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Different Kind of Boat

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/30/2009 : 19:31:57

My very good friend Sue (not young enough to be called a "girlfriend", but hot enough!)... has a son who is working for the organization [url="http://www.livingclassrooms.org/programs/index.html"]Living Classrooms[/url] in Baltimore that takes kids and other groups out on boats to teach them about the bay and its ecology. Sue and I visited him this week and boarded the Sigsbee, a historic oyster dredging sloop called a "skipjack", for a day with 17 4th-graders from a nearby school.

For those not familiar with the [url="http://www.livingclassrooms.org/Facilities/Sigsbee.html"]Chesapeake skipjack[/url], this is a unique, late-19th to mid-20th century wooden sloop, typically around 50', broad-beamed and hard-chined, with a centerboard, a relatively short mast, very long boom (extending well aft of the transom), and a bowsprit for the jib. Skipjacks were designed specifically for the requirement in the Chesapeake that oysters could only be harvested under sail--no power (except on certain days of the week). Also, their design makes them inherently less costly to build and maintain--a critical criterion for the watermen of the bay.

To simplify the enforcement the sail versus power rule, most skipjacks have no inboard engine, but use a "pushboat"--a small inboard skiff that either hangs from davits on the transom or (on days when it's allowed) pushes against the transom, controlled by lines to the steering wheel on the skipjack. The Sigsbee, to enable this educational program, has been retro-fitted with an inboard diesel.

So off we went, expecting a rather exciting weather day... and we weren't disappointed--the winds in Baltimore Harbor were in the 20s gusting into the 30s, as forecast. They hoisted triple-reefed sails, and early on we found ourselves doing 8 knots on a broad reach--probably about as fast as this old lady was meant to go. That would have been more fun if not for the 17 4th-graders who were periodically getting soaked by the spray exploding off the bow. It was too much for the real mission--education about the marine environment--so they struck the sails and the rest was under power. But Sue and I got to see what a true classic could do under some heavy conditions, as well as watch a talented young team of sailor/educators teach kids about the stressed ecology of the Chesapeake Bay.

Some good people doing good things on some good ole boats!

Association Port Captain, Mystic, CT
Past member and DPO of C-25 #5032
Now on Eastern 27 Sarge (but still sailing) and posting as "Stinkpotter".

Passage, Mystic, and Sarge--click to enlarge.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 10/01/2009 07:06:44

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2009 : 20:22:20

Sounds like a pretty incredible sailing experience for all involved. Thanks for the post!

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 09:26:47

Dave, <s>I was not able to view photo of skipjack, rats.</s> Sounds like nice time. Surprised none of the kids lost their cookies however. Probably in that area, they are ALL sailors.
Steve A
PS good luck with making Sue the next Admiral!

Edited by - piseas on 10/01/2009 12:21:09

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 10:37:25

I have always admired the skipjack's lines, reputed ruggedness, and speed. A wonderful sailing vessel. It's surprising that a builder hasn't copied the design in fiberglass, stainless, and aluminum.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 11:34:21

Amazing craft with only 3 feet of draft.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1787 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 11:42:34

And to think I remember him when he was a summer program instructor at the Nature Center . . . but regarding older sailing ships, several years ago after an OpSail in NYC several of the sailing ships were heading east on Long Island Sound. I was out in my 17 foot CC powerboat with my son when The Pride of Baltimore was sailing under what appeared to be 3/4 sail mid sound in I would guess to be steady 10-12 knot winds. I had my boat going full speed heading out to intersect and, hopefully, go parallel to her so I could take some pictures. However, I never quite caught up and when I started to just try to follow her I was amazed that I was rapidly loosing ground. . . and, I was not alone! The seas were 1-2 feet, which caused us with smaller power boats to not be able to maximize speeds, however regardless The Pride of Baltimore -- a 100 year old design -- was fast -- very fast -- and obviously not going as fast as she might. One of the other boats out that day also trying to follow her was from my club, and when we both were back and chatting on the dock he also commented on how surprisingly fast a sailboat she was. Since then, when reading about various races and hearing people boast about how fast their new, high tech sailboats go I just shake my head and think, you ain't seen nothing! Being able to experience what sailing was and should be by going out on a "real" sailboat is very much a rare privilege!

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 18:37:15

There are a number of boats incorporating the Skipjack's style from the old Venture 21 on up. They aren't faithful to design because oyster fishing shaped the real thing, but the above water lines are frequently beautiful and the higher aspect rig and reduced beam blend well and make for a much better recreational machine. I loved the lines of my old Clipper 21, an early Bill Crealock design, but I think the old Venture (McGregor) 21 wins the 21' category when only aesthetics are considered.

Edited by - on

cayugaboater
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 20:50:35

Baltimore, off subject a little but had to relate that in Baltimore this summer I saw the Esmeralda tied up in the inner harbor, all lit up, impressive 4 masted steel hulled barquentine, you can see a lot in baltimore i guess. says this about it in wiki:
Maximum sail speed: 17.5 knots
Armament: 2 × 57 mm ceremonial gun mounts
Crew: 300 sailors, 90 midshipmen
Sails: 21 total with a sail area of 2,870 m², on four masts
Mast height: 48.5 meters
[edit] Torture center
Reports from Amnesty International, the US Senate and Chilean Truth and Reconciliation Commission describe the ship as a kind of a floating jail and torture chamber for political prisoners of the Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship from 1973 to 1980. It is claimed that probably over a hundred persons were kept there at times and subjected to hideous treatment. [1], among them the British priest Miguel Woodward.[1]

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 21:36:47

Yup--there's a great collection in Baltimore's inner harbor... My friend's son (Cameron, in case you're wondering, Peter) lives aboard a WWII Coastguard cutter, the Taney, which was one of the very few vessels that survived the attack in Pearl Harbor. He crashes in an officer's quarters--not what I would call luxurious, but free (to him). (Picture a 2"-thick mattress on a shelf...)

The day we were out, the Spirit of Maryland, a schooner that also belongs to the program, hoisted full sail and went screaming by us with another class of kids... Not long after, they had dropped the main and jib, and were returning under just the "foresail"--the one amidships on a schooner. They had the advantage of a full keel with a lot more ballast, but 25-35 is a load of air!

BTW, there are some great neighborhood taverns a few blocks away from "tourist central" at the Inner Harbor--for example, One-Eyed Mike's, which features Dale's Pale Ale--a first-rate hop-fest!

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cayugaboater
1st Mate

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50 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2009 : 16:01:40

i may have to go back there sometime, will definitely look up one eyed mike's, any other places near there I should look at on my walkaround?

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Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2009 : 20:24:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cayugaboater
 i may have to go back there sometime, will definitely look up one eyed mike's, any other places near there I should look at on my walkaround?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

From the Inner Harbor (largely a tourist trap), take the water taxi to Fells Point. It's a real neighborhood with great restaurants and bars (try Bertha's Mussels), shops, markets, and the HQ for the "Homicide" TV series.

Up Charles Street from the Inner Harbor is Mt. Vernon/Washington Place -- very artsy (Peabody Conservatory, Walters Art Gallery) with shops and cafes.

If you go in the summer and the Orioles are in town, go see Camden Yards. They don't play major league baseball there any more (that's my long-suffering comment on my Orioles), but the park is arguably the most beautiful in all baseball. Lots of great museums are nearby: Babe Ruth; B&O Railroad; Flag House; Fort McHenry. It's a great town, especially if you like to eat.

I grew up in Baltimore, and enjoy going back regularly.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/03/2009 : 08:26:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Even Chance
 ...From the Inner Harbor (largely a tourist trap), take the water taxi to Fells Point. It's a real neighborhood with great restaurants and bars...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I think that's where One-eyed Mike's is. It was a cool neighborhood.

We made it out to Fort McHenry--a lot of history there--both Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It's amazing to stand on one of the berms and imagine that there's a British frigate right below you, pounding you as you lob the giant iron balls (piled next to you) back at them.

Great town!

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