Teachers and Tall Ships

“I’ll look at my students this coming year and hand pick some I think would really benefit from this program. This was amazing. Like Captains Courageous.” (Link to article in Barnstable Patriot) Barnstable Middle School Science teacher Ralph Miorandi  after taking part in a special Ocean Classroom Foundation program sponsored by the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, Nantucket Soundkeepers and MassSail.

Video of schooner Spirit of Massachusetts, Ocean Classroom Foundation

For other tall ships video check out ASTA’s Tall Ships TV on YouTube.

Schooner Ernestina Nominated to Ten Most Endangered Historic Resources in Massachusetts List

According to today’s New Bedford Standard Times, the schooner Ernestina has been nominated the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) to Preservation Massachsetts Ten Most Endangered Historic Resources in Massachusetts list. For complete article, click here.

While Ernestina still seems to be suffering from neglect, her website (www.ernestina.org) preserves an incredible library of stories and photos that captures the life of this wonderful ship.  

A picture is worth a 1,000 words; click on each picture for the story behind it. Check it out, you will be amazed. 

 

“Storm along! an’ drive along!
    an’ punch her through the rips!
Never mind your boardin’ combers
    and the solid green she ships!
Main and fores’l, jib and jumbo,
    on that tough December day,
And out past Cape Elizabeth
    we slugged for Fundy Bay!

Frederick William Wallace
written aboard the Effie M. Morrissey
December, 1912

 

 

  

A Vote for the Nobel Peace Prize

I started this blog several months ago and my first 2 posts were about the 50th Anniversary Tall Ships Races which were taking place in Europe this summer as well as Sail Training International’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Well ,The Tall Ships Races are over and a great editorial appeared in today’s The Times (London) by author, BBC commentator and sail training enthusiast and supporter Libby Purves. (“Tall story, hot off the press” click here)

Thanks to Ms. Purves and The Times for the great media coverage. And although I don’t think her vote counts toward the actual awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, we appreciate her support there too!

Congratulations to STI Chairman Nigel Rowe and the entire STI Team on another successful Tall Ships Races and good luck with the Nobel Peace Prize Nomination!

Info about the Nobel Peace Prize

Info about Sail Training International

Now that’s entertainment! (Tall Ships Youth Trust video on YouTube.com)

When speaking to the uninitiated about sail training I usually focus on the great platform the tall ship can be to educate and build character in young people. The below video has reminded me not to forget to tell people just how much fun this is too! In end, that is one of the major reasons why it works so well. I love this video!

The brigs Stavros S. Niachros and Prince William are 2 modern tall ships / sail training vessels operated by ASTA member Tall Ships Youth Trust, Portsmouth, UK which offer a wide variety of sail training opportunities in Europe and the Caribbean. Looks like a lot of fun!

In case you haven’t been to our YouTube Channel – Tall Ships TV – check it out. There are interesting videos from this summer’s TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Series as well as several of ASTA member vessels that we’ve collected there. Enjoy!

ASTA seeking qualified and dedicated individuals to become members of its governing board

The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) is a dynamic 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America.

ASTA’s mission is to encourage character building through sail training, promote sail training to the North American public and support education under sail.

Current American Sail Training Association activities include: 

• Organizing the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE^® Series which is one of the largest public events in North America;
• Managing scholarship programs to make sail training experiences available and affordable for more young people and grant programs to assist crew of ASTA member vessels with the costs of professional development courses and licensing requirements;
• Developing, administering and promoting sail training and educational programs with ASTA member organizations;
• Publishing SAIL TALL SHIPS! A Directory of Sail Training and Adventure at Sea;
• Engaging in advocacy and legislative efforts in support of sail training, tall ships and maritime industry professionals.
• Hosting an Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships and biennial forums on Safety at Sea and Education under Sail.
• Managing a popular website which includes the Billet Bank which matches job openings on member vessels with professional sail trainers.  

The organization is seeking qualified and dedicated individuals to become members of its governing board. 
No sailing experience is required, but applicants should possess the knowledge, experience and commitment  necessary to assume and carry out the responsibilities of a member of a non-profit board.  Persons with expertise in finance, marketing, promotion, sponsorship, event planning, maritime regulations, advocacy, education, fundraising and development, and other elements of non-profit operations will be considered. 

Board members serve for a term of three (3) years and are expected to attend at least 2 board meetings per year, serve on at least one committee or task force, and be actively engaged in the fund development process.

If you are interested, please send an email to asta@sailtraining.org to the attention of the “Chair of the Nominating Committee” no later than 5:00 PM Friday, September 15, 2006. Please answer all of the questions below and attach a copy of your most recent résumé along with at least three professional references.

1. What unique knowledge, skills or experience would you bring to ASTA’s Board?

2. Why do you feel uniquely qualified to advance ASTA’s mission as a member of the Board of Directors?

3. What role do you see ASTA playing in the educational, maritime, and youth development communities?

4. As an organization, how do you think ASTA can best achieve its mission and vision?

5. What involvement do you currently have or have had in the past with ASTA or sail training? (not a limiting factor)

Thank you very much for your consideration of this unique opportunity to become a part of this dynamic organization.

CAPTAIN Eric J. Shaw, Ph. D., USCG (ret) to join ASTA as Education Director

Effective September 1, 2006, CAPT Eric J. Shaw Ph.D., USCG (ret) will be joining the ASTA Leadership Team as Education Director. Many in sail training already know Eric quite well as recent former C.O. of the US Coast Guard Barque EAGLE (America’s Tall Ship), keynote speaker at the 2004 ASTA Conference in Tacoma, WA and author and presenter of the Safety Aloft paper at the 2005 STI Conference in LaCoruna, Spain.

On July 29th, CAPT Shaw transferred command of EAGLE to CAPTAIN Chris Sinnett, the opening keynote speaker for the 2006 ASTA Conference, and retired from the Coast Guard after a 26 year career with the US Coast Guard. (see earlier post) Below is a brief biography which covers some of his amazing achievements.

Eric J. Shaw assumes his responsibilities as the American Sail Training Association’s education director after completing a twenty-six year career in the United States Coast Guard, leaving the Service at the rank of Captain and as commanding officer of Coast Guard Barque EAGLE, “America’s Tall Ship,” in August 2006.

His operational career also includes assignments as commanding officer of the 270-foot medium endurance Coast Guard Cutter LEGARE (WMEC 912), Portsmouth, Va.; executive officer of the CGC NORTHLAND (WMEC 904), Portsmouth, Va.; operations officer of the CGC SENECA (WMEC 906), Boston, Mass.; and combat information center officer and anti-submarine warfare officer of the CGC JARVIS (WHEC 725). His afloat service further includes navigator of Barque EAGLE and underway deck watch officer aboard the CGC COURAGEOUS (WMEC 622).

His shore assignments include deputy director of the Coast Guard Leadership Development Center and school chief of its Command and Operations School; faculty member, the U.S. Naval War College; inaugurating the Coast Guard liaison position at the Navy Warfare Development Command; faculty member of the United States Coast Guard Academy; and public affairs officer and flag lieutenant to the First Coast Guard District commander, Boston, Mass.

Dr. Shaw earned his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Virginia Tech. He holds a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from the University of New Haven, a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and a Ph.D. in Humanities from Salve Regina University. His Ph.D. dissertation was titled “Controls on Developing Technology: U.S. Commercial Air Transportation During the Interwar Period, 1919-1939.”

His personal military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, USCG Commendation Medal (two awards), and the USCG Achievement Medal (three awards).

Dr. Shaw is a native of Alexandria, Va. and resides in Newport, RI. He is married to the former Adrienne Corbeille of Mystic, Conn. Their daughter, Erin, is ten years old.

The new Education Director position is at the center of our strategy of raising the awareness of the power of the sail training experience and integrating it into the mainstream US education system. While much of Eric’s focus over the next year will be managing the OJJDP programs, there will be a number of other exciting education projects underway which he also will oversee. This is an exciting job and we are fortunate in attracting a professional of Eric’s caliber, character and credentials. This marks another major milestone for our organization.

Please join the entire ASTA Crew and me in welcoming Eric, his wife Adrienne and daughter Erin into the ASTA family, congratulating him on his career choice and wishing him the greatest success. He can be reached at: eric@sailtraining.org.

For pictures of the recent Change of Command Ceremonies go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/astaexec/sets/72157594219461872

Ocean Institute Offers a Chance to be California Dreamin’

Ever dream of California living? 

Well ASTA Member Organization Ocean Institute wants to help you make it a reality!

Ocean Institute is conducting a fundraising raffle where for the price of $150 ticket you get a chance to win a $1,000,000 home.

The nonprofit fundraising environment can be very challenging but Ocean Institute has done this successfully in the past and they say things look good this year.

For all of the information and contest details, please click here.

Feeling lucky? Take a chance and support a great nonprofit organization in the process!

Sail training hits the Silver Screen

 

According to an item from Sail-World.com this morning, the final selections have been made for the Morning Light Project, which is Roy Disney’s project entering the youngest crew ever into next years TransPac Race. (Offical news release from Pacific High Productions)

“Morning Light, a real-life adventure feature film recorded as it happens, whatever happens, will be part of next year’s 44th Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii in a project led by race veteran Roy E. Disney. Based on the premise of “the youngest crew ever to sail Transpac,” the film will chronicle the recruitment, training and performance of sailors as young as 18 through the next race in July of 2007. On their own, they will sail a Transpac 52 called Morning Light—the  working title of the film. None will be actors. There will be no script and no preconceived outcome. Disney said, “If we do our job right, I don’t care as much whether they win or lose as how they come together as a group and wind up a team in the end. However they do is how they do. But we’re giving them the equipment to win.”

Sounds like sail training to me!

The 15 Morning Light selections:

Chris Branning, 21, Sarasota, Fla., junior, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Graham Brant-Zawadzki, 21, Newport Beach, Calif., senior, Stanford Univ.

Chris Clark, 20, Old Greenwich, Conn., sailmaker.

Charlie Enright, 21, Providence, R.I., racing coach, senior Brown Univ.

Jesse Fielding, 19, North Kingstown, R.I., boat worker, sailing teacher, pizza deliveryman.

Robbie Kane, 21, Fairfield, Conn., racing sailboat captain. Steve Manson, 21, Baltimore, Md., sailing instructor.

Chris Schubert, 21, Rye, N.Y., Midshipman First Class, U.S. Naval Academy.

Kate Theisen, 19, Socorro, N.M., planetary scientist student, New Mexico Tech.

Mark Towill, 17, Kaneohe, Hawaii, senior, Punahou High School.

Genny Tulloch, 21, Houston, Texas, sailor.

Piet van Os, 22, La Jolla, Calif., senior, California Maritime Academy.

Chris Welch, 18, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., boat prep and deliveries.

Kit Will, 21, Milton, Mass., senior, Connecticut College.

Jeremy Wilmot, 20, Sydney, Australia, sophomore, St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Jesse Fielding may be a familiar name to some of you close to ASTA because he’s the son of Steve Baker, former ASTA Race Director and SailScape blogger. Jesse has been writing about his adventure with the Morning Light Project over at Sailing World Magazine’s website.

I’m also pleased to see that Kit Will, a senior at Connecticut College, my alma mater, made the team.

This should be a very exciting project and I’ll provide updates from time to time.

2006 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Series – Bon Voyage!

Yesterday marked the final festival day of the 2006 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Series. The tall ships left Chicago today for ports unknown and the ASTA Race Team is piloting the land schooner back to Newport.

It was a great summer in the Great Lakes! 

Millions of fond memories were created by the tall ships and the crews and trainees had wonderful experiences in each city.

Starting in Cleveland as part the Huntington Cleveland Harborfest, the fleet enjoyed one of the tour’s most picturesque settings at the foot of Ninth Street and next to the wonderful facilities provided by our port organizing partners Great Lakes Science Center and The William G. Mather Steamship Museum. There were more Captain Jack Sparrows per capita than any other city in America that weekend! Hmmm, I wonder why?

On to Bay City for their Tall Ships Celebration! The 2001 ASTA Port of the Year Award winner pulled out all of the stops for the visiting sailors and spectators. Midwestern hospitality doesn’t get any better than this. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm stopped by the Bark Picton Castle and later that evening address the audience for the Saginaw Symphony Orchestra concert. Here is a picture of Captain Dan Moreland of the Bark Picton Castle with Governor Granholm.

Green Bay was our next city and it was the first time the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Series stopped there as part of the Baylake Bank Tall Ships Festival. In fact, this was the first major Tall Ships event in the State of Wisconsin and it was great to have both Mayor Schmitt and Governor Doyle on hand for the opening ceremonies. One of the highlights of the summer for our Race Team was their purchase of authentic cheeseheads.

Our final stop was Chicago, one of America’s greatest cities. One of America’s greatest mayors, Mayor Daley really understands and appreciates his city’s rich maritime heritage. It’s really tough to find a more spectacular skyline that Chicago’s amazing architecture as the backdrop to the Tall Ships Chicago fleet.

We thank all of our port organizer partners, the amazing volunteers, the ever vigilant US Coast Guard and all of the various emergency services units in each community we visited. Thanks to all of the generous sponsors and supporters who make these events possible. Finally, a really big thanks goes out to the millions of spectators that came out this summer to experience the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE. We look forward to welcoming many of you aboard for a life changing adventure aboard an ASTA member vessel!

Another New ASTA Member Vessel to Launch – Spirit of Bermuda

The sail training experience typically embraces challenges but the Spirit of Bermuda took this to a new level in her overland transit from Rockport Marine to the harbor. A great story with lots of super photos appeared in an August 1, 2006 article entitled “Spirit of Bermuda Sails Over Goose River.” Click Here for Village Soup story. 

The Spirit of Bermuda will be the newest vessel in the ASTA Member fleet after she launches this weekend in Rockport, ME. This exciting project has been underway for a number of years and lot’s more info can be found at the Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s website at http://www.bermudasloop.org/.

There is another great article in yesterday’s Royal Gazette entitled “Five Days to Launch” (click here) which profiles the launch and transit crew for the Spirit of Bermuda’s maiden voyage.  

We congratulate the Bermuda Sloop Foundation on building a spectacular sail training vessel and wish Spirit of Bermuda good luck in her launch this weekend!