Welcome to La-la-land

Irving Johnson, Exy Johnson, and Amazing Grace during the Parade of Sail into San Pedro. Photo: Port of LA

There is something about a fresh cinnamon roll that makes you realize your day is going to be just fine. This morning, during our early rounds of the Tall Ships(R) Festival LA, I timed it perfectly and was well rewarded for my efforts. The site was quiet, far different from all the crowds and preparation of the days before. However, it was the calm before the storm. Today, Saturday, the festival grounds are rocking and rolling – dozens of food trucks line the dock, cranking out everything from Mexi-Greek fusion to “lobstah” rolls, each with their own music and vibe. The four stages are constantly swarming with people listening to traditional Hawaiian music, classic rock and even The King-

Join us on July 12 for Sail for Tall Ships Day!

Where will you #SailWithMorgan?

CALLING ALL TALL SHIPS!

Join Tall Ships America and Mystic Seaport on 12 July 2014 for a national Sail for Tall Ships Day. We invite tall ships and traditional sailing vessels from all around America to set sail on this day, to honor the restoration of the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial sailing vessel, and to celebrate the traditional skills of seamanship that are hard at work in the Tall Ships America fleet today.

We hope you will get underway with us on July 12 – anywhere and any way that fits into your own operational schedule – and be part of this national celebration of traditional sail!

Mystic Seaport and Tall Ships America are promoting Sail for Tall Ships Day with an active media campaign, and we invite you to use this opportunity to promote your own ship, mission, and programs in the context of this national event. We have provided a template for a press release, to use and distribute to relevant media in your area. Be sure to invite local media aboard when you sail!

Additionally, Mystic Seaport has included a “cutout” of the Charles W. Morgan for you to download and use in the promotion – take a photo of this aboard your ship as you sail on 12 July, and post it on your social media network. The hashtags for the event will be #SailwithMorgan #sailfortallships.

Tall Ships America will award a prize for the most creative photo taken and posted on this day, so don’t miss out!

Join us for the fun and celebration, share your photos, and help promote sail training and maritime preservation in North America!

Download the Sail for Tall Ships Day Template (Word document)

Download the cut out of the Charles W. Morgan (PDF)

 

Summer Sailstice Sailing Invitation 2014

Tall Ships America members are invited to join Summer Sailstice

for a sailing-oriented global solstice event on June 21st, 2014

This Saturday, June 21, marks the first day of summer. For those of you who joined me in surviving what felt like the longest winter, Saturday is, indeed, cause for celebration. While throughout Europe bonfires will be lit, Tall Ships America invites our members to get out on the water and take part in the Summer Sailstice. Dubbed “A world-wide celebration of sailing”, we imagine that most of our members will be sailing somewhere on that day, so we encourage you to sign up and showcase our maritime heritage and traditions to the world.

Not a member? Sign up here!

Founded in 2001, Summer Sailstice is an amalgam of separate, same-day sailing events that take place on the weekend closest to the summer solstice. Summer Sailstice unites over 19,000 sailors each year, including cruisers, racers, recreational sailors, marine environmental programs and traditional sailing ships, all coming together to celebrate life under sail. In 2013, there were almost 4,900 registered vessels racing, cruising and day sailing in 50 US states and 40 countries around the world.

Tall Ships America members can register their June 21st sailing plans at http://www.summersailstice.com. By doing so, you will promote awareness for your own vessel and programs, as well as for tall ships, sail training, and sailing in general. The Summer Sailstice website allows you to post your vessel’s sailing plans, publicize your activities, and see what other sailors are doing in your area. You might also consider contributing a prize – such as gear or a berth aboard for a voyage or day sail – which all registered participants will be eligible to win.

This is a terrific opportunity for Tall Ships America members to join with sailors worldwide on June 21st, and promote your programs of education under sail. “Sail Locally, Celebrate Globally” in the 14th annual Summer Sailstice!

Details Regarding the 2014 Summer Sailstice

Register an Event – Create Your Event.  After you have posted your event, it will have a pin placed on the global events map. You can email the link to your event to the members of your group, organization or yacht club so that participants may register. By registering an event, you and all event participants will be eligible to win prizes.

Register to Participate – You can sign up by selecting an event on the ‘Search Events’ page of the Summer Sailstice website, clicking ‘Sign Up,’ and filling out the registration information. You can also use the link sent to you by an event creator. When signing up, participants have the opportunity to join sailors committed to preserving the world’s oceans by contributing to Sailors for the Sea. By registering as a participant, you will also be eligible to win prizes.

Prizes – By signing up for Summer Sailstice, participants become eligible to win prizes contributed by West Marine, WoodenBoat, Offshore Sailing, Hobie, Footloose Sailing Charters and many other marine favorites.

 

Springtime in D.C.

Last month, Team Tall Ships America trundled down to Washington, DC for our annual reception in the U.S. Capitol Building. Every year, we host a gathering of politicians, naval attaches, board members, port partners, and supporters to talk about sail training, tall ships and the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® seasons, and to cultivate the ground for our invitations to their ships to participate in the series. It is also really cool to have a reception in the U.S. Capitol Building and I personally look forward to our trip every year.
In years past, we have stayed down by the Navy Yard and on U Street, but this year we scored a sweet apartment a few blocks away from the Capitol Building and behind the Library of Congress. This was right around the corner-

Jefferson Building Library of Congress

Nominate an Unsung Hero

Cutter Champion
Photo Credit: Maritime Heritage Alliance

For over twenty years, Maritime Heritage Alliance has been a member of first American Sail Training Association, and now Tall Ships America. I have worked with Madeline in the Great Lakes in 2006, 2010 and this past summer as part of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(r) Race Series.  In addition to Madeline, MHA  operates the cutter Champion (and four other boats).

Recently, the SAIL Champion program, created by MHA and Mental Wellness Counseling,  was brought to our attention at Tall Ships America HQ with the video below.

The captain, Rorke Miller, has been nominated for the Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Award USA and is now one of three finalists. This award “recognizes men and women whose significant contributions to educate, volunteer, advocate or simply encourage participation in sailing with in their local community”.  The winner will go on to speak at the US Sailing Leadership Conference, bringing recognition to their program. Watch the video and support our member organization by voting for Captain Miller and the SAIL Champion program.

Come for the football, stay for the cheese

Green Bay

I continue to play catch up from our summer events. Here is the recap from Green Bay…

From Chicago, Patti and I headed up the Door Peninsula to help out with the Parade of Sail into Sturgeon Bay where some of the ships were berthing prior to their arrival into Green Bay on August 16th. Once again, I got to hang out with some Coast Guardsmen on a wicked fast small boat, making sure that spectator boats stayed a safe distance away from the ships as they made their way into the Sturgeon Bay Canal and through the three bridge lifts required to bring the ships into town. It was another gorgeous afternoon spent out on the water, playing around on boats.

Out on the water with Niagara

 After Chicago, our fleet split – Friends Good Will, Lynx and Madeline headed to Collingwood, ON and Playfair, Pride of Baltimore II and Liana’s Ransom headed to Owen Sound, ON as part of the  1812 Tour presented by Redpath. Meanwhile, Appledore IV, Hindu, Niagara, Peacemaker, Sorlandet, Unicorn and Windy joined us in Green Bay. With excellent volunteers and liaison officers, live music every night and an amazing turnout, we had ourselves  a wonderful time in Green Bay. The event also featured the longest lines I saw all summer! 

Look at these crowds!

 It felt as though there were too many goodbye’s in Green Bay. It was our last event with Brian, who headed back to school in Utah once the ships departed. We also said goodbye to the crew of Sorlandet that had been with us since Cleveland. The ship sailed to Collingwood to pick up new students for the Class Afloat program and to switch out the crew. This new crew would take the ship out of the Lakes and across the Atlantic Ocean. It felt too soon to be making promises of future sails together, invites to visit “if you are ever in the area”, and getting one last hug in before the horn sounded and the ship made her way slowly down the river.  

Welcome to Chicagoland

Friends Good Will

From the westernmost point on the Lakes, the ships had a long sail to get to Chicago. The fourth race started in Duluth, stretched across Lake Superior and descended down to the south of Lake Michigan, where the bright lights of Chicago awaited an eager fleet.

Downrigging to Workshops – Sultana Projects hosts Tall Ships America

Tall Ships America is partnering with Sultana Projects to host its 2013 Atlantic regional Meeting on November 4 at the Imperial Hotel in Chestertown as part of Downrigging Weekend. Tall Ships America organizes Regional Meetings at various sites in North America each year, working in collaboration with a Member Organization that serves as host. Concentrated into a singleday format, Regional Meetings focus on vessel operations, safety, regulatory issues, educational programming, and provide hands-on professional development opportunities for mariners.

The 2013 Atlantic Regional meeting will update attendees on recent organizational developments at Tall Ships America as well as discuss ongoing regulatory issues relevant to the Tall Ship industry. The meeting will feature two informative and rewarding workshops: Working Towards a Diversified Curriculum and A Sailor’s Guide to the Engine Room. Both workshops will include a classroom presentation, discussion period, and shipboard element. Click here to see Agenda.

Accommodations and Location of Meeting
Imperial Hotel
208 High Street
Chestertown, MD

A block of rooms has been set aside at the IMPERIAL HOTEL at the discounted rate of $105 per room per night + 11% tax (regular rate $160 – $200) for Sunday, November 3 & Monday, November 4. The block will remain in place through October 1, 2013. Space is limited so reserve your room early!

To reserve a room from the block you must call the hotel directly at 800-295-0014 or 410-778-5000 and identify yourself as attending the Tall Ships America Regional Meeting.

Registration Fees (includes morning refreshments, lunch, and all meeting supplies)
Tall Ships America Member – $50
Non-Member – $100 (Not a member? Become one today!)
Tall Ships America Member Crew Rate – $35 (Available to Tall Ships America Members in good standing who hold Crew or Youth Level Memberships)

REGISTER TO ATTEND

When September Ends

           It is September. The leaves outside my window are starting to change color; in a few weeks, they will be vibrant hues of red, orange and gold. The days are still warm, but now the temperatures plummet as the sun goes down. Orion is clearly visible in the pre-dawn sky.

           It is September. To me, it feels like an ending. Summer is coming to a close. The festivals are finished. My internship with Tall Ships America is over. The tall ships are heading down the St. Lawrence, out of the Lakes. Yet as I recollect on the Septembers of my past, I wonder if September hasn’t been, for me, a time of new opportunity.

            Six years ago, in September, I joined the collegiate sailing team. On my first day, a fellow sailor capsized my boat while playing a game and dumped me in the water. It was my first experience on a sailboat. I would spend every afternoon that fall at the lake.

            Four years ago, in September, I arrived on Cape Cod to meet the Corwith Cramer. I had some seasickness medicine in my bag but I wasn’t sure if I’d need it. It was my first time on a tall ship. I would sail from Woods Hole, MA to St. Croix, USVI.

That summer we raced all over the Great Lakes

This summer, for the first time, we had a race in each of the Great Lakes. While not every race went quite according to plan (the final race to the top of Lake Michigan was supposed to be 180 nm of heated competition, turned into a quick and dirty 8nm race due to terrible weather and the need to get the ships quickly to safe harbor) and sometimes the wind wasn’t always helpful at the start, we can still say that there were five races and each Lake was represented. Here are the overall results, in case you missed them:

Race One: Toronto “Round the Buoys” towards Welland Canal – Lake Ontario
1^st Pride of Baltimore II
2^nd Lynx
3^rd Sorlandet

Race One winners: 1st, Pride of Baltimore II; 2nd, Lynx; 3rd, Sorlandet