Schooner Ernestina: Her owner should be embarrassed.

[CarlZog]

This is the schooner Ernestina the year before last. Until last year, she was one of only a couple original Gloucester fishing schooners still actively sailing. Owned by the state of Massachusetts, she ran an amazing variety of hugely successful educational programs under sail for everybody from elementary school kids to senior citizens.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/CarlZog/ernie1.jpg


This is Massachusetts’ “Official Vessel” this year. She’s been tied up since the fall of 2004 -- a victim of state budget cuts that have left the ship virtually abandoned and unable to sail.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/CarlZog/ernie2.jpg

This is a stunning waste.

Not only is this National Historic Landmark literally rotting away from a lack of maintenance, but thousands of students are being cheated out of the chance to learn on board.

Adding insult to injury, the state only funded about half of her total costs when she was sailing. The rest was earned through grants and program fees. She was a model of public/private partnership. But without the state’s capital funding, Ernestina can’t renew her Coast Guard inspection and can’t sail. As a result, she’s forfeited nearly all her private funding. They’ve cut off her ability to earn her own keep.

A petition drive is underway to restore her funding. Regardless of where you live, I encourage you to join this effort – which is directed at both state and federal lawmakers in the U.S. You can sign online at:

http://www.ernestina.org/petition_form.html

Feel free to sign even if you live outside the U.S. She has an international history, and the more voices heard, the better.


See the Ernesina’s main site to learn more about her www.ernestina.org

This boat has had an unbelievable series of careers. Originally named the Effie M. Morrissey, she’s been working for a living since she was launched in 1894. She fished the Grand Banks from Gloucester and from Newfoundland; she explored the Arctic under the command of Bob Bartlett; worked for the Navy through WWII; and ran a packet from the Cape Verde Islands to the U.S. for 30 years after the war. In 1982, the Cape Verdeans gave her back to the U.S., who turned her over to Massachusetts.

I’ve sailed a lot of tall ships and schooners, but there’s nothing like Ernesina when she gets moving. She’s one of the most heavily built and rigged schooners you’ll ever have a chance to sail. If anybody ever has the chance again….


Carl Herzog
Providence, Rhode Island

[Alan D. Hyde]

Why does this not surprise me?

Alan

[Ian McColgin]

Casting aspersions on our Governor's decisions there Alan?

[Hwyl]

Well said Carl, she really is a historic boat. Not as pretty as some of the replicas, but much more worthy.

I go to New Bedford with work now and again and always see her. I have to say she looks better than Adventure, which I see in Gloucester (I'm gonna crash that truck with all the boat ogling I do).

I signed the petition at the Maine Boat builders show, I'm afraid she's going to need a determined lobbying --- I propose Ian McColgin

[CarlZog]

Thanks, Hwyl. She is a unique boat in many regards. She holds the record for the furthest north traveled under sail and her first captain was the man who modeled for the Gloucester fisherman's statue. She's considered by maritime historians to be one of the most historically significant ships in the U.S.

The American Schooner Association recently chose Ernestina as the first boat of its new Save Our Schooners project, an effort to raise awareness of the plight of large, historic schooners needing and deserving of support.

Carl

[George Roberts]

So how much does she need in the way of funds?

I looked at the membeship fees and they stop at $1000.

[CarlZog]

She has an annual operating budget of about $770,000 a year. That includes her capital costs as well as the operating costs for the boat and its programs. (Crew, staff, office space, food, fuel, etc.)

She has a track record of generating about half of that on her own, but still looks to her owner (Massachusetts) to cover about $380,000 a year.

Carl

[George.]

What a scandal! A Gloucesterman, and a clipper-bowed one at that - not one of your newfangled spoon-bowed fashion statements.

Is she McLean designed, by any chance?

[JimConlin]

The good news is that the governor will soon be gone.

[uncas]

Why doesn't the state donate her to a maritime museum before she reaches the point where she can not be saved?
I mean, this is such a waste. No, it's not a waste, it's criminal.
And I write donate on purpose. The state obviously isn't going to do anything to help her.

[bamamick]

as we are concerned she should be saved at any cost, but...... .
But, can you imagine presenting this case to a state government agency? I can not even imagine doing so in Alabama. 'So, Mr.Lake, you need a million dollars a year to keep this ship operating, when we have had to cut out ________ because of a lack of money, or ____.
Or ________. Take your pick. It is tough to get government grants.

One tack that may be something to be tired is to apply for a Federal Transportation grant. Of course there are going to be considerable matching funds involved, but at least in my neck of the woods these grants are attainable for projects such as this ship. Our beautiful Spanish baroque train station was recently completely restored with the bulk of the funds coming in Federal Transportation grant money.

Another tack may be corporate sponsorship, but I am sure that anyone worth their salt has tried this approach.


Mickey Lake

[Lucky Luke]

What a SHAME!!!!!

Ernestina, to my personal taste the prettiest boat in the world to-day, sistership of Fredonia ....(Yes, George: she is a George Mc Clain design)

Oh, must have been something to see Hesper racing Fredonia...!!!! The fishermen vs. the pilots. They were not racing wearing gloves in those days :D !

Still, 700,000$+ a year may sound a lot, but when you think that Mirabella V is chartered at 200,000....a week :eek:!

Maybe if the US can't afford he, Brazil should buy her: you would like that, George, wouldn't you?

Stupid question: how much costs a humvee/ year in Irak?

[Sea Frog]

The WoodenBoat boat. Pass the donations.
:D

[Hwyl]

I saw her on Friday, she's still covered up. Nothing going on.

I agree with Luke, ( what a surprise) I'd have thought a budget of $100K would see her up and running.

I'm glad you are finding time to come on here Luc

[George.]

If 100K will get her up and running, about 300K will turn her into a first class luxury yacht, which could be re-sold for a great profit.

How about it? Where are the Yankee entrepeneuers? ;)

[Ken Hutchins]

The biggest problem with money to save here is the lack of interest in the majority of residents of the immediate area of where she is located.:mad:
Me father spent a lot of time volunteering at the Battleship Massachusetts museum in Fall River which is just a dozen miles away. He told me that the vast majority of the residents of FR and the surrounding area HAVE NEVER SET FOOT on the battleship, they just don't care. Most of the visitors and supporters are from other areas of the country.
Ernistina could be a great tourist attraction, but needs local support. The locals will get other benefits from the tourists but they just don't seem to care.
A case in point the Charles W Morgan was in Fairhaven, just across the river from New Bedford, thank god it was acquired by Mystic where is proudly maintained and on display for millions of tourists.:) If that wonderful ship had stayed in Mass. it would be a rotten hulk in the mud.

[CarlZog]

Several folks here have mentioned a few prospects and problems for Ernestina that I ought to address:

Ernestina is not some unstable old hulk that needs to be laid up at a maritime museum and gawked at. This is viable, working vessel that is normally underway every day from April through October. She's sailed the Gloucester Schooner Race for 10 years and won it in 2001.

She's not in need of some masssive restoration, she's in need of maintenance. The only reason she's been laid up for the last two seasons is because the Governor of Massachusetts slashed her funding and dismantled her programming.

Ernestina is not a yacht, or a charter boat, or a dockside tourist attraction; she is, first and foremost, a school. Ernestina's "customers" are the thousands of school children, college students, teachers and others who have participated in her educational programs.

These are not joy rides around the harbor. The ship's organization runs more than a dozen specialized programs that meet strict state and federal educational standards. School teachers earn continuing education credits for participating in Ernestina's programs. College students earn credits for the classes that take place on Ernestina.

In addition, Ernestina and her crew have run other programs and special voyages for dozens of other groups benefiting every corner of our society: the handicapped, the elderly, at-risk youth, artists, musicians, just to name a few. They ran a maritime-themed after-school program that had kids building dinghies instead of hanging out on the street.

All of these activities were at least partially funded by user fees, private grants and donations. The state kicked in the rest -- about $380,000 a year.

It may seem like a lot to a yachtsman thinking in terms of fixing an old boat, but Ernestina is an incredible bargain for a seagoing school, living history, cultural heritage, and environmental ed center all in one.

Carl

[CarlZog]

A few asked about her design and heritage. Here's a few excerpts from her 1990 application for National Historic Landmark status - which she received:

"As built in 1894 as Effie M. Morrissey, Ernestina is a two-masted Fredonia offshore model Grand Banks fishing schooner 114 feet long overall, with a 24.5-foot beam, a 10.2-foot depth of hold, and a 12-foot draft. The sparred length is 156 feet, while the length on deck is 106 feet. The schooner is currently registered at 120 tons gross and 98 tons net, and displaces 240 tons.

"The hull form of Effie M. Morrissey was modeled after the successful fishing schooner Fredonia of 1889, an improvement of the unstable Gloucester clippers of the 1850s-80s, with a sharp, clipper bow, elliptical transom, fine sharp lines, a lofty rig, and a deep draft that brought speed under sail and, as an "offshore" version of the Fredonia hull, served as a stable platform for offshore, deepwater voyages.

"The schooner was and is built staunchly of white oak, treenail and iron-fastened with Swedish wrought iron, with later replacements in yellow pine and tropical hardwoods. The double-sawn oak frames, 7.5 by 6 inches molded and sided, are on 24-inch centers. The carvel-planked hull is 3-inch thick oak planks, treenailed with locust.

"The ceiling planking, originally oak, has in time largely been replaced with yellow pine. Treenails have given way to spike fastenings. The hull is reinforced by a 4-inch thick bulge stringer. Hanging knees support each major deck beam, and the decks are strengthened by lodging knees throughout. The white pine deck, largely original, is formed of 3- by 5-inch planks, with a beaded undersurface, spike fastened to the deck beams.

"The two masts carry a fore-and-aft, topsail schooner rig. The masts are Douglas fir sticks. The 76-foot tall mainmast is 20 inches in diameter at the partners, and the 74-foot tall foremast is 21 inches in diameter at the partners; each mast has a 2-inch taper. The standing rigging is one-inch thick wire rope, parceled, served and slushed with Stockholm tar and set up with four-strand steam-tarred hemp lanyard shrouds rove through lignum vitae deadeyes.

"The main carries a 68-foot long boom and a 35-foot long gaff. As Effie M. Morrissey, the schooner carried 8,323 square feet of sail; today, as Ernestina, she carries the same amount of canvas as the result of a 1986 restoration. Ernestina carries a typical large coaster or fisherman's rig: a mainsail, foresail, topsail, staysail, and balloon, jib, and jumbo headsails. The term "jumbo" is another name for the fore staysail."

[Alan D. Hyde]

That's an informative couple of posts...

Alan

[George Roberts]

CarlZog ---

Losing $380k/year indicates that there are some problems.

[Gary Bergman]

There have been ads on the Billet Bank from ASTA searching for a non-profit type to step in and operate it. Lame way to try and pass off the problems; new management and crew, inherited headaches....

[BrianW]

They’ve cut off her ability to earn her own keep.
Not to sound cruel, as she's certainly a lovely vessel, but it sounds as if she hasn't been earning her own keep for many years. She's been supported by goverment and donations, not by hauling halibut and cod over her rails.

If the State refuses to let her go to another charity, or to private sale, then they would be guilty of cutting her off.

[Lucky Luke]

Ernestina is not a yacht, or a charter boat, or a dockside tourist attraction; she is, first and foremost, a school.

Right Carl!
I am a little surprised to read here almost "accusations" to those who manage Ernestina because she does not "manage her own keep", and has to be state funded. You guys, in the States, have effectively schools and universities which are private, money making businesses, but you also have public, government funded schools, don't you? These don't "make" money.

In addition, Ernestina and her crew have run other programs and special voyages for dozens of other groups benefiting every corner of our society: the handicapped, the elderly, at-risk youth, artists, musicians, just to name a few. They ran a maritime-themed after-school program that had kids building dinghies instead of hanging out on the street.

All of these activities were at least partially funded by user fees, private grants and donations. The state kicked in the rest -- about $380,000 a year.

There we are, too: the handicaped, the elderly....not people to make money from....

No, really, 350,000$ is little!

There is just NO vessel in the world - I said in the world! - that is over 100 years old, that has so much history as well as so many miles under her keel, that is sooooo beautiful, that has been maintained and at times when needed restored as she has been, and is still to day as capable as she was while in her prime to sail the "black northeaster" of the North Atlantic in the worst of the winter. Got an other name to propose? No, you don't, because there is none!

And, on top of that, she is not used for the fun of millionaires but as an education support for the disadvantaged...

I've got to stop there...! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[CarlZog]

Here's a typical July schedule from before the boat got laid up:

http://www.ernestina.org/calendar/CY2003/july.html

Click on any of the highlighted days and you can see photos and chart plots of that particular trip.

Carl

[brian.cunningham]

http://www.ernestina.org/petition_form.html


Thanks for the link Carl.

I've signed the partition.

She's a great ship, I've seen her in person. I'm really hoping they don't let this one fall through the cracks.

[bamamick]

appears that the web site is from 2004. Is it still active?

One can only hope that such things will do some good. She deserves to live and sail the sea as she has for so long. Either privately owned as a yacht or through some sort of foundation or governmental agency, she needs a whole lot of love and money.

Keep this thread alive.

Mickey Lake

[CarlZog]

Like everything else, the website got put on hold when the staff who maintained it were laid off. A group of volunteers are starting to update it again, but there's obviously nothing to be said about the schedule at this point.

Carl

[Lucky Luke]

bump