Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS June 2010


AMERICAN SAIL TRAINING ASSOCIATION COMMENDED BY CONGRESS Waterfront News


The United States Congress has recog- nized the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) as the National Sail Training Asso- ciation of the United States as well as the United State’s representative in the Interna- tional Sail Training Forum. Congress also commended ASTA for its advancement of character building experiences for youth at sea.


The United States Senate passed Senate Resolution #158 on March 10th, 2010. Prin-


Offered by the oldest modeling com- pany in the US, BlueJacket Shipcrafters, in conjunction with Fiber Arts College and the Penobscot Marine Museum.


Thursday-Sunday, September 9-12, 2010 Thursday 9/9: 10 A.M.-5 P.M.; Friday 9/ 10: 10 A.M.-5 P.M.; Saturday 9/11: 10 A.M.- 5 P.M.; Sunday 9/12: 9 A.M.-3 P.M. 24 hours of class time with an appropriate lunch break. Instructor: Internationally reknown pro- fessional model builder, Dr. Al Ross Class Size: limited to 12


Location: Classes to be taught at the Penobscot Marine Museum (Searsport, ME, Rte 1- 3/4 mile east of Fiber College), Vestry Building, 1st floor.


Description: The course is designed to teach the basics of wooden boat modeling, and is appropriate for all skill levels, including those with no prior experience. It will focus on building the Yankee Hero, an 1889 Maine Fishing Sloop. LOA 14 7/8”, height 14”, scale 3/8”=1’. The model replicates a Maine coast fishing sloop designed to transport sardines to processing plants. The YANKEE HERO


ciple sponsors included Senators John Kerry (MA), Jack Reed (RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Lindsay Graham (SC).


On April 14th, 2010, Representatives Patrick Kennedy (RI) and Elijah Cummings (MD) as well as Congressmen Bill Delahunt (MA), Candice Miller (MI) and James Oberstar (MN) stood in front of Congress to propose the passing of House Resolution #197.


“ASTA’s work is critical to preserving Model Building Class For all Skills!


was an actual boat whose model is in the National Watercraft Collection of the Smithsonian. She is typical of a type of boat known as a “Quoddy Boat “ or an “Eastport Pinky”. The modeler will learn the essentials of working with a solid hull, laser cut wood for the cabin and deck, creating spars and essen- tials of rigging, as well as techniques for painting the model.


The cost of the course includes all mate- rials – instruction manual, full sized plans, model boat hull, fittings, rigging, paint, glue and tools necessary for completing the model. The modeler will learn the correct use of these tools and then own these tools and supplies as a start for their own toolbox. The class is taught by Dr. Al Ross, a professional model maker with BlueJacket Shipcrafters in Searsport.


Class Fee: $250 per participant (+$25.00 registration)


For further information/registration, contact Suzi or Jeff Marger, BlueJacket Shipcrafters, 207-548-9970 or 800-448-5567


Mystic Seaport Opens New


MYSTIC, CT ~ Visiting tugboats, special activities and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Connecticut State Senator Andrew Maynard will highlight TUGS! Blast at Mys- tic Seaport Saturday and Sunday May 22 - 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Exhibit with TUGS! Blast Weekend new outdoor shallow pond.


The weekend will celebrate the opening of TUGS!, the Museum’s newest exhibition that traces the past, present and future of the American tug, tow and barge industry. De- signed for visitors of all ages, the exhibit features custom-created videos, stories, rare artifacts, historic images and large-scale graphics, hands-on activities, audio/visual elements and outdoor programming. Mystic Seaport President Steve White and Senator Maynard will be joined by Con- necticut State Representative Diana Urban; Karen Senich, executive director of Connecti- cut Commission on Culture & Tourism; Alex Agnew of Professional Mariner magazine and representatives from tugboat companies that have supported the exhibit in a ribbon- cutting ceremony Saturday, May 22, at 12:45 p.m. The ceremony, which announces the grand opening of TUGS!, will take place out- side of the Museum’s R.J. Schaefer Exhibit Hall.


Visiting tugboats docked at Chubb’s Wharf throughout the weekend include Gwenmor Marina’s Gwendolyn, Thames Towing Services’ Adam and John Paul and private yachts North Star, Seahorse, Trilogy and Tuggly. Special events featured during TUGS! Blast include a marine engine and watercraft open house at the Museum’s Col- lections and Research Center, lectures ex- ploring interesting tugs of yesterday and today, an exploratory talk of the TUGS! ex- hibit, marine engine demonstrations in the Museum’s Shipyard and radio-controlled tugboat demonstrations in the Museum’s


Linda Gramatky Smith, daughter of Hardie Gramatky who authored and illus- trated the children’s book, Little Toot, will give a reading of her father’s classic tugboat tale at the Children’s Museum Saturday, May 22, from 10:30 – 11 a.m. Gramatky Smith will additionally speak about her father and his accomplished career in her talk “Memories of Little Toot and My Father, Hardie Gramatky” at the Greenmanville Church Saturday, May 22, at 3 p.m.


Additionally, visitors can take part in a variety of hands-on activities throughout the weekend including a heaving-line toss, friendly games of tug-of-war and creating a tug craft. Children are invited to story time in the Children’s Museum and to build a wooden tugboat keepsake (nominal fee for toy boat workshop).


Funding for TUGS! has been made pos- sible with a $149,136 grant awarded to Mystic Seaport from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Individual do- nations and in-kind support will additionally help fund the exhibit. With leadership sup- port from American Waterway Operators, the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tour- ism, the Community Foundation of South- eastern Connecticut, the Dibner Family Foundation, G&H Towing, Professional Mariner, the Tugboat Enthusiast Society and an anonymous family foundation in hand, Mystic Seaport seeks to match the IMLS grant funds in total. Those interested in sup- porting the project can contact Chris Free- man at 860.912.3121 or at chris.freeman@mysticseaport.org. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/tugsblast. TUGS! will remain open through spring


2011.


our Nation’s rich maritime heritage and en- suring that its traditions are passed on to the next generation. Madam Speaker, as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I urge the adoption of H Res. 197 of the House today and commend the good work of my friend, Congressman Kennedy, on this resolution”, said Congressman Cummings. The passing of these resolutions by Congress officially recognized ASTA as the National Sail Train- ing Association of the United States as well as the U.S.’s representative in the Interna- tional Sail Training Forum.


“The American Sail Training Associa- tion is deeply honored to be commended by the United States Congress as the national sail training organization for the United States. In the 37 years since our founding, the American sail training fleet has grown from a handful of vessels to over two hundred magnificent tall ships, each with its own mis- sion and program. During that time, opera- tional safety, professionalism, and the effec- tiveness of on-board educational programs have increased exponentially as well. ASTA


SEARSPORT - Penobscot Marine Museum’s touch tank is coming back to the museum in time for the museum’s opening day, May 28. The tank is a favorite among young visitors, who get to observe its resident lobster, crabs, urchins, anemones, sea stars, periwinkles, and other sea life from Penobscot Bay.


Soon after the museum closed for the season last October, the tank was moved to area elementary schools, where it proved to be a valuable teaching device. Mike Dunn of Marine Education Unlimited, Warren, ME, set up the tank first in Stockton Springs Elementary School. In February, the tank was moved to Searsport Elementary School, where it will remain until later this month when it returns to the museum. Both times, Dunn was assisted by Hamilton Marine and Dennis Hansen, the museum’s buildings and grounds supervisor.


At both schools the students, teachers, and family members greeted the tank with enthusiasm. It provided inspiration for lessons about marine biology and for observation and journaling. The success of the visiting tank program was rewarding for the museum, which plans to repeat—and


is proud to be able to lead this movement in America, so that our maritime heritage and the craft of sail can be preserved for future gen- erations, and so that young people today can go to sea to find the transformational power of crossing horizons under sail” said Bert Rogers, Executive Director of ASTA. The American Sail Training Association is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America. Since 1973, ASTA has supported Education Under Sail and Youth Character Development. ASTA represents over 200 member vessel operations in the United States and worldwide. It organizes the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series, man- ages scholarship programs to make sail train- ing experiences more affordable for young people, grant programs to assist crew of ASTA member vessels with the costs of professional development courses and li- censing requirements and publishes “SAIL TALL SHIPS! A Directory of Sail Training and Adventure at Sea”.


Touch Tank Returns to PMM


possibly expand—the program for the next school year.


Beginning May 28, when the museum reopens, the tank will be on display in a children’s exhibit called the Marine Science Lab. Here, in addition to viewing the tank and its inhabitants, children can enter a large- scale mockup of a research submersible, catch a “marine specimen,” identify it, and complete a Lab Observation Sheet. The Lab also offers arts and crafts, games, and books, all with marine science themes. Another hands-on exhibit at the museum, the “Peapod,” offers play experiences with a 19th century “going to sea” theme. Penobscot Marine Museum maintains nationally significant collections of marine art and artifacts, ship models, photographic archives, and the largest display of historic small craft in Maine. Founded in 1936, it is Maine’s oldest maritime museum. Housed in 13 historic buildings including ship captains’ homes, an early town hall, and two boat houses, the campus represents a bustling coastal village during the Age of Sail. Activities and exhibits for children and a busy schedule of year-round programs make it a special place for family visits.


Windward Passage Sailing Program Announces 2010 Schedule


CASTINE—Windward Passage, a co- educational program providing middle and high school students with affordable opportunities for sailing on large traditional vessels, has announced it’s schedule for summer 2010. The program is open to students aged 12 to 18 and no prior sailing experience is required.


This summer, Windward Passage will be sponsoring six trips of 5 days/ 5 nights each on board the 50’ sloop Vela with Captain Havilah Hawkins. All trips leave from and return to Sedgwick on the Eggemoggin Reach. The participants become part of the working crew, learning time-honored skills of seamanship, teamwork, and working with nature to “make the boat go”. While exploring the islands and coves of Penobscot and Jericho Bays, students gain a sense of responsibility, confidence and respect for the boat, the water and each other. Captain Hawkins is a second generation schooner captain with 30 years experience in Maine maritime traditions, both as ship captain and boat builder. His


knowledge of the Maine coast is unsurpassed.


To make this experience available to all Maine students, Windward Passage offers needs based scholarships of 50 percent of the program fee. However, no one is turned away due to an inability to pay and scholarships up to 100 percent are available for eligible participants.


The trips scheduled for this summer 2010 are July 5-10, July 12-17, July 19-24, July 26- 31, August 2-7 and August 9-14. Six berths are available for each session. Interested students are encouraged to apply for the program as soon as possible as spaces are filled on a first come basis. For more information visit the website www.windwardpassage.org, e-mail info@windwardpassage.org , or call (207) 326-0606.


Windward Passage is affiliated with SailMaine, a Maine-based 501(c)3 non- profit organization. Tax deductible donations to support the program are welcomed.


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