Ship Leaves Mystic Seaport for the First Time Since 1941

MYSTIC, Conn. (May 17, 2014) — The Charles W. Morgan, a National Historic Landmark vessel and the last wooden whaleship in the world, departed Mystic Seaport to begin her 38th Voyage on Saturday, May 17. The ship was towed down the Mystic River and over to nearby New London, Conn., the first stop on what will be a nearly three month journey to historic ports in Southern New England.

The ship, which has not left Mystic Seaport since she arrived on November 8, 1941, led a procession of vessels down the Mystic River, including the Museum’s steamboat Sabino, its fishing vessel Roann, and five whaleboats rowed by Mystic Seaport staff and volunteers. The ship was cheered by crowds of onlookers as she made her way downriver en route to Fishers Island Sound, and several hundred people greeted her as she arrived at City Pier in New London.

“Today’s brief journey is the culmination of an incredible amount of work and effort by the Mystic Seaport community. This is a proud moment for the Museum and everyone who contributed to making this voyage a reality,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport.

The day will began with a brief farewell ceremony in the Museum’s Henry B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard at 8:45 a.m., where the ship was formally entrusted to the care of her 22nd master, Capt. Kip Files, of Rockland, Maine.

The ship cast off her lines at 9:11 a.m. and arrived in New London ahead of schedule at 12:48 p.m.

“It was a smooth journey and we learned that the ship is fairly easy to tow,” Said Capt. Files. “Now we need to get her ready to go sailing.”

The crew will now get to work to complete preparations for the next phase of the voyage where she will actively sail for the first time since the 1920s. The ship will be ballasted (weighted down) to her correct sailing draft, the sails will be attached to the spars, and the crew will conduct four days of sail training scheduled for June 7-8 and June 11-12.

The ship will be open to the public in New London with an extensive dockside exhibit on May 24-25, May 31, and June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The ship departs on the next leg of the 38th Voyage with a transit to Newport, RI, on June 14. Following that stop, the ship will then visit Vineyard Haven, Mass.; New Bedford, Mass.; and Boston, where she will dock next to the USS Constitution. She will also anchor off of Provincetown, Mass. for day sails to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where the Morgan will team up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to observe whales in their natural environment and call attention to mankind’s changing relationship with the natural world.

Downloadable Media

High-resolution photos and broadcast-quality HD video of the ship’s journey will be available for download and use by news media after 4 p.m. on May 17. Downloads can be accessed on the Mystic Seaport press page.

About Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum is located one mile south of exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $24 for adults and $15 for children 6-17. Museum members and children under 5 are admitted for free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/

National Historic Landmark Vessel Heads to New London, Conn to Prepare for 38th Voyage

MYSTIC, Conn. (May 14, 2014) — The Charles W. Morgan, a National Historic Landmark vessel and the last wooden whaleship in the world, will depart Mystic Seaport to begin her 38th Voyage on Saturday, May 17 at 9:15 a.m.  The ship will travel to New London, the first stop on what will be a nearly three-month journey to historic ports in New England.

The ship, which has not left Mystic Seaport since she arrived on November 8, 1941, will be pushed down the Mystic River by a tugboat, and then towed across Fishers Island Sound and up the Thames River to New London, where she will berth at City Pier. She will lead a procession of vessels down the Mystic River, including the Museum’s steamboat Sabino, its fishing vessel Roann, and five whaleboats rowed by Mystic Seaport staff and volunteers.

“This is a big moment for Mystic Seaport and for the State of Connecticut, as we take this American icon, the oldest surviving commercial ship in the country, back to sea once again to carry out a new mission of education and celebration of our nation’s shared maritime heritage,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport.

The day will begin with a brief farewell ceremony in the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at 8:45 a.m. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT 2nd) and other dignitaries will offer remarks, and the ship will be formally entrusted to the care of her 22nd master, Capt. Kip Files, of Rockland, Maine.

“This is the most significant maritime event in my lifetime and I am humbled and honored to be given the responsibility of taking the Charles W. Morgan back to sea on her 38th Voyage,” said Files. ”We are all looking forward to that moment when we set her sails and let the wind push us to our destination, something not seen since the 1920s.”

The trip on Saturday is contingent on favorable weather conditions, as the ship and the tug need to safely navigate down the Mystic River and across the Sound. High wind and waves, among other factors, could require a postponement to Sunday. The decision to go or not go will be posted on the Museum’s website.

People interested in viewing the ship’s journey by boat are asked to leave plenty of room for the Morgan and the tug to maneuver in the confines of the Mystic River channel. Boaters are asked to stay back a minimum of 50 yards behind and on each side and 100 yards in front of the ship. Boaters are also asked to wait south of the railroad bridge to give the ship maximum clearance in the most constricted part of the river. A boater’s guide is available on the Museum’s website.

Once in New London, the ship and crew will work to complete preparations for the voyage. The ship will be ballasted (weighted down) to her correct sailing draft, the sails will be attached to the spars, and the crew will conduct four days of sail training scheduled for June 7-8 and June 11-12. The ship will be open to the public with an extensive dockside exhibit on May 24-25, May 31, and June 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The ship departs on the next leg of the 38th Voyage with a transit to Newport, RI on June 14. Following that stop, the ship will then visit Vineyard Haven, Mass.; New Bedford, Mass.; and Boston, where she will dock next to the USS Constitution. She will also anchor off of Provincetown, Mass. for day sails to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where the Morgan will team up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to observe whales in their natural environment and call attention to mankind’s changing relationship with the natural world.

Links:
mysticseaport.org/38thvoyage
https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/connect/press/
https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/stories
www.facebook.com/mysticseaport
http://www.youtube.com/user/MysticSeaportVideos
Twitter: @mysticseaport, @38thvoyage

Downloadable Media:
High resolution photos and broadcast-quality HD video of the ship’s journey will be available for download and use by news media starting at 3 p.m. on May 17. Downloads can be accessed on the Mystic Seaport press page.

About Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum is located one mile south of exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $24 for adults and $15 for children 6-17. Museum members and children under 5 are admitted for free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/

Journalist and Adventure Enthusiast to Document Unprecedented Journey this Summer Aboard the 19^th-Century Whaleship

Mystic, Conn. (May 8, 2014) – After reviewing scores of applications and video auditions from qualified candidates, Mystic Seaport has selected journalist Ryan Leighton, of Boothbay, Maine to stowaway aboard the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest surviving merchant vessel, during her 38^th Voyage this summer.

As the stowaway, Leighton will be immersed in all aspects of the 19^th-century whaling ship’s 38^th Voyage–living on board the ship with the crew, handling the sails and lines, steering the ship, and most important, sharing his daily experiences through a blog and social media platforms.

“Ryan proved he has the ‘sense of the adventure’ Mystic Seaport was searching for from the outset of the stowaway contest,” said Susan Funk, executive vice president of Mystic Seaport. “As a successful journalist, he has relevant experience and the necessary skills to fulfill the role of the stowaway aboard the Morgan’s most documented voyage ever. In addition to his enthusiasm, we are confident Ryan will bring his tireless work ethic, his ability to adapt to new situations, and his creativity to the 38^th Voyage.”

Leighton, who graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising and a minor in history, had been waiting for a unique and extreme opportunity such as this.

“One of the main reasons I wanted to become the stowaway is because it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sometimes the most satisfying feeling is not knowing what tomorrow will bring,” Leighton said. “Typically, stowaways are forced to remain hidden below deck, but with this opportunity, I will be able to insert myself into the daily routine of the ship. I want to take chances and be creative in order to make this journey as exciting as possible. My goal is to fully immerse myself, so that others are able to live vicariously through my videos and stories.”

Leighton will watch, inquire, learn, participate, and use his creative energy to share the voyage experience with the general public through blogging, videos, social media, and activities in the port cities. He will be a key player during events and exhibits at each port of call with an opportunity to explore the community and meet its people.

“To quote Nat Wilson, the Morgan’s sailmaker, ‘it is the only way to carry the ship’s future forward because the living memories are all gone,’” Leighton said. “Sailing is a big part of the New England heritage – It’s how we got here. And what better way to learn about the past then to relive it in the present?”

Leighton filed his first video as stowaway on the Museum’s YouTube channel.

While on the 38^th Voyage from May to August, the Charles W. Morgan will stop at historic ports of call throughout New England including visits to New London, Conn.; Newport, R.I.; and Vineyard Haven, New Bedford, and Boston, Mass., where she’ll dock next to the USS Constitution. She will also anchor off the coast of Provincetown, Mass. for day sails to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where the Morgan will team up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to observe whales in their natural environment. While the Morgan’s cargo was once whale bone and oil, the vessel will embark upon her final voyage bearing a message of peace and serving as a symbol of our changing relationship with the natural world.

Both Mystic Seaport and Leighton will be sharing the Morgan‘s journey onsite, online, and onboard. If you wish to partake in this exciting voyage, follow Leighton’s blog at mysticseaport.org/stowaway, on Twitter @MorganStowaway and on Facebook www.facebook.com/mysticseaport.

The stowaway program has been made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

About Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The museum is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT. Admission is $24 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-17. Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, please visit https://mysticseaport.wpengine.com/.