Schooner Launch Date Set for Saturday July 9 at High Tide (early evening)

Launching the Ardelle on July 9? I better hop off!

Please do mark your calendars for an epic schooner launch on Saturday, July 9 in the early evening (high tide). If you have never seen an Essex side launch, it is well worth cancelling other plans to be here! We hope for a great evening and we are told that the light will still be good for photographers. The best viewing area is the Essex Shipbuilding Museum and they will have information on their website.

Additionally, for those interested and living in the area, the Essex Shipbuilding Museum will be hosting a covered dish or pot luck supper and slideshow on Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m. Harold will also speak and do a tour of the Ardelle and yard. It is a great chance to see Dan Tobyne's photographs in a fun video format. Please sign up if you plan to attend the supper or bring something at mainoffice@essexshipbuildingmuseum.org.

Launching on July 9 makes sense.

Scary Clown thinks July 9 is a great idea. The tide is high around 6:30 p.m.

Justin Ingersoll is credited with building an AMAZING rudder in rapid fire time. It will hopefully be attached today.

Perry Burnham baked one of her best batches of cookies in recent memory the other day. She will be heading up the crew next week when the hull has to be puttied. We like to let kids do this...if they can reach!

Dan Tobyne has been shooting this vessel constrcution since last August.. He has been joined by others who have become devoted photographers here and we thank you all. But, Dan's constant presence and amazing shots - through every kind of weather, has produced some fantastic work. He is an artist.  So, please come to the slideshow of his work and a covered dish supper (please email mainoffice@essexshipbuilding.org to say you are coming if possible. But, on Thursday eventing, June 30 at 7 p.m. at the Waterline Center he is going to show us his best shots over this past 10 months of construction.