Category: sail training

Sad Day: Loss of the HMS Bounty and two of her professional mariners

Early this morning news broke that the HMS Bounty was caught in Hurricane Sandy on her trip south and foundered in heavy weather. Fourteen of her 16 crew members were able to make it into life rafts and were ultimately rescued by the US Coast Guard. Here is an incredible video of this operation.

This is a sobering reminder of the incredible dangers of going to sea. There have been so many tragic losses of tall ships and sail training professionals over the past decade and it’s difficult to process a loss like this. Not enough is known about what transpired about the Bounty in her final moments but two experienced captains have weighed in wondering why the ship ever took to sea in advance of a storm like Sandy. Local captain baffled by HMS Bounty accident and Picton Castle captain questions Bounty being at sea during storm.

So our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Claudene Christian who died today and Captain Robin Walbridge who is still missing as I write this post.

Finally, the sad news is somewhat offset by the good news that we still have real life heroes today. US Coast rescue swimmers risk it all, accomplishing incomprehensible feats under mind-boggling conditions.  While everyone else is advised to stay out of harms way, they are willing to jump into it save lives. They are true heroes and we can’t thank them enough for what they do, all in a days work.

 

Tall Ship Concordia Sinking: In Their Own Words

Concordia Bell by Wojtek (Voytec) Wacowski

Earlier this year I devoted a lot of blogging space and time to the sinking of the Tall Ship Concordia. (High School Tall Ship Concordia Sinks Off the Coast of Brazil – Feb. 19, 2010)

It really was an incredible story. Now you can hear it straight from the mouths of some of the survivors, a very impressive lot.

Unfortunately, the CBC does not allow their videos to be embedded so you’ll have to sail over to their Land and Sea website to watch the video. I highly recommend it.

I’m off to SEA!

Well, I’m actually off to the semi-annual Trustee and Overseer meeting at Sea Education Association in Woods Hole for the next 2 days.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s the coolest “overseas” college study program on the planet!

It’s Sunday, relax and take 5 minutes to watch this, then find a high school or college student and make sure they know about the adventure, benefits and college credit you get for going to SEA!

Tall Ship Frederyk Chopin limps back to port after losing both masts in storm (video)

It might not be as dramatic as the footage that would have been shot during the casualty but this RNLI video of the tall ship Frederyk Chopin is a stark reminder that it’s an ocean out there!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Earlier this year we devoted alot of coverage to the amazing story of the sinking of the tall ship Concordia which coincidently was also a Polish built ship that in the past has sailed for Class Afloat.

Very happy that this too is a story with a happy ending.

Schooner Ernestina: Great video of most recent work by Boothbay Harbor Shipyard

Here’s a great video by the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard about their most recent Ernestina project. They also kept an interesting online Shipyard Log of their Ernestina work.

Help Schooner Ernestina Set Sail Again – Saturday, October 30, 2010

New Bedford Standard Times report and my friend Don Cuddy wrote a good overview of what’s going to take place on Saturday at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Supporters to meet to chart future of troubled Ernestina (Oct. 27, 2010)

For more information and to register for the event, visit the Sail Ernestina website or Facebook page.

This is Schooner Ernestina Week on Sea-Fever, so please make sure you check out all of the interesting and informative posts on one of the world’s most storied ships.

Schooner Ernestina 2002 Casualty Presentation by Captain Sophie Morse at the 2003 ASTA Conference (video)

Schooner Ernestina has “educated” a lot of young people and few older ones over the years. Here’s a video of Captain Sophie Morse’s presentation at the 2003 Safety Under Sail Forum at the ASTA Conference. For professional sail trainers and mariners of all kinds, there’s a lot to learn from it.

On Saturday, October 30th the New Bedford Whaling Museum will be hosting an event to help chart a future course for the Schooner Ernestina. For more information, visit the Sail Ernestina website or Facebook page.

In honor of the grand old girl, this is Schooner Ernestina week on Sea-Fever. Navigate back here frequently and check out all of the posts!

“Oh, how she scoons!” – Adventuress wins $125k Partners in Presevation Grant

Great news today for the tall ships / sail training world!

Schooner Adventuress

Schooner Adventuress won the Seattle/Puget Sound Initiative of the Partners in Preservation $125,000 Grant. The program is sponsored American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. People were encouraged to visit the website and vote every day for one of 25 special historic sites, many of which have maritime significance.

The final vote was extremely close with Adventuress edging out Town Hall Seattle by a single percentage point (20% to 19%). Recognizing the incredible support that both organizations received in the competition, and as a demonstration of solid corporate social responsibility, Partners in Preservation decided to award two full $125,000 grants, the first time in the program’s history.

Sound Experience did an amazing job using social media to engage stakeholders and mobilize support. From Zachary Simonson Bond’s fantastic introductory YouTube video with it’s clear calls to action …

…to Frank DePalma’s screencast

…to the daily Twitter and Facebook follow-ups which often pointed us to their creative blog (My Fair Vote, Romeo and the Vote,  Gone with the Vote).

All of this made it fun to be involved. Of course, they sweetened the pot by giving voters the opportunity to win a daysail for 45 on the historic schooner. Who wouldn’t want a chance at winning that?!

It takes passion for the cause, creative ideas and lots of hard work to pull off something like this. Hat’s off to Zach and Sound Experience Executive Director Catherine Collins for charting and sailing a proper course that other nonprofits would do well to study and follow.

By the way, here’s a link to an article from February 25, 1897 that appeared in The Day (New London) explaining how the term schooner came about.

Grab an oar and make a difference. Vote for the Boat!

Okay if you visit this blog you must like boats. So join me in helping one of America’s most historic and beautiful vessels win a $100,000. grant from American Express.

How many times do you find yourself wanting to support a worthy sail training cause but can’t afford it? Well, here’s your opportunity to make a real difference and not have it cost you a dime! It’s pretty simple too, just watch this:

No excuses!

Go here everyday between now and May 12th and vote for Schooner Adventuress and the odds are she’ll win. She’s currently got a thin lead, let’s make sure she keeps it.

Here’s everything you need to know to make this happen.

Thanks!

WTF? (What’s the Futtock?)

Welcome to Sea-Fever School, the best of online maritime culture education!

Today’s lesson comes to us from the National Historic Landmark schooner Adventuress and the amazing sail training / environmental education program, Sound Experience.

Pay attention, there may be a pop quiz later.

By the way, Sound Experience is running a contest on their Facebook page to give away a sail to a lucky winner and 44 of their friends and/or family. All you have to do is head over there and become a fan.  And while you’re at it, follow them on Twitter too!