ASTA Auctions Tall Ships Adventure

Our friends at the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) are doing a eBay auction to support sail training programs all over the states. Spaces aboard tall ships across the country are up for bid, including a spot our historic vessel. Give a kid the gift of a Tall Ships Adventure aboard the aptly named schooner Adventuress!

Click the image below to visit their eBay auction site:

Here's their press release:

Just in time for the Holidays! ASTA offers Tall Ships® Adventures Auction on eBay

More than a dozen ASTA member tall ships, including the USS Constellation, Pride of Baltimore II, Appledore IV, Lady Washington, Hawaiian Chieftain and A. J. Meerwald are holding an eBay auction of life changing experiences this month as a holiday gift alternative. Vessels which specialize in training young people about life through work aboard ocean-going sailing ships, are auctioning single-day and multi-day excursions aboard their vessels.

The Tall Ships® Adventure auction will raise money for expansion of national sail training programs overseen by the American Sail Training Association (ASTA). Funds will also support ASTA's popular TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® series of events, which bring world-class traditional sailing vessels to ports across the country for public tours and trips.

The auction will run through the end of December, 2010.To bid on a Tall Ships® Adventure excursion or voyage, visit www.sailtraining.org and click on the "Give the Gift of Tall Ships® Adventure" link.

Give the gift of adventure this holiday season!

The American Sail Training Association is the recognized hub for tall ship activity, information and expertise in North America. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America, ASTA organizes the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series, manages scholarship programs to make sail training experiences more affordable for young people, grant programs to assist crew of ASTA member vessels with the costs of professional development courses and licensing requirements and publishes SAIL TALL SHIPS! A Directory of Sail Training and Adventure at Sea.www.sailtraining.org

Our Adventure on Adventuress

Lesley Reed and her 14-year old son Sage won People For Puget Sound's recent contest to spend a family weekend aboard the schooner Adventuress. Lesley describes each moment of that sail as 'a new adventure' and shares that adventure.

Our adventure of a lifetime began with a benevolent request from a friend of my son’s. For his 14th birthday, he asked that donations be made to an environmental organization. Sage chose People for Puget Sound and with that donation we became members.

Meanwhile, Sage was taking sailing lessons and finding he loved it. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect when we received the email from People For Puget Sound announcing the raffle for two spots on the Adventuress Family Sail. Sage and I eagerly answered each day’s questions and crossed our fingers. What joy when we won!

You can read the rest of their adventure by on People For Puget Sound's website! Thank you Lesley and Sage for coming aboard Adventuress and writing this article.

Some of the most unique and special moments that happen aboard Adventuress occur during the hour up on deck in the middle of the night. Whether stormy or clear, alone or with one or two others, the opportunity to experience the night in a whole new way can be magical. Not only that, but creative energy at 3AM can be quite spectacular! The following story was written during anchor watch by crew and participants on our Boy Scout trip last week...

On their 2^nd night of anchor watch, while reflecting on all of the activities of the day, the Adventuress sailors were startled by...a sea serpent as long as their boat who smelled peanut sauce from the Upright Channel, 6nanometers away. Suddenly...the horny head of the serpent thrust out of the quiet waters of Shoal Bay, sending a scintillating spray of phosphorescent dinoflagellates across the dewy deck of the ship in a living reflection of the night sky.

The monster’s head arched over the starboard lifelines. The night watch had fallen asleep in the deckhouse and was oblivious to the threat looming over them. Suddenly, there was a thunderous snore from the Captain’s Cabin! The monster was taken aback for the moment, not sure whether this snoring ship was a worthy opponent, or a creature to be romanced and seduced.

The ship tried to flee. For the lack of wind it used the motor and powered out of the bay. In hopes of losing the monster the crew sailed her into high water. Clear of the San Juan Islands the wind picked up and the ship sailed on.

The watch now applied as much sail as two deckhands could raise and sighting the sea serpent ahead – gave chase! The helmsman shouted “we are heading for the arctic” as Adventuress started back on the path of her original journey North. The wind rose and the ship thundered on – unbeknownst to the unsuspecting sleeping occupants below. What would happen about Breakfast?

As the crew and occupants began to rise for morning, they realized they were soaked from sweat! What was going on? Everyone gathered on deck and looked out to a beautiful island called Hawaii. The crew on deck were shocked, for they had been trying to navigate from the stars and thought for sure they were headed back to San Juan Island.

‘Alas!’ cried the crew, for the breakfast was a stew. And keeping a sharp eye for the danger of the rocks, the temporary cook had brewed up some soup of Elena’s stinky socks! ‘Arrg!’ cried the mate as the sailors cast their fate. They plotted a new course, while raising the main they shouted ‘Heave’ until their voices grew near hoarse.

Meanwhile, Jane relieved the temporary cook in the galley. The crew had hated their breakfast, but resourceful Jane quickly realized the perfect use for stinky sock stew. When they returned to the islands she could use it to pacify the sea serpent, which was lying in wait for them! The crew of Adventuress sailed up the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington, enjoying sightings of sea lions along the way. When they returned to Shoal Bay, the sea serpent gratefully ate the stew – he’d only been hungry all this time! And Jane cooked a scrumptious celebratory breakfast for all hands. THE END

A Grandmother's Experience Aboard Adventuress

By Ann Collins

Age 74, and Grandmother of 10 and Mother of 5 (including Catherine, our Executive Director)

Road Scholar (formerly Elder Hostel) Trip from Friday Harbor to S. Lake Union

Where do I begin? From the minute you step aboard the deck of Adventuress, the crew and staff are so friendly and helpful; you feel “at home” right away. Within no time at all, you start to feel as if you “belong.” The crew have you working on hauling up the sails, swabbing the decks, and eating their wonderful food (that was one of the best parts in my estimation). The cook, Marilee, was a marvel in her “limited space” galley. I even helped her make orange-cardamom cookies for my daughter’s birthday that day! The beginning and end of the days, you would hear crew members singing or playing a guitar to either wake you up or quietly lull you to sleep. It was so soft and gentle.

What a gift this whole experience was. The group of participants formed a loving and supportive community. There was a lot of sharing and especially a lot of laughter. It was so easy to join right in and become a special part of this group of both crew and participants. What surprised me most was my own willingness to try new things, to put myself out of my comfort zone, like going out on the bowsprit under sail or taking the helm. That part brought back memories of my early sailing days as a young person on the coast of Maine. I think my father, who loved wooden boats and sailing, would have loved to see me enjoying every minute of this trip. I will have wonderful memories to take home to the East Coast to think back on for many years to come.

Sailing Through Deception Pass

By the Crew of the schooner Adventuress

It is a highlight for all mariners – passing through the ever-so-narrow Deception Pass. We experienced this ourselves on June 25th with a group of young participants from the Treehouse organization (www.treehouse4kids.org) onboard. We were travelling from Everett to the San Juan Islands.

The pass is known for its majestic towering cliffs on both sides and turbulent currents. We timed our passage at slack tide to avoid the worst of the currents. Additionally, we paid tribute to Ko Kwal Al Woot (aka the Maiden of Deception Pass) by sharing her story and paying tribute with a sacrificial brownie to ensure our safe passage. Our timing and sacrifice paid off as we motored safely through the narrow passageway. (Maiden photo comes from: http://www.stonebard.com/carving_the_maiden_of_deception.htm)

The story of the Ko Kwal Al Woot dates back to the time the Samish people lived in this area where they found plenty of food from the sea. The “Maiden” (as she is known) makes the ultimate sacrifice for her people by agreeing to marry a man living in the sea who had power over their food and water sources. The man used his power to persuade this beautiful maiden, who he had fallen in love with while watching her gather clams along the shore, to marry him. Initially, she returned to her village once each year to see her people. But in a short matter of time, she no longer wanted to leave her husband or the sea. So, she stopped coming back to the village. She had fallen in love with the sea. (A more complete story of Ko Kwal Al Woot can be found at exhibits.pacsci.org/puget_sound/Maiden.html.)

There was one additional highlight of our passage through Deception Pass. A couple of our newest Shipboard Volunteers were standing on the towering bluffs waving us on. One of them played the bagpipes as we passed by. We could feel their presence on the deck of the ship. It is always wonderful to see this kind of community support. Thanks Chiara, Rob and Danaan!

Fair winds,

The Crew of the schooner Adventuress

Teacher Sail Aboard Adventuress!

By Megan Addison, Education & Outreach Coordinator

On Sunday, June 13^th I had the pleasure of sailing with a group of educators from all over Puget Sound. We had teachers from Vashon Island, Edmonds, Bothell, and Seattle, not to mention a few folks from the Seattle Aquarium and Environmental Science Center in Burien.

Our first Teacher Sail in the 2010 sailing season started out with beautiful blue sky and sunshine. All the teachers were there on time if not early, and we were all on board by 9am. After a brief welcome and introduction circle, we got off the dock and used all the muscle on board to raise our four sails. While underway, the guest-educators had the opportunity to investigate Adventuress' various learning stations: a tour of below decks, looking at plankton under the microscope, and checking out the marine invertebrates in our onboard aquarium.

We took a break from the stations to enjoy some "lemony scone-type-things," or so our Galley Coordinator called them. While we were munching on our treats, the crew donned silly outfits and performed a hysterical skit. After, the educators finished their tour of our learning stations with watersheds and nautical skills.

Three hours of sunshine, great wind, and a fantastic group of educators and their families reminded me exactly why it is I want to remain a part of the Sound Experience family. The passionate educators this program attracts, the crew who never cease to amaze me in their creativity, enthusiasm, and flexibility, and a boat that continues to bring people together are just three reasons I’ve stuck around.

Megan

Congratulations to the Crew of S/V Ocean Watch

By the Crew of the schooner Adventuress

On Thursday, June 17th the S/V Ocean Watch returned to Seattle after a 12+ month circumnavigation of the Americas. Their mission was to create awareness about the many environmental concerns facing our oceans today. They travelled 28,000 miles and reached out to 10,000 students along the way. They truly educated & inspired everyone whose lives they touched throughout this epic journey.

The last leg of their journey was from Port Townsend to Shilshole on June 17th. It happened to coincide with our transit from Elliott Bay Marina to Everett which allowed us to greet them as they approached Shilshole. Along with other sailing vessels, helicopters and a fully-charged Seattle Fire Department fireboat, we escorted S/V Ocean Watch into the marina. There were also fans and supporters along the shoreline waving, cheering and holding up signs welcoming them all home. Once secured on the dock, we joined the large crowd at the top of the dock that had gathered to recognize their significant accomplishments and to congratulate them on such an incredible endeavor. We had the opportunity to meet the crew and tour their ship. We also observed some local school students, who had participated in the entire journey via satellite communications, interacting with their “heroes”. One of their teachers said that this experience was so real for them and as a result, the impact so lasting. This is truly effective education.

We tip our hats to the crew of the S/V Ocean Watch. We ourselves are inspired by their journey and the impact it is having on so many people. We know that their experience and learnings will continue to educate and inspire more and more people as their stories are told. We ourselves look forward to learning more about their experience and sharing it with participants that come aboard the Adventuress.

Fair Winds!

The Crew of the schooner Adventuress

Haikus From Anchor Watch on the Waldorf Trip

Recently, two Waldorf schools joined us for a four-day overnight trip out of Bellingham and through the San Juan Islands.

On our overnight trips, everyone aboard stands a one-hour anchor watch to keep the ship and their slumbering shipmates safe!

Anchor watches are magical hours. Participants are roused gently from sleep by whispering their names and tugging at their pillows. They don their anchor watch garb--which was thoughtfully laid out the night before--and make their way gingerly to deck.

Always there are things to do on anchor watch. Careful not to make a noise, we sneak around checking and rechecking the ship. How high is the bilgewater? Is the anchor light still on? Are our bearings still within an acceptable range? Check, check and check!

As the nights progress, our participants learn the ropes and we finish with time to spare. Sometimes, like on this trip, we write haikus. Here are the haikus written by the Waldorf students:

Night is very dark

Chuckanut Bay is awesome

We love it here

Ripples on water

Rain pats softly on the deck

Clouds cover the stars

The water is smooth

Glossy like a mirror's face

Quiet like the moon

Tomorrow is now

The water is calm and clear

All is sound and safe

Campfire on the shore

Joyful music and singing

As we guarded home

Calculating Speed Without GPS!

By Monica, Program Coordinator aboard Adventuress

We're back up sailing in the beautiful San Juan Islands! This recent group was very interested in really learning how to sail, so we accommodated. We incorporated something from the "old" days of sailing. We calculated our speed using something other than a GPS. Here's what we did: Our deck is 101 feet in length. A nautical mile is 6,076 feet. Rounding these two figures off (for ease of calculations) to 100 and 6,000 respectively allows for a very simple (and fun) way to approximate our speed. Mathmeticians will immediately see the formula which is 60 divided by the number of seconds it takes for an object in the water to travel from the bow to the stern of the ship. This simple formula results in our speed expressed in knots. For those non-mathmeticians, here is how you get there... x = the number of seconds it takes an object in the water to travel from the bow to the stern of the ship which is 1/60 of a nautical mile y = x(60) = the number of seconds it takes that object to travel one nautical mile y / 60 = the number of minutes it takes that object to travel one nautical mile z = y / 3600 = the number of hours it takes that object to travel one nautical mile To convert the number of hours to travel one nautical mile into knots (nautical miles per hour) take 1 divided by z. The mathematical laws of cancellation when multiplying and dividing result in the very simple, final formula of 60 divided by x. So any time we see an object drifting towards the ship, we can easily approximate our speed by timing the object as it passes from bow to stern and divide that time into 60. So who needs a GPS to measure speed? Students at the bow would signal students at the stern who were holding a stop watch when they saw something drifting by. As the object reached the bow, the lookouts would lower their arms signalling the ones at the stern to begin timing. When the object reached the stern, they would stop the watch and announce the length of time. We could then very quickly approximate our speed. Pretty cool. Monica

Tools of Traditional Shipwrights

There are many amazing things about Phase 1 of Adventuress' Centennial Restoration project, but the best part has been--by far--working with our shipwrights. They are strong, intelligent, and humble men keeping a tradition alive. I have learned so much over the last three weeks about ship construction and restoration simply from helping and observing them work. To make things even better, they are natural educators, often giving us demonstrations and answering our many questions.

I am a lover of tools, and the shipwrights of Haven Boatworks have many. They use traditional tools and have tricks of the trade gleaned from the vast history of boatbuilding, but they also use power tools to expedite the overall restoration. The results are beautiful and efficient.

One of my favorite traditional tools the shipwrights carry is the bevel gauge. The picture to the left is a spread of shipwright Leland's tools. You can see three bevel gauges: two small brass ones in the bottom-middle of the picture, and a larger sliding bevel-gauge in the top middle.  The metal ruler is Leland's bevel board; on the back it has specifically angled lines etched in so you can compare the bevel gauge to the bevel board to find your angle.

From top to bottom, the tools are as follows: (row 1) a combination square, a sliding bevel gauge, a hand planer; (row 2) a bevel board, a folding knife, a spiling block, a folding ruler, an awl; (row 3) two sizes of bevel gauges. The square is for measuring and being sure things are "square," i.e. at 90 degree angles. The awl is good for a lot of things, like making marks on wood or probing for rot. It is the spiling blocks, however, are curious and genius tools.

My own description of spiling would be a little rough, so here's a link that explains it better: Spiling. Spiling is the process of making a pattern of an existing futtock so you can make a new, sister futtock. Through this process, our frames are being reconstructed. You can see Brad at right using spiling blocks to make a pattern on the spiling batten.

There are many other tools the shipwrights harness: pry bars, hammers, mallets, drills, sawzalls, bandsaws, table saws, chisels, slide hammers, braces,  pencil sharpeners, and so on. I am continually being impressed by their talents and knowledge, and I am proud to be working alongside them during this restoration project.

The picture above is of Brad and Leland using the ship's saw to cut a futtock.  Brad is careful to keep the saw abreast of his markings while Leland is changing the angle of the saw. 5 degrees, 6 degrees, 7 degrees...

Project Update
The rest of the preservation and maintenance is going well. Here is an list of some things we've done.

• Continually replacing futtocks
• Removed mast wedges to check masts
• Painted anchor chain
• Completely disassembled, cleaned, and painted the Edson Patent Gyber
• Removed & replaced deck bungs
• Overhauled main-cabin stove, Lucy
• Put Dutchmen in the deck (carved out rot and put in new wood)
• Checked shaft alignment
• Overhauled bilge alarms

Pictures (top to bottom): New frames next to the old! Amazing that these futtocks have survived; Nora working under the engine; Lara clearing rot for the Dutchman; A mast wedge removed; Adam proud of his sanding on the main-cabin hatch; A pretty picture of our new futtocks against the hull

Remodeled Homes Tour Benefits Sound Experience and other Nonprofits

The 2009 Remodeled Homes Tour & Benefit is happening in Seattle this weekend, sponsored by the Master Builders Association. Thanks to Mike Vacirca, President of Lastingnest and former crew member aboard Adventuress, Sound Experience is the nonprofit organization featured at Home #7 (a Built Green remodel) on the tour and will be the recipient of any donations given at that house by visitors.

The Remodeled Homes Tour and Benefit is on Sat., Oct. 17th and Sun., Oct. 18th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Seattle. Admission is free. Visit www.remodeltour.com for details. "Passports" with directions to homes are available at the Tour or at any Dunn Lumber location.

Adventuress and Sound Experience make the place we live real to the folks who feel the breeze on their cheek translate into the pull of the sails. I've seen the beauty of this connection change people's lives, help them put together that simple idea of connectedness from which all else springs forth. It's an honor to do what I can to help that along. --Michael Vacirca, President, Lastingnest, Inc.

Our thanks to Mike and Lastingnest for such great support of Sound Experience and Adventuress!

Anchor Watch Haikus

Anchor Watch Haikus: Aug. 23/24
Elderhostel Voyage aboard Adventuress
San Juan Islands

the generator stopped
now the silence can be heard
how many night sounds remain

new constellation
forming in my memory
over my new home

black back white night flanks
our ship sleeps, one eye open
like a drowsy whale

syllabic restrictions
makes this not a haiku
grasshopper goes chirp

gentle fish swished ripple
discordant heron crank
silent cacophony of shooting stars

not green not green yes white
bearing to check throughout the night
watch for falling stars

A dark and stormy night...

Anchor Watch Poem: Aug. 21/22
Elderhostel Intergenerational aboard Adventuress
San Juan Islands

It was a dark and stormy night
Waves lapped up against the hull
And wind howling night
Waves shook the boat
Like thunder from below
And rain covered up the red compass light’s glow

But when it did pass and the ship found herself made fast
It was calming with the fish splashing
And as the dawn broke through the dark
All the crew found themselves singing sweetly as meadowlarks

Only six hours till we say farewell
Adios, dear friends, it’s been swell
So remember the wind in the sails
The beach walks and the tidepool snails
The good food coming from the galley
All the things learned
That we cannot tally

Happy trails to you
My family and new friends
Till we meet, I hope, again.

Name That Star!

Anchor Watch: August 20/21
Elderhostel Intergenerational aboard Adventuress
San Juan Islands

Here's Your Opportunity to Name a Star!

Azula
Primeus
Zeazros
Beatles
Flying Saucers, two of them, bearing at 240 degrees
Sea Star!
Star Knot
That One There
Antirius (Anti Mars)
Pisaster Disaster ( = Supernova)
Cavan
Sunman Blazer
My Guiding Light
Jing (yes, I’m naming it after myself J)

Journal Entries: August 20th

Journal Entries: Aug. 20th
Elderhostel Intergenerational aboard Adventuress
San Juan Islands

Last night, while Adventuress was rafted up to the beautiful schooner Zodiac, the current pushing between the ships was alight with bioluminescence and the water was loud with the snorts and thrashing of pinnipeds.

A big highlight was sailing with the wind through the President’s Channel. The lines were taut with wind and the ship was heeled over so far that walking across the deck felt like rock climbing. Below decks there were some breaking jars and slipping bags--a good reminder to stow things properly.

We sailed all morning, then stopped over at Deer Harbor for warm showers after furling the jib out on the windy bowsprit. We continued on a cleaner crew to Blind Bay, where we learned about stars from the mate Sarah as darkness fell.

Fantastic Voyage Grades 7 to 9 on Adventuress

Ahoy from Adventuress!

This week we've been sailing with the Fantastic Voyagers in grades 7 to 9 in the San Juan Islands. We also have a couple of apprentices aboard, as well as one of our very favorite Galley Coordinators, Tom Weiner. Here's what we've been up to:

Wednesday, August 12

From Watch Group Leader Alissa: "This is a great group of high-energy kids. Many have come with sailing experience and they're ready and eager to learn more. We started off sailing right away, then took time to get to know one another, set goals for the trip, and have line-handling orientation. My Watch Group is called the Alpha Anemones, so we made name tags using the flag symbol for "alpha." Here are some of our group's comment about today:

Will listed hoisting the main sail as a highlight. Alex and Adrian enjoyed the African Stew prepared by Tom. Alex discovered that sweating the lines to the 'two-six-heave' was tough! Cassidy liked raising the sails. And Watch Leader Zach thought that 'Will's line handling skills were fantastic!'

This evening we had a gettting-to-know-you scavenger hunt game for our program. One of the anchor watches was delighted to see a blue heron land on the boom."

Thursday, August 13

From Aubrey: "It was a full day today. Sailing in the morning with Watch Group rotations for classes, including plankton tows and using the microscope TV. We anchored early and had a fun afternoon climbing aloft, sailing Ayashe, and hanging out on the bowsprit. We had delicious burritos for dinner. This group has set a record for this summer for the least food waste...we've only had 0.75 gallons on this trip so far, which is really impressive! Tom's great food has been gobbled up like crazy. For our evening program we played a game and got everybody singing."

From Apprentice Ashlyn: "Today I learned the names of almost all of the lines on the boat. After the lesson, I had to label them all on a picture of Adventuress. It took a lot of hints from the crew, but I got it done. Now I have a reference in case I forget any of the lines, even though that won't happen! I also got to climb aloft for the second time this afternoon and this time I brought my camera along with me and took some awesome pictures. As an apprentice, I'm learning a lot of navigation. I got to work with the other apprentice to plan the route of our five-day trip. I never knew how much planning it takes for a trip like this. I'm really enjoying the trip so far and looking forward to learning more about sailing and navigation."

Friday, August 14

From C Watch: "Today we went for a shore hike on Jones Island. We spent time looking in the tidepools and saw crabs, sea snails, limpets, hermit crabs, small fish, and seaweed. We also saw purple and red Lion's Mane jellies in the water. We did a scavenger hunt on the beach, and we picked up trash. Then we took solo hikes, where we were spaced apart for some quiet contemplation. Placed along the path were inspirational quotes on cards printed by Hannah. A highlights was our afternoon snack of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies."

Fun fact from C Watch: "Last night, the moon was at the farthest point north of the equator that it will be all year."

Fantastic Voyage aboard Adventuress

The Fantastic Voyagers (grades 9 to 12) set sail on Sunday aboard the schooner Adventuress in the San Juan Islands. The weather was gorgeous and the energy was high as crew and participants stowed luggage, picked bunks, learned names, joined Watch Groups, and left the dock for five days of new experiences.

We'll be sharing participants' entries to the Watch Log...daily if possible, but always at the mercy of finding a phone signal amidst the Islands.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Anchor Watch Poem

The night started with a big bang

Fireworks of different colors lit up the night

But they came nowhere near the light of the moon

And in its glory it did shine

It's such a shame it can't be mine

If I could I'd gift it to you

But none can match the color of the moon

The moon has set

The sun is rising

The stars dissappear

Good morning, sunshine

The earth says hello.

"One memory I have about yesterday is Anchor Watch. I've been on Adventuress twice already, so it was kind of neat to teach others about what to do."

"Yesterday we had an idea to have Natural History Watch on the bowsprit. A wonderful idea until we realized it was hard to have a conversation with someone's back!"

"Yesterday, the Mission of Peace Watch Group discovered their name and had fun putting on many skits for the whole boat's crew family. We've had a good time and lots of laughs so far. I hope to learn lots more before going home."

"(1) Learned how to set sails. (2) Met a lot of cool new people. (3) Had fun learning new things. (4) The views of the landscapes were awesome."

Summer Camp at Sea for Girls in July

We're excited to offer a special program this summer aboard the schooner Adventuress. Girls at the Helm is a 6-day 5-night "summer camp at sea" voyage designed for girls in grades 6 to 8. What better way to explore Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands than from the decks of a historic tall ship? With guidance from the experienced crew, participants will hoist the sails to the rhythm of a sea chantey, take the helm and steer a course, share meals, enjoy evenings of music and laughter, stand anchor watch under the stars, and learn firsthand about the marine biology and natural history of Puget Sound. Details: The trip is for girls only, grades 6 to 8. Cost is $650 and includes all meals (which are vegetarian) and comfortable but cozy living quarters aboard the ship (which is 133' long). The trip departs from the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle's South Lake Union on July 6th and returns to Bellingham on July 11th. Nights are spent anchored out. Register at http://www.soundexp.org/ or give us a call at 360-379-0438.

Tacoma News Tribune Reports on Adventuress

Last Wednesday, the Tacoma News Tribune featured the Adventuress in an article titled, "Tall ship Adventuress offering free tours, $40 cruises on Sunday." Craig Hill, the reporter who broke the story, was able come on board to experience our program, and converse with the captain and crew.

Captain Joshua Berger was quoted saying, “When we are all on board it’s easy to see how our actions impact each other and the ship."

The Adventuress is a closed system. The crew pay careful attention to what goes into it: fuel, water and food, and what comes out of it: compost, food-waste and trash. By monitoring resources and maintaining the ship, the world aboard the Adventuress is preserved and enhanced.

The Earth, too, is a closed system, but on a larger scale. Hill noted the parallel that the crew draws between the ship and the Earth.

"Berger... and his crew use the comparison to teach environmental responsibility to kids," wrote Hill.

You can find the rest of Hill's article here, at the Tacoma News Tribune's website.

The Olympian Features the Adventuress

Recently, the Adventuress sailed to Olympia to connect with local schools. Operating from Percival Landing, the Adventuress offered numerous Sound Studies programs, as well as dockside tours. Rolf Boone, a reporter for the Olympian, connected up with the participants and crew to gain insights into our programs. You can read his article here at the Olympian's website.