that the Tall Ships Youth Trust was going to sell one of their brigs. The post put forward the following quote:
“that as part of a major new initiative to restructure its fleet the trust is buying four new 22mtr yachts and selling one of its brigs.
The initiative has sail training and its young people at its heart. It enables the trust to expand the choice and opportunities it offers to young people, develop its work with challenging and disabled young people and, in the face of increasing financial pressures, achieve financial viability”
I posted a comment for confirmation but as of this writing I haven’t received a response. I visited the TSYT website and couldn’t find anything and an Internet search was also unsuccessful. Well, this new media works in strange and wonderful ways.
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5 reasons why Bay City, Michigan is a great maritime City
Bay City, Michigan is a great maritime city and here are my top 5 reasons why:
- Homeport of BaySail, a private non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship of the Saginaw Bay and the Great Lakes through engaging shipboard experiences aboard two schooners, the Appledore IV and Appledore V. Baysail programs include science education for K-12 school groups, overnight voyaging for youth and adults, public sails, charters, group tours, and port visits.
- Official Host Port of the American Sail Training Associations TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Series three (3) times. (2001,2003 and 2006)
- Two time winner of the American Sail Training Association prestigious Port of the Year Award. (2001 and 2006)
- Host of the American Sail Training Association’s 2005 Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships and International Safety at Sea Forum.
- Recent announced plans for a Maritime Heritage Center. (Study gives thumbs up to maritime heritage center idea - Bay City Times - August 19, 2007)
According to a report in the August 21, 2007 Bay City Times (City clears way for maritime heritage center.)
The project is expected to include a combination of buildings that will support different functions such as a boat building and repair shop, blacksmith shop, rope-making facility, sail-making loft, gift shop, restaurant and host of other activities.
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Roz Savage’s Pacific Adventure
Here is another exciting ocean adventure: this time on the Pacific. Roz Savage is rowing from California to Hawaii. Check out on her recent video report on Podtech.net.
I’ve recently posted about several other ocean adventures: Reid Stowe’s 1000 Days at Sea and the Abora 3 Project. Roz’s integration of new media in her project is very interesting. Check out her use of Google Earth where her position and blog postings also appear.
From Roz’s most recent post things don’t seem to be going all that well. But things didn’t go so well for the 1000 Days at Sea Project in first few weeks. Reid and Soanya sailed into navy war games in the North Atlantic and collided with a Maersk container ship sustaining significant damage to the vessel’s bowsprit. But they have adapted and persevered and the expedition continues. Their most recent post talks about how they continue to repair the vessel and rig four months after the collision. It’s an amazing story and quite an entertaining and educational read.
Back in February I posted about a NY Times article entitled “A Very Lonely Journey Across the Globe - Researchers Study Solo Sailing to Find How Humans Cope with Stress.” It’s definitely worth revisiting based on Roz’s current endeavor and our ability to share her experiences through her blog and videos. Should be interesting. Stay tuned!
Technorati tags: Roz Savage, rowing, Pacific Ocean, adventure, reid Stowe, 1000 Days at Sea, Schooner Anne, Abora 3, New media, Google Earth
Joining the Center for Leader Development Blogging Team
Back in May I participated in a weeklong program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government called The Art and Practice of Leadership Development: A Master Class for Professional Trainers, Educators and Consultants where I had the great fortune to meet a lot of talented people in the Leadership Development field.
One of my fellow program participants was Scott J. Allen, Ph.D., founder of the Center for Leader Development, author and visiting assistant professor at John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH.
Scott recently asked me if I’d be interested in contributing to the Center for Leader Development blog where he is assembling an impressive roster of contributors from a wide range of perspectives.
The purpose of CLD is to provide individuals who have a passion for leadership development a gathering place on the Internet. We are building an international community of individuals who research and facilitate leadership development programming for community leaders, youth, collegians and corporate citizens. At CLD you will find leadership development resources, job links, tools, conference announcements, cool links, publications and information-rich content regardless of the sector from which you hail.
I am honored and excited to be part of this project and encourage all Sea-Fever readers to head over to the Center for Leader Development blog where there is always a lot of interesting and valuable information.
Technorati tags: Center for Leader Development, leadership development
Harbor Life and Piloting by OneEighteen
Thanks to gCaptain.com I spent too much time tonight viewing some wonderful marine photo’s on Flickr.
OneEighteen’s profile states “husband, father, ship pilot in Houston” but a couple things are missing: terrific photographer and fascinating storyteller.
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The end of the cadet program on Sloop Providence
ASTA Intern Matt wrote a great post on the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE blog about the Sloop Providence’s participation in ASTA’s Tall Ships Youth Adventure program. I had a chance to sail with many of these young people during the program’s first week and even over that limited time period it was amazing to see the transformation take place and attitudes change. Read my previous posts here, here, here, here , here, here and here. ASTA Matt wrote:
I think I learned as much in those two weeks as the kids. Sure, I learned some things about sailing, but I learned a lot about working with youth. I learned that you really can make a difference by spending some time with the kids and giving them some attention. And most importantly and most surprisingly ,by giving them some responsibilities - something I remember getting too little of at that age.
I wholeheartedly agree with Matt. I also believe that creating a safe environment of structured freedom makes the adventure one of learning, maturing and fun.
A significant percentage of these teens expressed interest in sailing again next summer and I look forward to working with Middletown’s Public Schools, Substance Abuse Task Force and Police Department in making that happen.
Above photo by astamatt. For more great photos check out the ASTA TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Flickr account.
Technorati tags: Sloop Providence, sail training, tall ships, Middletown, RI, American Sail Training Association
German Tall Ship Gorch Folk sailing amidst icebergs
The German Navy’s tall ship Gorch Folk has been visiting ports along the Atlantic Coast of North America all summer as well as participating in the American Sail Training Association’s TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE 2007. This incredible photo was taken last week as she sailed amidst icebergs off of Labrador. (Via the official website of the German Navy)
Camp A.R.M.Y. Challenge (Adventure, Resilience, Memories and Youth) = sail training
Michael Abrams of Stars and Stripes, a daily newspaper published for the U.S. military, Department of Defense civilians, contractors, and their families, wrote a great story about a sail training experience for some youth from military families.
Camp A.R.M.Y. Challenge is conducted by the Child and Youth Services branch of the Installation Management Command European Region’s Morale Welfare and Recreation division. It was designed for youths with a parent or parents deployed, formerly deployed or soon to deploy, with the idea of relieving stress and taking the youths’ minds off deployments.
A.R.M.Y. stands for adventure, resilience, memories and youth — and the youths on the first voyage got their share of adventure and memories. On the fourth day, the schooner hit a storm that sent 9-foot waves over the ship’s decks.
This story ends like so many other about sail training:
…John summed things up best when he said, “I learned a lot about sailing. I learned a lot about myself. I didn’t think I could climb the rigging and pack the sails.”
He, and the rest of the crew, had met the challenge.
Technorati tags: sail training, tall ships, Camp A.R.M.Y. Challenge, Stars and Stripes, Morale Welfare and Recreation, U.S. military
The Spare Times column in today’s NY Times has a great lead for a free outdoor activity in the Big Apple. Kayaking on the Hudson by Stephanie Goodman tells you how to get on the water for free at the The New York City Downtown Boathouse.
I received an email today from Abby Wood, education specialist at 
Today’s Sunday NY Times Magazine (August 26, 2007) has an interesting article written by Fred Kaplan entitled “
