An Appeal for Support of Our Education Programs

The Historical Seaport sent this urgent appeal to members, volunteers, supporters, and guests today.

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Dear Friend of the Historical Seaport:

I hope you recall your trip aboard the tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain. I wanted to share with you some feedback we received recently from a Girl Scout troop which went on one of our education programs.

The [Lady Washington’s] crew was terrific. They did a fabulous job keeping the kids all engaged in doing and learning without desks and pencils. Hauling lines, raising sails, tending sheets, sun on our faces and wind in our hair. The stories of cargo trading and life aboard ship! Making sails, knotting rope, otter furs, and knives, and tea and the world economy! Boat knots for speed really were knots on a rope. The old measures have such humble origins, knots, feet, hands, stones, bits… It was a really great experience and I’m really glad we got to sail with you. Thank you again!

It’s emails like this that make me proud to work in tall ship education. Unfortunately, the Historical Seaport, the non-profit that owns and operates Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, and the many schools they serve have been hard hit by the economic downturn and we need your help. Lower school funding and fewer people sailing has resulted in a serious funding shortfall this year. We have twice reduced office staff this year and recently reduced hours for remaining office staff.

Further cuts could threaten the ability of our ships to deliver the quality programs schools have come to depend on.

I’d like to ask you to help the Historical Seaport through this difficult time with a donation. The easiest way to donate is with your credit or debit card via our Donate Now link on our home page. Just click the Donate Now button below.

A basic donation is $35, though any amount you feel comfortable giving would be appreciated. You can even donate a small amount every month. If you prefer, you can donate by phone at 800-200-5239. Or you can send a check to:

Donations
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority
PO Box 2019
Aberdeen, WA 98520

There are other ways to donate as well, such as a vehicle or boat donation or school scholarships. You can find out more by calling 800-200-5239,or by visiting our website at www.historicalseaport.org.

Thank you for helping us maintain our course through this difficult financial time.

Sincerely,

Capt. Les Bolton, Executive Director
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority

Volunteer Liz Palmer Gifted with Hand Tools

Long-time Lady Washington volunteer Liz Palmer, who is now studying boat construction at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, Wash., was presented with a collection of hand tools this month by the Pacific Northwest Tool Collectors. PNTC members Darrell Six and Rose and Gary Benz met with Liz, who benefited from a PNTC scholarship to attend the school.

In a news release from the school, Liz spoke warmly of her appreciation for the scholarship and tool donations. “The PNTC scholarship I was awarded made it possible for me to attend the Boat School," she said. "I am very grateful to PNTC members for their generosity in donating tools to me in support of that scholarship as well as to the new tool bank here at the Boat School.”

The tool bank will permit students to have access to good user-quality tools on a loan basis if students can't afford their own tools. “I am delighted that the PNTC had awarded Liz Palmer one of your first scholarships," said NWSWB Director Bill Mahler. "In addition, [PNTC's] generosity and willingness to support the establishment of a hand tool bank at the School should go far to help the students here meet the challenges inherent in learning the fundamentals of boatbuilding."

More information about the school is available at www.nwboatschool.org.

Fan Photos: Evening Sail in Tacoma

Lady Washington friend and Evening Sail guest Mary Maney shared these photos from her trip in Tacoma last summer. We tried this two-hour sailing excursion for the first time in July and August, and it was so popular, we're talking seriously about offering it again when we return to Puget Sound. Mary writes:

My husband and I recently took an Evening Sail on the Lady Washington in Tacoma. It was something that we wanted to do for a long time, to sail on a tall ship. We have seen LW in Tacoma many times and have been aboard her at various festivals. But the opportunity to be on deck as she went out on the Sound was a dream come true. The crew was great interacting with the guests and made the sail even better with their friendliness. The experience will be with me for ever.

If you have photos of your Evening Sail or any other trip aboard Lady Washington and/or Hawaiian Chieftain, email them to photos@historicalseaport.org.

LW Joins Fleet Week, Offers Blue Angels Excursion

Lady Washington, making better time than expected from Washington State, will arrive at San Francisco Bay in time to offer a special U.S. Navy Blue Angels Viewing Excursion on Saturday, October 9. The ship is scheduled to dock at Jack London Square late tonight or early Saturday morning after a seven-day voyage from Westport, Wash. She will join the Fleet Week celebrations on Saturday.

At noon Saturday, Lady Washington will take guests on a four-hour sailing excursion into San Francisco Bay to view the U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform their spectacular air show. Guests will watch the show from a premier viewing spot, the deck of the most beautiful tall ship on the West Coast. Tickets are $60 each and may be purchased online at www.historicalseaport.org or at the boat’s berth at Jack London Square before departure.

Media are welcome to photograph the Lady Washington and her companion ship Hawaiian Chieftain, which will be conducting a charter voyage, during the air show.

The Lady Washington will remain at Jack London Square until Monday morning, when she will sail for Pier 40 at San Francisco. For details on the vessel’s activities in San Francisco, view our Sailing Schedule.

This weekend’s visit to Oakland marks the first time Lady Washington has visited the Bay Area since 2008. Last winter, the Lady Washington stayed in its home port of Aberdeen, Wash., to receive a new auxiliary engine that meets California, federal, and international diesel emissions standards. The Lady Washington’s companion ship, Hawaiian Chieftain, formerly home-ported in Sausalito, will also be in Oakland during Lady Washington’s visit.

LW & HC Announce 2011 Calif., Oregon Schedule

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, have announced ports of call for winter and early spring of 2011. The ships have also announced a new package of experiences called “Oregon Sea & River Adventures.”

Starting January 1, 2011 through April 28, the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will visit these California, Oregon, and Columbia River ports: Oxnard, Ventura, Redwood City, Oakland, San Francisco, Eureka, Crescent City, Coos Bay, Newport, Garibaldi, Astoria, Cathlamet, St. Helens, and Vancouver, Wash. In most stops, the ships will offer walk-on tours and three-hour sails to the general public. Activities at most ports will include popular Battle Sails, a re-creation of a typical 18th century naval skirmish on the high seas. For schedule details and to purchase tickets, visit www.historicalseaport.org or call 800-200-5239.

Throughout their California and Oregon tour, the ships will also offer one-way tall ship Passages from one port of call to the next. Quickly growing in popularity, Passages are fast becoming a unique living history experience close to home. The sailing trips range in duration from three hours to several days. Many include overnight accommodations aboard the ships. For schedule details and to purchase tickets, visit www.historicalseaport.org or call 800-200-5239.

New in April 2011 are Oregon Sea & River Adventures, packages of living history Passages taking in three or more ports. Adventure travelers may select from three Sea & River Adventures: 1. Garibaldi to Cathlamet via Astoria (4/18-19); 2. Garibaldi to St. Helens via Astoria and Cathlamet (4/18-20); 3. Astoria to St. Helens via Cathlamet (4/19-20). Oregon Sea & River Adventures include overnight accommodations on the boats, shipboard meals, and the companionship of tall ship mariners. For details, see April 18-20 in the online schedule at www.historicalseaport.org. Or call 800-200-5239 to discuss booking details.

Lady Washington in Columbia River with Chinook Nation

Many thanks to Mason Marsh, who sent us this photo of Lady Washington and Chinook Nation canoe paddlers during the fur-trade re-enactment yesterday off Fort Columbia State Park, which is just a few miles up the Columbia River from Astoria. Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain arrived at the event Sunday morning after sailing from Westport. More background about the event is available at the Longview Daily News website.

The boats re-crossed the Columbia River bar in the afternoon and are now headed for San Francisco Bay. Hawaiian Chieftain is expected to arrive at Oakland's Jack London Square sometime Friday; Lady Washington is scheduled to arrive at Pier 40 in San Francisco early next week.

Boats Depart for Columbia River & California

I took this photo at the Westport marina just as Lady Washington was pulling into port after today's Battle Sail. Crew described today's weather as Goldilocks might: not too cold, not too windy, and not too rough.

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain departed for California this evening from Westport. The weather for the transit to Fort Columbia State Park for tomorrow's fur trade re-enactment with the Chinook Nation is expected to be excellent for sailing. Capt. Jake on the Chieftain says once a front passes through early next week, expected northwest winds up to 25 knots could make for a fast passage to San Francisco Bay.

Fair winds to both ships, and we hope to see all our fans in the Golden State.

Fan Photo: Ships Depart Aberdeen

Westport, Wash,-based photographer Ron Arel of Coastal Images took this photo on Friday of Lady Washington (background) and Hawaiian Chieftain cruising under the Chehalis River Bridge in Aberdeen. The ships departed Aberdeen for Westport and the Westport Marina, where they spent the night. Today, they'll open for public tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then take the public out for the last Battle Sail of the 2010 summer season.

After the Battle Sail, they sail for the Columbia River and a re-enactment of a fur trade meeting with the Chinook Nation on Sunday. The next stop is the Bay Area, where they'll begin their 2010-2011 education program season.