Hawaiian Chieftain Has Best-Ever Winter Season

The Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will rendezvous in Westport, Wash. April 9-11 for three days of activities before the vessels depart for their spring and summer sailing season in Washington State waters. The meet-up also marks the end of the California and Oregon tour season for the Hawaiian Chieftain, the best ever in terms of ticket sales for Lady Washington’s companion ship.

During its six-month "Hands-On History for Youth" tour of California and Oregon ports, Hawaiian Chieftain conducted dozens of education programs for K-12 school and home-school groups. The ship also took guests on weekend Adventure Sails and port-to-port transits. Of the 1,357 spaces available on Adventure Sails and transits through March 25, Hawaiian Chieftain welcomed 922 guests, or 68 percent of capacity. That’s the best performance for Hawaiian Chieftain since it was acquired by the Historical Seaport in 2004.

In addition, several sails were added to California and Oregon stops due to high ticket demand. Thirteen sails were sold out or came within one ticket of selling out. During the 2008-2009 California tour, the ship operated at 44 percent of capacity, an estimate based on sales for both Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain last winter. Huzzah for Hawaiian Chieftain!

Lady Washington Schedules First Adventure Sails

Lady Washington has scheduled its first public sails since installation of its new auxiliary engine. The ship invites all Gray Harbor County residents to Adventure Sails at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, at Aberdeen Landing, 701 E. Heron St., in Aberdeen. The ship will also open for walk-on tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.

Adventure Sails feature demonstrations of tall ship handling, booming cannon, and a chance for guests to help sail a real tall ship. Tickets are $55 adults, $45 students/seniors/active military, and $35 children 12 and under. To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.historicalseaport.org or call 800-200-5239. Guests may also purchase tickets at the boat immediately before departure.

Crew in period costume will welcome visitors during the walk-on tours. A $3 donation per person is appreciated. K-12 educators interested in scheduling a one-hour dockside or three-hour sailing program should contact Roxie Underwood, programs manager, 800-200-5239, runderwood@historicalseaport.org.

Lady Washington is scheduled to depart for Westport on April 9. On April 12, she will sail for Port Angeles and a six-month tour of Puget Sound ports.

Lady Washington Says Thanks to Engine Donors

The Historical Seaport said "Thank you!" to our SAILING GREEN donors and volunteers today with a special Adventure Sail in Aberdeen. The top photo shows the crew hard at work setting Lady Washington's sails, while the bottom photo shows the new engine hard at work pushing the ship away from the dock. And I can tell you she fairly leaped from her berth! I heard that during a test run, Lady Washington reached a speed of 8.5 knots, maybe more, a major improvement over the old engine. And she's greener, too. Thanks again to all our supporters!

We'll be getting ready over the next few days for our spring and summer schedule. And we're looking for Grays Harbor-area schools interested in educational programs for their students. Call us at 800-200-5239 for more information.

Lady Washington Returns to Service

The Lady Washington has returned to service after replacing its diesel auxiliary engine with a new engine that reduces the ship’s carbon footprint. The ship will begin its spring and summer season of visits to ports in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound after the US Coast Guard gives final approval to the upgrade, which is expected next week. The Historical Seaport is also inviting Grays Harbor-area schools to book education programs before Lady Washington departs.

Lady Washington was taken out of service in December 2009. The original Detroit Diesel 8V-71, installed when the ship was launched in 1989, was removed. A new Scania 12-liter diesel engine and ZF marine transmission was installed in February and tested earlier this month. The new engine meets strict California, federal, and international emissions standards, allowing Lady Washington to return to California ports. The reduced emissions and increased fuel efficiency of the new engine decreases the vessel’s carbon footprint, meeting the Historical Seaport’s goal of operating in a “green” fashion whenever possible.

The project was financed by the Historical Seaport’s SAILING GREEN capital campaign, which has brought in more than $100,000 in donations and grants. Major donors include Ken Birdwell, the Ben B. Cheney Foundation, Ed Scripps, Dr. Price and Barbara Chenault, the Cottrell family, the Google Matching Fund, and the Washington State Department of Ecology Clean Diesel Program. Most donors gave small amounts ranging from a few dollars given at a January 9 work party in Aberdeen to $500. The Historical Seaport would also like to specifically thank Precision Pipe Fabricators, Bergstrom Foundry, Fastenal, Harbor Tool Rentals, Sierra Pacific Industries, Westport Diesel, Crowley Marine, Grays Harbor Computer, as well as volunteers Dick “Tinker” Toy, Jim Rich, Bill Hagara, and many others for time, materials, and equipment.

The Lady Washington will now prepare for its spring and summer schedule of visits to Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound ports. The vessel will join its companion ship Hawaiian Chieftain when the latter vessel arrives at Westport on April 9. After a schedule of public visits and three-hour sails, the pair will depart for Port Angeles on April 12. The current list of stops includes Sequim, Port Towsend, Friday Harbor, Seattle, Anacortes, Bellingham, Coupeville, Everett, Edmonds, and Port Orchard. A detailed schedule and ticketing information is available at the Historical Seaport website, www.historicalseaport.org.

Donors step forward to help Garibaldi students

An entire elementary school at a small town in Oregon will visit Hawaiian Chieftain thanks to the generosity of a local PTA and a number of donors. The vessel is scheduled to visit Garibaldi, Oregon, April 1 to 4, and it will host the 167 K-5 students of Garibaldi Grade School for hands-on educational programs aboard the ship.

When we announced our plans to visit Garibaldi earlier this year, a parent at the grade school contacted us about an educational program. However, the school discovered it could not afford the $8 per student fee. More than 65 percent of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches, a measure of the current economic stress on the community.

However, the PTA and school found they could raise about three-quarters of the needed funds. After discussion with the Historical Seaport, a number of donors in Garibaldi, as well as anonymous donors in Aberdeen and Historical Seaport board president Laura Pilgrim-Rust, came forward and offered to help. Within a few days, the Historical Seaport and the school received pledges to cover the remaining 25 percent of the fees. Many of the donations came through the Seaport's Education Sponsorship program, which allows individuals to sponsor programs for needy students and schools.

The students at Garibaldi Grade School will visit Hawaiian Chieftain at her Port of Garibaldi berth on April 2.

Sunset in the San Juan Islands

John Lesser of Bremerton sent us this photo of Lady Washington in the San Juan Islands in 2005. The ship and her companion Hawaiian Chieftain will be in Friday Harbor April 27 and 28 to help celebrate the port's 60th anniversary. Both ships will host Moonlight Sails, which feature beautiful sunsets, such as the one in John's photo. Tickets are available now at our website. If you have a photo to share, email it to photos@historicalseaport.org.

Lady Washington Gets A New Foremast

Lady Washington's new foremast was stepped today at the tall ship's berth in Aberdeen. Top: The new mast is lifted over Lady Washington's rail and slowly lowered through the deck. Thanks to Rognlin's for trucking the mast and accompanying gear to Lady Washington's berth at Aberdeen Landing. Middle: Spar Shop manager Kent Wall examines new yards and other equipment that are part of the re-rigging project, which is running parallel to the re-power of Lady Washington. Bottom: Boson Sara Gempler calls out that she’s in place and ready for the crane to lower away.

The last hurdle for Lady Washington's repower is the exhaust system; we have to swap in some new exhaust piping. Thanks to Precision Pipe Fabricators of Aberdeen for donating materials. Once the Coast Guard signs off on the engine and other improvements, we're good to go. Lady Washington could be back online by the weekend. Keep your fingers crossed!