NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Virginia, Amistad, Mystic, and Ernestina
From: Bruce J. Pennino
Date: 2014 Aug 17, 11:52 -0400
From: Bruce J. Pennino
Date: 2014 Aug 17, 11:52 -0400
Hello:
The pictures tell a great story; a lot of fun.
I recently took the fast ferry Provincetown to Boston, and returned. I took my sextant and entertained many folks on the aft deck with sun and moon sights. Many questions were asked. One of these days I'll sit down and post all of the sights taken at 30 plus knots. It was interesting and I recommend it.
Bruce
On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 8:41 PM, Jackson McDonald wrote:
One of my brothers and I had the privilege of sailing as guest crew on the tall ship Virginia in 2009 -- Boston, Gloucester, Provincetown, New Bedford, Norfolk (her home port).
Launched in 2006, Virginia is a knockabout (no bowsprit) pilot schooner, built on the plans of her 1917 namesake, with modern safety features such as watertight bulkheads. She is as fast as she is beautiful: we won the Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta that year.
It was a memorable passage: knowledgeable skipper, amiable crew, good cook, and many hours on watch and at the helm. It was also the first time I ever held a sextant and took a sight.
Shortly after our passage, the "great recession" took its toll, with the Commonwealth of Virginia cutting funding vital to its own flagship. Since then, Virginia has been mothballed and recommissioned. This year she has fallen on hard times again.
It will take deep pockets and a solid business plan to save this sublime vessel from a fate beneath her dignity.
Some photos attached.
JMcD
Attached File:
(Schooner-Virginia-show.pptx.pdf: Open and saveor View online)
Attached File:
(VirginiaSchooner-B-W.jpg: Open and save)
