Category: Schooner

Al and I Are Determined To Get You Down To Gloucester Maritime For The Gloucester Schooner Races This Year- August 31st to September 2nd

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

You Better Recognize!!!!

Mark your calendars, make your hotel ressies this is an awesome event.  What you may not realize is there are a ton of opportunities to sail aboard these boats for the races, and even if you can’t sail aboard them just going down to visit is worth it to see these beautiful vessels.

You don’t have to be a schoonerhead or loud-ass sea shanty crazy to enjoy the majesty of these boats and the friendly crews aboard them. 

Al writes-

Hi Joey…. This photo is from the 2011 Schooner Race, taken by Amy Beaudet aboard GREEN DRAGON.  The race last year was a beam reach with six legs, which is to say we made five 180 degree turns.  Thus we  were treated repeatedly to breathtaking close up views of every schooner.

This is AMERICAN EAGLE, the last fishing schooner built in Gloucester (1930) with ALABAMA (1926) close astern.  These schooners are not replicas.  They have been kept alive by passionate owners and countless dedicated and talented people.

http://www.schooneramericaneagle.com/about/history.htm

http://www.theblackdogtallships.com/

Al Bezanson

American Eagle with Alabama astern

Twenty-Eighth Annual

Gloucester Schooner Festival™

August 31 – September 2, 2012

The Festival is sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
(subject to change)

Friday, August 31, 2012

All Day Arrival of Participating Vessels.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm            
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm            
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm              
Maritime Gloucester visiting hours.

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Mayor’s Reception for invited guests. Sponsored by the Schooner Adventure.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day Maritime Gloucester (formerly the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center), located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Center’s exhibits and aquarium will be open free of charge throughout the day. Free to all.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm            
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm            
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.

7:30 pm
Boat "Parade of Lights".

9:15 pm
Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate)
(The Gloucester Fireworks Committee is in need of more donations for the Labor Day weekend fireworks. Donations may be made to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Please notate "fireworks" on your donation.)

Sunday, September 2, 2012

8:30 am
Skippers Meeting for all Schooners sailing in Mayor’s Race at Solomon Jacobs Park, immediately adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Harbor Loop.

11:00 am to1:30 pm
Shuttle Bus to Eastern Point Light, from Eastern Point Gate (Eastern Point Boulevard at Farrington Avenue) to watch the start of the Mayor’s Race. Free of Charge.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm            
Essex Shipbuilding Museum visiting hours.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm            
Maritime Gloucester visiting hours.

10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Parade of Sail as Schooners proceed from Inner Harbor, past the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard, to the race starting area off Eastern Point.

10:30 am
Parade of Sail Breakfast at Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House. Come for the best view of the parade of sail. Coffee and light breakfast will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. $3 Historic New England members, $5 non-members. Reservations required. Call 978-283-0800.

1:00 pm
Start of Mayor’s Race for Esperanto Cup, Ned Cameron Trophy and Betty Ramsey Trophy off Eastern Point.

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm            
Cape Ann Museum visiting hours.

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Reception and Awards Ceremony for contestants and invited guests.

Monday, September 3, 2012

"Rain Day" for recovery from postponements caused by inclement weather. ONLY IF REQUIRED.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm            
Maritime Gloucester visiting hours.

Wagging for Schooners From Al Bezanson

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey…. Here’s a shot from GREEN DRAGON a couple years ago when BLUENOSE II was still around.  Maggie here is savoring the odor of the haddock chowder wafting over from the Canadians’ galley and hoping for a chance to clean their bowls when they come ashore.  What happened was that she missed out on the chowder but did manage to grab the skipper’s hot dog when he was on the dock.  Hence the invasion of the BLUENOSE ll’s crew.  Fortunately we had a good supply of Fishermen’s Brew iced down and were able to calm them.

Maggie was also in attendance at ARDELLE’S launching, and here can be seen interviewing Cooper.  You can see Maggie’s blog here… it’s a long thread but scrolling down through it will acquaint you with some of her pals like Effie on Effie.

http://www.amschooner.org/node/639

Attack from Bluenose IIMaggie and Cooper at Ardelle launch

Gloucester Harbor Schooner Race The Lannon vs The Ardelle This Monday Night and You Can Be Part of The Race Crew!!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Kay Ellis writes-

Hi Joey,
We are a having an exciting sail on Monday night from 6-8 and were wondering if you could spread the word for us. I have attached a flier for the event.
 

The Lannon and the Ardelle have been sailing around the harbor together all summer. On Monday night we are raising the ante and having a race.

Mention that you heard about the race on GMG when you call and you and everyone with you will receive $5 off your ticket price.

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Schooner Festival 2011 with John Nesta

Posted on by capeannpainter

Schooner Festival 2011 with Artist John Nesta

Schooner Captains At Your Service from Al Bezanson

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey… Here are some faces to go with the schooner photosThree captains

Schooner captains Linda Gunn (FAREWELL) Steve Briggs (NORFOLK REBEL) and Nicholas Alley (VIRGINIA) at last year’s Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Pig and Oyster Roast Awards Ceremony.  Nicholas won the Mayor’s Cup with VIRGINIA in Gloucester in 2007 and in this photo had just collected his Gorton’s hat.  He is now in BRILLIANT and has space for passengers this year coming and going between Mystic and Gloucester.

http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=FF10EA76-B0D0-D05E-1A1360424E13F653

Matt and Ted

Captains Matt Sutphin (TYRONE) and Ted Romanowski (GOOD FORTUNE) at an early breakfast at the Fort Square.  We were scoping out  places to berth 60 ft TYRONE during the Schooner Festival.  Matt has passenger spaces coming and going to Gloucester and also for these events.

http://www.chathamclassicyachtcharters.com/

http://www.blockislandschoonerrendezvous.net/

http://www.provincetownschoonerrace.com/

Al Bezanson

25 days to the Beam Reach From Al Bezanson

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey…  more photos from GREEN DRAGON and another reminder…

The Gloucester Schooner Race takes place September 2nd.  Nowadays the race is set up as a beam reach, usually three times around a pair of buoys set a couple miles apart.    Schooners are at their best reaching, with the wind on the beam, and if there is a good breeze their big mainsails provide all the  power they can use.  Reaching is also the most comfortable point of sail – no rock and roll.  There is still space available for paying passengers on the larger boats, and the cost is usually less than the price of a ticket to a major league sporting event.

So, spectators, get off the boulevard and get on a boat for an up close and personal experience! 

Al Bezanson

GSF 2008image003Whee

Your Opportunity To Sail in the Gloucester Schooner Race!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey… Some visitors may not be aware of the opportunity to sail in the Gloucester Schooner Race.  To do so is an unforgettable experience.  Besides Gloucester’s THOMAS E LANNON there are other schooners with sites available for paying passengers.  In these tough times participation for some schooners is dependent on passenger bookings.  Here are two historic schooners in that category.

Mystic Seaport’s BRILLIANT (1932) is one of the world’s most beautiful wooden boats.  There is an opportunity to sail the round trip from Mystic to Gloucester.  Info on this website  http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=FF10EA76-B0D0-D05E-1A1360424E13F653

TYRONE (1939) designed by Manchester’s Sam Crocker sails out of Chatham and has a few berths available.  This includes a sail to the Block Island Schooner Rendezvous prior to the Gloucester Festival and  the race to Provincetown that follows.

http://www.chathamclassicyachtcharters.com/

http://www.blockislandschoonerrendezvous.net/

http://www.provincetownschoonerrace.com/

Al Bezanson

Brilliant & Adventurer 2011Tyrone

26 Days Til The Gloucester Schooner Festival from Al Bezanson

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey___ That was a nice piece in the GD Times today about Amazing Ed Boynton and SUGAR BABE.  Here she is footing along smartly next to us in GREEN DRAGON in the 2011 Gloucester Schooner Race.

Sugar Babe

27 Days to the Gloucester Schooner Festival From Al Bezanson

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey…The 28th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival will soon be upon us.  I wonder how many remember The Annual Great Gloucester Schooner Races of the late 60’s.  This is GREEN DRAGON after the circa 1969 race where we were decked out as fishermen.

GDoldie

Here was the deal for those races.  They handed you a little piece of paper with an “X” on it, a black & copy of a section of Gloucester Harbor.  Go anchor on that spot and when the boatload of old schoonermen comes by, hoist your sails and get underway ‘like fishermen.’  They would judge you for up to 25% of your score.  When everyone got underway we gathered by the breakwater where we got the gun to race up to Newcombs and back, boat-for-boat, no handicap as I recall.  Another 25% of your score.  Keep on going and anchor on your X.  No GPS or other instruments.  You found it with landmarks.  Only one try.  Eventually the old timers came back, a captain came aboard, stood at your foremast and figured out how close you were to X by shooting bearings with a sextant.  50% of your score.  Tough luck if the tide changed and you swung off it before the judges got to you.  First place boat went to Lunenburg to face the speediest schooner they had at the time.  These were all small schooners of 30 to 50 feet.

As for the crew in the photo.  All but one are still walking.  That’s my kid with the yellow hair.  First one to ID the lot gets a beer on me at the Cape Ann Brewery or the Gloucester House or wherever he can find me during the festival this year.

Al Bezanson

29 days to the Gloucester Schooner Festival

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Al Bezanson submits-

Polish your binoculars.  The Gloucester Schooner Festival begins in 29 days.

AMERICAN EAGLE (1930) and ALABAMA (1926) from GREEN DRAGON in the 2011 race.

American Eagle and Alabama from Green Dragon 2011

BREAKING NEWS: Fly Amero’s touring band, Orleans, welcomes co-founder/songwriter/guitarist John Hall for a 40th Anniversary Concert in honor of Larry Hoppen at NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE ON AUGUST 31

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

You saw it on GMG FIRST.  Just like you heard about the sudden, tragic death of Fly’s longtime friend and band-mate Larry Hoppen last week (see post here).

The next day, Fly demonstrated the healing power of music (see that story here) and on August 31, the healing continues as the show goes on (see details here).

All of us who know Fly are celebrating the band’s commitment to music in honor of their friend and brother by inviting John Hall, who wrote the multi-platinum #1 hits Dance With Me and Still the One to join them for this very special 40th anniversary concert (get tickets here).  Here’s a video of John making a special appearance with the band last year.

Now I hope you’re reading this on your phone because that means you’ve taken the day off and are out at the Sidewalk Bazaar and planning to visit the Farmers Market and take in some music this evening.  See today’s AMAZING live music lineup here.

(There may even be tickets left to see Fly and Allen Estes on The Lannon at 6:30 — and, finally, the weather looks good.  Call 978-281-6634 to find out).

Leon Poindexter declares the Tea Party Ships finished. From Kathy Chapman

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Leon Poindexter declares the Tea Party Ships finished. On board both vessels is a mix of robots and actors reenacting life at sea in colonial times.

Photos © Kathy Chapman 2012

http://www.kathychapman.com

KathyChapmanPhotos

Thought you had plenty of time to save $12 on the Blues Festival? Time is running out.

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
Henri Smith with an all-star band at North Shore Music Theatre 6/30/12
Henri Smith will open the Gloucester Blues Festival next Saturday 8/11 at 11am
photo by Paul Lyden

You’ve only got ONE MORE WEEK to purchase tickets for $28.  On-line ticket sales END next Monday (Aug 6).  After that, tickets will be $40 at the gate.  Get your tickets here.

It’s a big week for music on Cape Ann, with over 30 artists just through Friday.  Something for every taste — from Sea Shanties to South Africa to Soul to Sing-A-Long — performing in restaurants, pubs, schooners, parks, concert halls, theatres . . . even in the streets.  See full music lineup here.

Only 34 days to the start of the Gloucester Schooner Festival

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey…… You might like to post this striking Carl Gustin photo.  Only 34 days to the start of the Gloucester Schooner Festival.

Al Bezanson

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Community Photos 7/22/12

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey:

Two photos of the Thomas E. Lannon, taken aboard the Ardelle, towards the end of the sunset cruise to benefit The Gloucester City Hall Restoration. The first is a sunset photo and the second at dusk. It was a fun event with great food and entertainment on a calm, beautiful summer night in Gloucester harbor.

Take care — Christopher Lewis

IMG_5771IMG_5779

Community Photos 7/20/12

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Rick Isaacs submits-

Gloucester Inner Harbor last evening – The Annie B & Schooner Ardelle

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Gloucester Gig Rowers Racing Crews waiting out Wednesday’s Storm
Long Beach 2 am, 6 am, July 17-18

From- Jane Paznik-Bondarin

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Bluegrass on the Lannon Friday Night and $5 off If You Mention GMG When You Call for Tickets

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Kay Ellis writes-

Hi Joey,
Any chance you could give a plug for our Bluegrass Music Sunset Sail on Friday night?

We will give $5/off per ticket if the caller mentions they saw it on GMG when they call for reservations.
I know we have to come up with another date for Cigars and Rum too.
Thanks, Kay

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