Buy Pics of the Boats via Our Website!

Dying to own your own art quality photo of the Lady Washington, Hawaiian Chieftain, or both? Now's your chance. The Historical Seaport has made wonderful pictures by photographer Ron Arel available via our website and SmugMug, our photo hosting partner. Just click this link, select one or more image, and order prints, t-shirts, buttons, any of a variety of products. All sales support the Historical Seaport's K-12 education programs.

We Have a Logo Winner!

The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority Board of Directors has selected a design by Jeff K. Miller of Astoria, Oregon as the winner of the Seaport Landing Logo Design Contest. Miller is a graphic artist and a native of Washington State. Congrats to Jeff! He won gift certificates for upcoming Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain sailings.

Miller’s design was one of three finalists, which are on the Historical Seaport’s website's Seaport Landing page. As part of the contest, website visitors were encouraged to vote for one of the three entries during the week of February 8. Of 253 votes cast, Miller’s entry received 169 votes, or 67 percent. An entry by Ron Westman of Ocean City received 57 votes, or 23 percent. The third entry, submitted by Tim Triesch of Aberdeen, received 27 votes, or 11 percent.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Fan Photo: Lady Washington at Westport

The Lady Washington fires her cannon at Hawaiian Chieftain in this photo submitted by Danieltina Baydo, who visits the ships when they were at Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze in Westport, Wash. on Grays Harbor. "She is so incredible and these experiences will last a lifetime," she says. "I have brought my entire staff down there as well and they all enjoyed their time." Both ships are now on their way to San Francisco, where they'll stay at Pier 40 from Thursday until March 5. SF Battle Sail tickets are available on our home page.

If you have a favorite photo to share of Lady Washington and/or Hawaiian Chieftain, send it to photos@historicalseaport.org.

New Affinity Cards Help Ships and Seaport

We've added another way for you to help the ships' and the Seaport's finances in this very tough economic time. Our VISA Affinity Credit Cards work like any other credit card: Buy your groceries, gas, movie tickets, anything, and the boats get cash. The first time you use your VISA card, the card issuer, UMB of Kansas City, Mo., makes a $50 donation to the Seaport. After that, every time you buy something, a small portion of the purchase amount goes to the Seaport. It adds up very fast. And there's no annual fee or additional cost to you. It's easy, painless, and smart. Apply here. Thanks!

Fan Photo: How's the Weather Up There?

Guest David Lewis sent us this photo of another guest (in blue) who had climbed the rigging of the Hawaiian Chieftain during Sunday's Adventure Sail. We'll be offering our "Tours Aloft" experience again when we welcome folks aboard in Morro Bay this weekend. All you do is strap into a harness and start climbing! We'll make sure you're safe by way of a fixed belay system.

Do you have a photo of going aloft? Send it to photos@historicalseaport.org.

GHHSA By the Numbers

For all you ladies and gentlement that live by the numbers, we've published summaries of our 2007 and 2008 income and financial statements on the About Us page of our website. Download the 2007 Summary. Download the 2008 Summary. Comments welcome!

Coming Soon! A New Kids Film with LW

Does this image remind you of a certain Disney film starring a certain actor with the initials "JD"? No, it's not from Pirates of the Caribbean. The picture comes from Triple Spiral Productions, and it gives a flavor of a new children's short film, The Lady Washington: Sails, Song, and the Sea. The film will be shown Feb. 28 at the Third Annual San Francisco International Children's Film Festival Feb. 27 to March 1 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The festival is part of the annual WonderCon.

It just so happens that the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain (in the background) will be at Pier 40 in San Francisco the same day. We're helping promote the festival in our news releases and other materials, and we've proclaimed Feb. 28 "San Francisco International Children’s Film Festival Day." The ship will be open for public walk-on tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a Battle Sail is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. that day as well. The walk-on tours are free, though we ask for a donation. Tickets for the Battle Sail are available here. So come aboard, act like a pirate, watch the movie at the Moscone Center, and have some fun!

LOL! A Sailor's Ditty on the LW

This is truly a cure for the hard times of last week. Thanks to Lady Washington guest Paul Sjoberg for sending us this video of LW crew singing an sailor's ditty while in San Diego last month. Sing along! Do you have a favorite video? Send a link to photos@historicalseaport.org.

A Sad Day at the Seaport

The Historical Seaport's board of directors published this news release today:

February 4, 2009

Historical Seaport Board Announces Staff Reductions

California, Oregon, Wash. sailing schedule may be revised; San Francisco Bay Area bookings strong

Aberdeen – The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority Board of Directors has announced staff reductions as it works through a challenging economic environment that has resulted in significantly lower revenues. During its regular meeting Tuesday, the board reduced staff by six full-time equivalent positions. One open position will remain unfilled. Capt. Les Bolton, the Historical Seaport’s executive director, also agreed to a 20 percent pay reduction. On Feb. 1, the Historical Seaport had 25 full-time equivalent positions.

Once economic conditions improve, the Historical Seaport is open to rehiring laid off employees.

The board of directors also formed a committee to review all Historical Seaport operations, which may lead to changes in the upcoming sailing schedule for California, Oregon, and Washington. The committee may also recommend changes in the deployment of all Historical Seaport assets, including the tall ship Hawaiian Chieftain. The committee is expected to present its recommendations at a special board meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Seaport Learning Center.

The overall economic climate in the country has led to reduced revenue for the Historical Seaport. Ticket sales for public sailings in January of this year were down 17 percent from January of 2008. During January, both ships were in Long Beach, Oceanside, and San Diego, areas hard hit by the national economic crisis. Bookings this month in Oxnard, Calif., where the ships are currently berthed, Morro Bay, and San Francisco appear strong at this time.

Historical Seaport finances were also hurt by an unexpected bill of $24,000 for repairs to the Hawaiian Chieftain in January. A fundraising campaign to pay this bill is continuing, and the Historical Seaport has strengthened its fundraising strategy with a number of new initiatives and appeals for funds.

“We’re in challenging economic times,” Bolton said. “Under these conditions, our operating model needs to change and we need to be proactive in order to preserve our ability to provide education programs and continue to serve our community.”

The Historical Seaport is moving forward with plans to develop Seaport Landing at the site in South Aberdeen. The board of directors believes the project is central to the long-term viability of the Historical Seaport, as well as a critical opportunity for helping the broader Grays Harbor community through a difficult economic situation.

If you have any thoughts, please share them via our comments link below or email us at ghhsa_admin@historicalseaport.org.