Boatbuilding With Burnham

Ardelle in January

2012-01-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

Photo of the Ardelle in her winter spot. Thanks Elinor Teele for these great shots.

Photo by Elinor Teele

What century is this!? Great photo by Elinor Teele

Ardelle and the barn. Photo by Elinor Teele

A very talented young woman named Elinor Teele stopped by the other day and said she took some shots on a clear, crisp Janaury day and wanted to give us a print. Well, she sent us a few more electronically and they are just beautiful. Sounds like she has an interesting career as a writer and photographer for her company Squam Creative Services. Anyway, she was very nice to stop by and we wish you luck in your travels. Thanks!

Fair Thee Well, Zack!!

2012-01-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

Zack Teal aboard the Ardelle on Launch Day. Zack leaves Thursday on the schooner Harvey Gamage.

What a ride!

Zack worked on the Ardelle throughout his sophomore year of high school.

That is 16 inches of ice ...covered with sawdust.

Zack has also become an excellent woodworker since his training on the Ardelle

That looks like a good plank!

Zack borrowed Harold's topcoat and tails on prom night last spring.

Great work!

On the loft floor, with measurements for the propellor.

Great job, Zack.

Lots of trunnels were driven in by Zack!

An early shot during the building of the Ardelle, with Harold, Zack's cousin Jeff Lane and Zack (standing).

Zack Teal, who spent his sophomore year of high school building the schooner Ardelle as a key part of the crew and then sailed with us in the charter business last fall, is leaving on Thursday to sail to the Caribbean on the schooner Harvey Gamage and he will be at sea from now until he sails back to Maine (crossing from somewhere in the Caribbean) in June.

He will be out of touch and offshore for quite some time and during the five months that he will be taking part in the high school program (with about 22 other teenagers from around the country) he will not have access to cell phones, Facebook, Twitter or a computer of any kind. So, much of the correspondence will be by old fashioned mail. We know Zack is not a huge cell phone user anyway but it will be an interesting experience on many levels for Zack and others and so I hope Zack doesn't mind but he has given us his address during the next five months he will be away so I am sure he would like to hear from friends from time to time. Letters are always great when you are far away...we know he is going to be a changed man when he returns. We are honored to know him and we appreciate everything he has done for us on the schooner Ardelle. Zack, you are definitely one to watch!! Fair thee well!

You can write to Zack care of:
C/O SSV Harvey Gamage
P.O. box 205
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538

Ode to the Barn

2012-01-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

An early shot of Harold that appeared in Yankee Magazine after finishing the Lewis H. Story.

One of my favorite barn photos taken sometime around Christmas last year by Dan Tobyne.

The barn and Ardelle at night. Photo by Dan Tobyne

Spar making went on right outside of the barn all last spring. Henry Szostek and Bruce Slifer are pictured here.

The barn from the "Periwinkle's side" of the river

Last winter we had 16 inches of ice beneath this snow!

What ever happened to Scary Clown?

One of the best things about Burnham boatyard is the barn. We have never really written much about the barn but it is a huge part of the landscape and the story of the barn is pretty interesting. I am not sure if I have all the details correctly but the barn stood here for many years during the height of shipbuilding when schooners were being built right next to the barn (in the same place where the Ardelle, the Isabella, and the Fame were built this decade) and the barn is featured in many old photographs of Essex. After shipbuilding went into decline, I guess the old barn did, too. The yard was turned into flower beds where Harold's grandmother Ardelle raised prized flowers of all types. It was a beautiful yard, I am told. But, when Harold and his brother and sister were young, his father "Chuckie" began rebuilding the barn. So, sometime in the early 1970s this barn appeared, exactly in the place where it once stood. I think the seed was planted then to begin shipbuilding again, and it worked! It is a great barn...we have even had Thanksgiving dinner in the loft. Every part of it is used and we couldn't do what we do without it!

Finally, Some Snow on the Ardelle

2012-01-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

Ardelle and the Lewis Story are in the creek next to the barn. The snow and ice surrounds them.

The Ardelle keeps an eye on the old pinky Maine, also in the creek.

The Ardelle is actually quite content in the creek.

Waiting for spring.

Well, we finally had a bit of snow today so it looked so pretty I decided to take a few photos. We have three schooners in the creek between the Essex Shipbuilding Museum and the Burnham yard...I keep thinking the photographers or artists might come down and capture it because it really is quite a sight. Anyway, the snow is welcome after such a barren winter...and if it is going to be cold I say bring on the snow.

A Good Time Was Had By All

2012-01-15T17:22:00.000-08:00

Harold outside the house during our party last night. Photos by Perry Ardelle Burnham.

Daisy always join in. Photo by Perry Ardelle Burnham.

The house with is lit up.

Friends and colleagues, Joanne Souza, the executive director of the Schooner Adventure and Capt. Mike Rutstien of the FAME of Salem.

While everyone was excited to watch the New England Patirots hand Tebow his hat during last night's game, we had time to squeeze in our annual "celebrating the end of the holidays" holiday party. So, we had enough people to fill the boat and the house and some fantastic food was brought in including some amazing homemade bread (thank you Kristen!) and smoked fish, thanks to Joanne...amongst many other great dishes.
The bitter wind and cold temperatures meant that the Ardelle groaned a bit in the creek although she was happy to have the wood stove going to keep everyone warm while inside. Hope everyone has a great January and thanks also to Perry for the photos!

Finally, the Sails are Off for Winter. Let's Celebrate

2012-01-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Memorable Men's Sail of October

Justin Ingersoll fixing the jib during the first sail of the Ardelle in late August. Photo by Dustin Clampitt.

Leaving the Essex river on that first sail. Bruce and Kathy Slifer are in their small sailboat leading the way. Photo by Dustin Clampitt.

Sailing along the Gloucester shore. Photo by Steve Borichevsky.

Our first sail out of the Essex River in late August.

The yard is still busy and things are happening in Gloucester and we hope to have some news to report soon. In the meantime, while we wait for spring or even for snow, we are having our annual post-holiday open house this Sat., Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. So, if you would like to drop by the yard, please do. We have the Ardelle in the creek so we may even have the stove going with a bit of rum down in the aft cabin. Otherwise, we tend to have a kind of progressive party that goes from house to barn to boat...with a stove usually going somewhere to keep us warm. So, perhaps we will see some of you this Sat. night!

Happy New Year from Burnham Boatbuilding

2012-01-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

The owner of Carhartts, Mark Valade and the president of the Boston Bruins Cam Neely. Photo by Perry Burnham

We hope you all had a great holiday and we wish you all the best for 2012. We went skiing at Wildcat Mountain for a few days and we skied with family and friends including Perry, Alden and Nicole who came up for a day at Wildcat. We wanted to also include some shots of the recent opening of one of the only Carhartt retail stores in the USA...and this one is in Dedham, Mass. What is fun is that the CEO of Carhartt, Mark Valade who is related to Hamilton Carhartt who founded the brand in 1889, was great fun to meet..as was Cam Neely. Anyway, we told Mr. Valade that Carhartt makes great ski gear so we just thought we would post Harold in his the other day! Anyway, we are looking forward to a great year...and hope you are too.

We told the owner of Carhartts that his clothes make great ski wear. Well, Harold again sets a fashion trend with his Carhartt overalls, vest and his particular favorite...his second hand Spider Man ski helmet. Photo by Perry Burnham.

Alden Burnham and Nicole D'Ambrosia take a break on the ski hill.

Chrissy Noriega and Perry Burnham at the Carhartt opening. Perry models a Carhartt hat.

Alden Burnham on skis.

Chuck Redman and Harold Burnham at the Carhartt opening.

Merry Christmas from the Schooner Ardelle!

2011-12-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from Captain and Crew!

Three greats...the schooner Lannon, Fame of Salem and the Ardelle!

Double Eagle Crosses the Border from Manchester

2011-12-23T08:39:00.001-08:00

Double Eagle in the basin

As usual, we were happy to have Jocelyn Marine from Newburyport, Mass. help us out on Wednesday getting the Double Eagle into the yard for some winter work. Over the years, Jocelyn has brought many boats into the yard - and sometimes the condition in our swamp make things challenging for them to get back out. This time, however, a quick two-day freeze just before Double Eagle arrived allowed them to back right in and drive right out without the assistance of our good old 1942 ex-military/retired No. 7 firetruck from Cumberland, ME that has on occasion had to drag truck, trailer and boat out of the muck. Thanks – Jocelyn – for all the great service here and good times!

HArold by the waters edge

Jocelyn Does a Great Job Hauling Boats!

Jocelyn Hauls the Boat from the Town Ramp

Coming up Burnham Court

Nice turn!

Making room for the Double Eagle

Passing by the front yard

"Chuckies" fence is untouched

Not a hitch.

No problems.

In the yard for winter work.

A Few Photos and the Double Eagle is Coming In

2011-12-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

We loved the Christmas Tree on the schooner Ardelle last year!

A lot of hard work in the cold last year

That is a stretch!

Harold's best pair of Carhartt overalls.

Sailing past the old paint factory in Gloucester

Well, we just decided to be shamelessly commercial and say it is still not too late to buy some trunnels as Christmas gifts so feel free to stop by or check it out online. Tomorrow Harold will be bringing the Dougle Eagle across Ipswich Bay and up the Essex River where it will be in the yard for winter work.

A Beal Island Lobster Boat Comes to the Yard

2011-12-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

Chad Gadbois brought in his Beal Island lobster boat on Saturday

We like how it looks against the barn!

The yard on a cold December day.


A nice shot of Chad's lobster boat - a work in progess!

Chad Gadbois' lobster boat arrived on Saturday and we are giving her a good look over before we start working on her more. In the words of famed Maine boatbuilder Ralph Stanley "She is worse than we hoped but not so much worse than we expected." Chad is from Beverly by way of Maine where his family comes from. We know that he can do just about anything and has been a huge help to us during the building of the Ardelle. We look forward to seeing what he does with this old girl! He dreams of cruising and fishing in her with his kids and something about this boat and Chad reminds Harold of his old Friendship Sloop Chrissy.

Last Sail of 2011 on the Ardelle

2011-12-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

Our winter resident harbor seal in the Essex River.

Capt. Ted Marshall of Essex.

Frostbite sailing at its best!

Harold, Susan and Cathy on the bow.

We have had a lot of "last sails" since the Ardelle left Gloucester in late October but we finally did have our officialy last sail yesterday afternoon. After some dock repairs, the Ardelle had been in the basin on a mooring for part of late November and early December as we waited for a high enough tide to bring her into the creek. It was fun for the folks driving over the bridge or walking past to look and see the Ardelle in the basin but we could not keep her there all winter with the ice and currents. So, the tide and time was right midday yesterday to bring her the few yards into the creek for the last time this year. We just had to have one last sail down river before bringing her in. In Essex, people are pretty good when there is a dock call as folks from Essex understand that the tide does not wait...so we made the call to go out for a sail at 11 a.m. and within 10 minutes we had a hearty crew who wanted to go along. We returned by 1 p.m. as the tide was at its peak high so we could get the Ardelle easily into the creek. It was a cold but refreshing sail out near Hog Island with beautiful bird and marine life, too, including a harbor seal that likes to winter in the river. The Ardelle is tied up in the creek now and will have her first winter there... lets hope it goes well and the ice is not too thick! Thanks also to Elinor and Mike "Doc" Dyer for the great photos of the Ardelle in the creek posted this week on the amazing blog Good Morning Gloucester.

Yesterday really was the last sail of 2011.

Taking the Ardelle down river for one last sail. Bruce Slifer pictured here.

Bruce Slifer on the Essex River.

Harold, Capt. Ted Marshall of Essex, and Charles "Chuckie" Burnham.

Kathy Slifer and Maria Burnham. Yes, it really is winter in New England.

Our friend had her first sail ever yesterday!

Daisy, always a member of the crew!

Emma, Kathy and Maria

Emma is Maria's friend from their university days and was visiting from Los Angeles. We salute you Emma for being such a hearty sailor!

Launching the new Gundalow in the Piscataqua River

2011-12-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

The new Gundalow along the Piscataqua river in Portsmouth, N.H.

Gundalow looks ready to launch

This vessel is nearly 65--feet long

Starting to move into the river

Has to be christened first

Shipwright and builder Paul Rollins left and Executive Director of the Gundalow Company Molly Bolster. Great job you all!

Harold watches the Gundalow launch.

Another shot of the Gundalow

A great scene

We had a great day yesterday with Barry O'Brien and Jeff Lane at the launch of the new Gundalow in Portsmouth, N.H. called "Piscataqua" built by shipwright Paul Rollins of York, Maine. Some of you may remember in 2007 and 2008 when Harold was involved with the Gundalow Company and worked on the preliminary designs for this vessel. Although Harold moved on to other projects, we think that Paul Rollins, Nate Piper, Molly Bolster and the folks in Portsmouth and at the Gundalow company have a lot to be proud of and they did a beautiful job building the new vessel. We think the boat is well suited to its mission and we are looking forward to seeing them up and down the Piscataqua River next spring and hope to visit them in the Ardelle. Thanks Barry O'Brien for the photos!

Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

2011-12-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

Ah, those were the days!!

Harold was pretty fond of wearing Christmas hats last year.

Everyone worked through the snow and 16 inches of ice.

Last year we put a tree up on the stern of the Ardelle

These trees were never cut out to be Xmas trees.

Some snow might be nice?!

Heh, don't forget to buy trunnels for Christmas gifts!

We are trying to get into the Christmas spirit here but it is currently raining and in the 40s and it is Dec. 7. Well, I for one need a little snow to get into the Christmas spirit. But, this could be the right time to start thinking about our shameless commercialism in suggesting that you consider buying a trunnel or a charter for your loved ones or distant relatives who may come and visit this summer ..and they do love to go sailing when they come to Cape Ann. Seriously, folks, we hope you are all having a great Christmas season. And, for any of you interested, my good old friend Rick Miles will be having a slideshow at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum on Friday evening, Dec. 9.

Here are the details:
Captains Rick and Karen Miles, of the expedition vessel Wanderbird, will present a slideshow of their expeditions to Newfoundland, Labrador and Greenland. Be Prepared to be amazed as they bring you to the lands of the Inuit, icebergs, polar bears, glaciers, Aurora Borealis and so much more
.
The Wanderbird is a 90' North Sea Fishing Trawler the Miles' have converted for expedition tourism travel. Each season the vessel travels 7,000 nautical miles from Equator to Arctic Circle in search of adventure, offshore camaraderie and natural wonders. The Miles' owned and operated the Maine Windjammer Schooner Timberwind for 15 years prior to owning the Wanderbird. Rick fished commercially from Gloucester and other New England towns in the offshore lobster fishery for many years. Karen's dad is a Maine lobsterman and she is a highly experienced licensed captain.
Friday, December 9th, 7:30 PM
Essex Shipbuilding Museum, Waterline Center, 66 Main Street, Essex, MA
Admission: $8 Members, $10 Nonmembers

Harold Finally Gets a New Wardrobe

2011-12-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

Harold's pants and much of the shop are replicated at the new Carhartt store at Legacy Place in Dedham, MA. They did a great job with the store and it is worth a look. Thanks, Mike Rutstien, for the FAME flag. Photo by Perry Ardelle Burnham.

We had a great time last Thursday night at the grand opening of the new Carhartt store at Legacy Place in Dedham, MA. The story is quite interesting but this past fall, some fellows from Seattle came by the shop and I guess some lightbulbs started going off over their heads. Their task was to design a brand new Carhartt retail store. So, they bought up a lot of items from the shop including all of Harold's old Carhartt pants and shorts as well as his designs, the FAME flag (the old one) and tools. They used our staging as fllooring in the new store, they replicated Andy Spinney's work bench and a lot of old tools. They have the Burnham Boatbuilding sign up. But, the fun part was that the Carhartt top brass were all at the event, including the current CEO whose great grandfather was a Carhartt. This family run business out of Dearborn, Michigan is just venturing out into the retail store business...but on opening night they invited hockey great Cam Neely to sign some autographs. But, the real stars were actually the folks who really wear the clothes, so Chuck Redman, Tim Walsh, and Harold had a lot of fun talking about boatbuilding to folks. It was a great time, and we wish the Carhartt folks the best of luck with their new store. And, thank you for the new clothes!

Harold - A Fashion Icon?!

2011-11-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

This article appeared today in the Boston Herald online. Harold is going to have fun down in Dedham tomorrow...judging the contest! Check it out at this link http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/entertainment/jills_boston_style/?p=826&srvc=home&position=recent or read below:

Essex boatbuilder inspires Carhartt’s new Legacy Place shop

Cam Neely is lined up for tomorrow’s grand opening of Carhartt’s first New England store at Legacy Place in Dedham (next to Kings).

Yawn.

The man to see - whose Essex boatbuilding shop inspired the store - is Harold Burnham. The 44-year-old, who owns H.A. Burnham, donated more than 30 pieces of worn Carhartt to the company.

It’s demanding work on us, but in particular it’s demanding on the clothes,” he said. “We spend a lot of times on our knees, crawling around in tight quarters, in the snow and in the heat. It’s very demanding on the apparel.

“The only clothes we found that stand up are Carhartt. It stands up to the publishment and it’s comfortable to wear,” he added (see Burnham images below).

Burnham also sold the company sails and half-models, which are being used as art in the store.

“They photographed the shop and the yard, and the New England quaintness of it all,” he said. “They modelled the store after my shop. The signs are on the counter. I consider it a real honor.”

Tomorrow’s 4.p.m ribbon-cutting - er, sledgehammering (seriously) - is open to the public, and will also include a Wicked, Worn and Torn Carhartt contest with new merchandise being the prize.

Tough to beat!

Ardelle In the Creek

2011-11-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

Ardelle in the creek by Len Burgess

Thank you Len Burgess for sending us this nice shot of the Ardelle at its winter tie-up (top photo) and Messing Around in Boats publisher Bob Hicks for the second photo! Harold has been busy pouring cement into her bilges and is finishing up the foc'scle tomorrow. He has the cement mixer on the deck of the Ardelle and has been on his hands and knees pouring cement for ...well, way too long he feels. Harold should be pouring the last bucket this afternoon and he can then finally start putting the boat in order for the winter. Before that, he may have the boat decorated a bit for next Friday's arrival of Santa at the town docks of Essex. Might as well start getting into the Christmas spirit!

A Good Night and a Thank You

2011-11-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

We had a gathering last Saturday night with a lot of the crew coming by with friends. It was great to see everyone and we were able to set out a great spread of food thanks to everyone who brought something. We also had quite a crowd on the schooner Ardelle which is now in the creek. Finally, we had a bonfire in the middle of the yard so everyone got to move around and go from house to boat to fire and back again. By the end of the night, most of the people were inside and it was overall a great time. Bruce and Kathy Slifer were also here and what we didn't know was it was their wedding anniversary...so happy anniversary. Although it is quieter around the yard right now, it is great to know that we all still like getting together. On that note, enjoy Thanksgiving everyone. Have a great time with friends and family.

Sitting in the house last Sat. night is Pierre Erhard and friend, Harold Burnham, Suzanne Obrien and Justin Ingersoll

Zach came to the party and brought two great desserts. Thanks also to Jeff Lane and Meghan for the dessert!

Bernie Power also came by.

A Short Clip By Nancy Dudley of the Ardelle

2011-11-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

Nancy Dudley did a nice video on YouTube of our recent river "turn around" and she has put it to music. Its great...thanks, Nancy!

Check it out here:

A November Day on the Essex River

or here

A Boston Globe Article about Maritime Gloucester and the Ardelle

2011-11-14T11:37:00.000-08:00

A change at the helm for Maritime Gloucester

Balf aims to extend reach of education, tourism efforts

November 13, 2011|By Joel Brown, Globe Correspondent

Tom Balf looks over his domain as the new executive director of Maritime… (Lisa Poole for the Boston Globe)

GLOUCESTER - Downstairs at Maritime Gloucester, some fifth-graders watched as an instructor dissected a cod. Upstairs, Thomas Balf was dissecting the future of the city’s harbor.
“There’s this connection between the great maritime history of Gloucester and what might that maritime future look like,’’ he said.
Balf, 53, starts work Dec. 1 as the new executive director of Maritime Gloucester, formerly known as the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center. Balf fills the role of Harriet Webster, who held the post since before the waterfront center opened in 2002, and died in June after battling a blood disorder. But even without her loss, the recently renamed nonprofit organization would be at what Balf calls a “pivotal’’ time.

To read more click here

A November Turn Around and An Impromptu Reunion

2011-11-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Clammer Shack on the Essex River

The Maine Sits in the Creek

Chad Gadbois and his son, Fisher on the Ardelle

A Great Blue Heron on the marsh

John O'Neil, Tad Beck (center) and her daughter Sarah. Mrs. Beck turned 93 today! Happy Birthday.

Daisy tries to stay awake

After we turned the Ardelle around and put her back in the creek, we ended up having an impromptu reunion with crew and frieds Chad and his son, Justin Ingersoll and Jasmine, Bruce and Kathy Slifer who just returned from visiting thier son and family in Scotland, Sara, John and Tad Beck and harold.

Today we took the Ardelle out of the creek and turned her around and we happened to have Chad Gadbois and his son and Tad Beck, who turned 93 today on board among others. After we got in some more of the crew turned up to say hi so it was an impromptu reunion. It was great to see everyone...since the Ardelle got sailing in September we have not seen the crew as much and we have all scattered or gone back to our lives. It must have been one of those days where folks felt drawn to the boat because we had quite a great gathering. Hope it happens again soon!

Back Home in Essex - But What a Great Ride!

2011-11-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

Bringing the Ardelle around in the Essex River basin

Ardelle had her final sail and is now coming into the creek.

Easy she goes...

David Wyman (red hat), John Drake, and Jeff Lane all had a nice, last sail.

In the background is Periwinkles Restaurant..many people lunched there during the construction of the Ardelle where they had front row seats!

This week Harold took our friend David Wyman out for a final sail on the Ardelle along the Essex River. David is a marine architect who worked closely with Harold and the Coast Guard during the design and construction of the Ardelle. We thank him very much for his kind assistance and this week was his first opportunity to take a sail. He was not disappointed!

The Ardelle will be in the creek near the barn for quite some time, now, and perhaps for the whole winter. We were not sure what to think about the ice around Ardelle this winter...but, with most everything around here, somehow the right decision will come to us. In the meantime, we think that the little creek between the Essex shipbuilding museum and the Burnham yard might draw a few of Cape Ann's artists and photographers and we say come on down!

Work continues here at the yard and so, I feel, should the blog. Hope you can continue to read about life at the boatyard and of course, we welcome your photographs from this epic year when the schooner was built, launched and sailed. We could not have done it without you..all of you! Do come sailing next spring/summer and we already have a few adventures planned. On my part, I do have to agree with Katherine Hepburn's famous line from a Philadelphia Story everytime I think of the Ardelle..."my, she was (is ) yar." She really is.

Thank you Portsmouth for A Great Visit!

2011-10-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Loading up at Prescott Park. Photo by David R. Hiley

Ardelle's masts. Photo by David R. Hiley

Photo by David R. Hiley

Harold and his father, Charles "Chuckie" Burnham are entering the Annisquam River as I type after the schooner Ardelle finished up a great visit to Portsmouth, N.H. this week, including a visit from Prof. David R. Hiley from the University of New Hampshire who sent us these great photos and who had a nice sail with us yesterday. Thank you, David!

At Prescott Park in Portsmouth

2011-10-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

Heading out of the Annisquam river

Passing the old Annisquam Light - one of the nation's oldest lighthouses

Entering the Piscataqua river and Portsmouth, N.H.

On the sail, a Fin whale crossed our bow twice and we startled two young seals

An oil tanker leaves the Piscataqua

Passing Newcastle, N.H.

As we docked at Prescott Park in Porstmouth, a great group of school kids and teachers came by to say hello.

We had a look at the Gundalow, under construction at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth

Harold talks with a fellow shipwright Paul Rollins who is building the Gundalow

This one is for you, Zach!

We are tied up at Prescott Park until Sunday! See the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard behind us. Its been there since 1800. The foto above is of the Gundalow, now under construction at Strawberry Banke museum in Portsmouth, N.H.

Yesterday, Harold and Laurie sailed out of Gloucester to Portsmouth, N.H. where we have a charter on Saturday. We took advantage of the good weather yesterday and we had a great sail. We had 15-20 knot SW winds and flat seas so we flew up the New Hampshire coast in a few hours. On our way, we had the great reward of seeing a Fin whale crossing out bow, twice, and some harbor seals at play. When we reached Portsmouth (Prescott Park to be exact) we visited our friends at the Gundalow project - a massive wooden Gundalow being built at Strawberry Banke (check it out!) and had lunch at the famous Ceres Bakery on Penhallow Street owned by a friend of the Burnhams. We chatted with shipbuilder Paul Rollins, Nate Piper and others and had a lot of folks asking us about the schooner Ardelle as it related to the Gundalow. Some Portsmouth school kids decided that the Gudalow and the Ardelle must be cousins...as they are about the same age and are two great building projects ... ours now complete and the Gundalow getting close. It was great to see our Portsmouth cousins. Come by this week if you are in the neighborhood. Portsmouth is a great city by all accounts. Thanks, Nate, for the ride back to Essex yesterday. Harold is heading up today (Wednesday) for the rest of the week.

A Crew Member of the Ardelle Treats Us to Photos

2011-10-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you Pierre Erhard for these photos from last week's sail on the schooner Ardelle. The crew covered a lot of ground but these shots show some of the beautiful things you see offshore and cruising the coast. We hope to have more sails like this is in future...pick your destination...maybe we can get there next spring/summer!

Steve Hastings on the recent men's sail. Steve is Harold's first cousin and is the mastermind behind the time-lapse photos we enjoyed during the construction of the Ardelle.

Steve Willard and Harold leaving Provincetown.

Heading to the Isle of Shoals, New Hampshire

Entering the Isle of Shoals

Isle of Shoals

Offshore on the Ardelle

Under sail on the Ardelle

Sunset

Harold and Steve Willard

Davis Griffith

Bruce Slifer (in the foreground)

Great light!

Lighthouse at Isle of Shoals

Heading into Provincetown

In Portsmouth harbor

Portsmouth Harbor

Leaving Scituate Harbor

Thanks for the Photos, Folks!

2011-10-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Our friend Cheryl Andrews from Provincetown, who organizes the Great Provincetown Schooner Race each year, came aboard with some friends during the recent visit by Ardelle to P'town. Harold tells us that Cheryl and crew had a bit of "octopus stew" made by the Hastings brothers (I think it is a kind of beef stew, really)... They arrived at night and left the next morning for Scituate and then headed back to Gloucester.

Thanks Cheryl for the photos!

Harold and the crew in Provincetown. Photo by Cheryl Andrews.

Photo by Cheryl Andrews

Bill Ellegood took these photos from the Schooner Lannon last Sunday

Thanks, Ray Mello foe sending this photo from last Monday!

From Isle of Shoals to Provincetown - Great Sailing, Guys!

2011-10-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

At Portsmouth harbor

Harold and the crew tell us that they had a great trip during the recent men's sail. They went to Portsmouth, Isles of Shoals, Rockport, Marblehead, Provincetown, Sctituate, and Gloucester. Harold says it blew like hell for most of it. Ardelle reached 9.6 knots on the way into Rockport and sailed out into 35 knots under full lowers.

"We thrashed her around a bit, Harold said, but, the boat likes wind and handles a sea beautifully and through all of it only a little spray came on deck." Harold said he had no need for rain gear, and that is dry as it was blowing 35 knots with a full sail to windward on thier way out of Rockport. "She really is a dry boat and I think she will do fine in the really big stuff.," he said. (meaning ocean crossings!) Thanks for the update Harold. Thank you Kathy Slifer for the photos.

Today, Sunday, looks like a great day for a public sail. Check it out at Maritime Gloucester...I think the boat leaves at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Columbus Day Weekend and Fall Sailing Should be Great

2011-10-08T03:35:00.000-07:00

Harold and the boys are back from their week long sail along the coast and Harold and crew will be at Maritime Gloucester this weekend for public sails at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Weather seems to be great this weekend, and Harold will probably have the wood stove going so you can have some hot mulled cider, too. Bring a sweater and go out and see the sights of fall from the Ardelle!

Ardelle Off Marblehead

2011-10-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Thank you Ed Moll who sent this photo of the Ardelle off Marblehead on Wednesday. Looks like the boys are having a good time and seems like it based on this photo! Thanks again.

Bermuda Sloops and A Jolly Good Time

2011-10-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

Optimist Dinghies and Cruise ship in Hamilton harbor, Bermuda

A Bermuda sloop.

IODs racing in the Argo Group Gold Cup

Sloop sailing by..in Hamilton harbor, Bermuda

These kids are here to race!

Bermuda, there is not much to say about this beautiful place except it is very unique. I have been coming here each October off and on since 2004 to report on an event called the King Edward VII Gold Cup ... and I report on it for the newspapers or whatever magazine will take a story. So far this year the teams raced all day in Hamilton harbor and although the writing is done I thought I would post a few photos from the day. It is a rare opportunity for me to come here each year and it is always great! Word from a friend is that Harold and the gang were last spotted in Portsmouth, NH on Monday night which means by now the men's sail has got to have gone all the way to Maine. I hope so, hope they made it to Boothbay, and I also hope they stopped to see the Gundalow in Portsmouth. Hope you guys are having fun and send me pictures if you have any!

Get Well Soon Dan..Off to Maine If the Wind is Right

2011-10-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

We heard from Dan Tobyne - who wanted to go on the men's sail leaving tomorrow, but he is a bit under the weather. Get well, soon, Dan and thank you again for these great pictures. The guys are heading out tomorrow and the Ardelle now has a wood stove, a sink, bunks to sleep 12 and the galley is amazing. Harold, Henry, Davis, Bruce, and Pierre and many others have been getting the boat ready for a week long sail. We have had a great start at the Maritime Heritage Center and we are taking a brief break so that Harold and the shipwrights can test the waters and sail somewhere..who knows where the wind will take them...but we think Harold wants to head to Maine. Good luck you guys and have a great sail. The author of this blog is also getting a great opportunity to return to Bermuda to cover a great sailing event so stay tuned. It has been a great ride...thanks everyone for supporting the Ardelle and see you over Columbus Day weekend.

Harold, Robin, Bill and Kirk - great afterguard!

Lovely shot of the schooner Fame

Fame - full up

Ardelle full up, too.

Scene over the bow

Harold takes a look around.

Alabama and American Eagle

Ardelle is heading out tomorrow (Oct. 3)

The Ardelle is taking a week long sail with Harold, Steve Willard, Pierre Erhard, Davis Griffith, Henry Szostek, John Abizaid, Bruce Slifer ... we wish more of you great shipwrights could come, too. Chuck Zach, Chad, Tim...we miss you guys!

Friday and the Wind is Good

2011-09-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Harold is getting ready for a sail on Monday, Oct. 3 with the guys so we will be leaving port for five days or so starting Monday. He is going on his annual men's sail and the guys are quickly building bunks down below for the trip. We do hope that the guys do keep track of the adventure and they often do have some stories to tell. They think the wind will be west so they may head to Maine ...

Anyway, today, Friday is a good day for a public sail and we will be available on Sunday, too. Anyway, next week it will the men's chance to sail away from home...and these guys are funny...boatbuilders, tradesmen and professionals, they also cook, read, and discuss various topics. What I don't know for sure is if any one of them has ever done the unthinkable...gone shopping with a woman and held her handbag. I do not think so! That is OK, though. We still love you guys.

Photo by Barry O'Brien

Photo by Dan Tobyne.

Not Bad for Late September!

2011-09-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

We are having some late summer/early fall banner days and the sailing today (Sunday) should be nice. We are going out on two public sails - 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Thank you Tom Ellis of the Schooner Lannon for sending this picture from his boat...what a great perspective. And, below we have two great pics..one of the Lannon and one of the "crowd" at the Heritage Center dock during schooner festival. Last night, we had dinner in Gloucester with Bruce and Kathy Slifer, and friends and it was great to listen to this group as there are Gloucester natives among them...and we learned a lot about our new city where we will be spending a lot of time. This city or 'town' is full of neighborhoods, stories, opinions, projects, people, dreamers, doers, artists, poets and I am finding it to be an unexpected experience... I think I am in love with Gloucester!! I do. I am...Can't believe I can actually say it but it is true...

Anyway, please come down for a sail. We are having a lot of fun!

Photo by Tom Ellis

Schooner Lannon, above, and the Ardelle, schooner Roseway and Alabama at the docks. Bottom photos by Rick Detwiller

Salty Dog Day at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum Cancelled

2011-09-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

Salty Dog Day was cancelled due to rain!

I was hoping to see Chuck but they cancelled my day (Salty Dog Day) cause of rain!

The Essex Shipbuilding museum left us this note:

Unfortunately, due to a forecast of heavy rain tomorrow morning we have had to cancel Salty Dog Day.

We were all geared up and ready to go! We want to thank all the people who would have participated in putting on this fun-filled family day. Look for us next year, come have fun and learn about the long history dogs have had with the maritime industries.

A Good Time Was Had By All

2011-09-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Bruce for sending these great pictures. Top photo is of Sarah Slifer and son, Seamus, who was celebrating a birthday and below is Rockport Vet Dr Ray Cahill his wife Maggie and their boys Will and Jack . Bruce was part of the Ardelle crew from the beginning and the sail with family and friends was hopefully the first of many. During the sail, Bruce and Kathy and friends sang a sea shanty and raced around the outer harbor with the Lannon. According to Bruce, Tom Ellis said he got 2 calls from folks on shore watching the Ardelle and the Lannon having all that FUN out there in the harbor. It was really spectacular , Bruce said. Great weather last weekend...hope we get some more good days!!

Thanks from The Slifers

Mug Up! at the Madfish and a Great Sunday

2011-09-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

Photo by Laurie Fullerton...taken from Pavilion Beach with my iPhone...not enough lense strength but you get the idea...a good time sailng around with the Schooner Lannon and Ardelle...on a Sunday.

Photo by Len Burgess

We had a great visit to the Madfish and joined in the Mug Up yesterday morning. Good Morning Gloucester posted a nice array of photos. Thanks so much for the invite and for the lobster roll! Later on Sunday, Harold had a private sail at 2 p.m. with Bruce and Kathy Slifer and their friends. They were great company, sang some amazing sea shanties and were great guests. As you all know, Bruce helped build the Ardelle and Kathy kept us fed most of the year with her great lunches. At 430 p.m. Harold did a public sail and happy and tired at 6:30 p.m. he said he had a great day...and the Ardelle crew and guests also had a great time sailing around with Tom, Kay and Heath Ellis of the Schooner Lannon. The two schooners were having a great time semi-racing and just sailing around together. They looked great from shore, too!
Here is the GMG post about our visit.

Great Fall Weekend, Flat Seas and a Good Breeze

2011-09-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Schooner Ardelle and Schooner Fame - together at last! Photo by Len Burgess

Ardelle has a stand up if you like policy! Well, not really but it was schooner Fest! Photo by Len Burgess

Sailing along the Gloucester side! Photo by Len Burgess

These pictures were taken a little earlier this month but this is one of those great September weekends (Sept. 17 and 18) and one of the good ones for sailing. Fall sailing - as most sailors know - has some of the best days. Yesterday, on Gloucester harbor, we spotted Whitney Shattuck of Marblhead on Arion. He was sailing to Gloucester for the night but arrived early enough so that he just kept sailing. He shouted to us "we have been to Marblehead and back three times today..we just can't stop sailing!" The conditions are beautiful, flat, and the sea is sparkly. That is what we can get in the fall...after the late summer hurricanes there is a kind of reprieve and everything is calm...and steady, breezes that is.

This weekend we are doing public sails and have the schedule listed on our website but basically today come down around 4:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. We are having a lot of fun and while Capt. Burnham is our fearless leader we have a great crew, too, including Perry and Alden Burnham, Zach Teal, and Owen Brown. Thanks you guys!!!

Sunday Sailin' and a Few Dan Tobyne Pics

2011-09-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, Dan Tobyne tooks some shots of the Ardelle and it was such a nice morning and the photos are so nice we wanted to post them here. We are having a great time so far doing charters in the afternoons out of the Maritime Heritage Center in Glouceseter (now called Maritime Gloucester). Yesterday, we had folks on board from Melbourne, Australia (yeah!), New Mexico, Michigan, San Diego, Calif., and Texas. It is a learning curve for me but many of the folks on board had really done their reading and research on Gloucester. They knew a lot about the area...and they even recognized the Maritime Gloucester location as the place where they filmed different scenes from the Perfect Storm. We didn't have as much wind as we wanted so we sailed along the shore and they got to see some kids jumping off the famous Greasy Pole, they watched the Blynman Bridge go up and we sailed along the Eastern Shore past Beauport. We saw a lot and I realized that just being in Gloucester itself is very cool, but being on the water and around the harbor is fantastic! It is a working port, a living port, and a vital port..I think it is going to be great to get to know this place better!

Sailing off on a Sunday

A different perspective

Hope the earth is not flat.

Sunday morning sail

From left Chuck Redman, Harold, Robin Tattersoll, Bill Cronin and Kirk Williamson during the Mayor's Cup, Schooner Festival weekend.

The Schooner Ardelle Has Hung It's Shingle ...

2011-09-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you, again, Good Morning Gloucester for posting this information about the schooner Ardelle. It looks like great weather this week so do come sailing!

The Schooner Ardelle Has Hung It’s Shingle

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Joey C

The schooner Ardelle is fully operational now and is located down at Maritime Gloucester on Harbor Loop. Capt. Harold Burnham is aboard and he and his crew are doing afternoon sails at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Harold Burnham tells us that he is going to run the charters from Weds. Through Sunday at 2 and 4:30 so do come down for an afternoon sail or call him at 978-290-7168 for more information.

The schooner Ardelle was an epic project for Burnham and what is most amazing about it is that just one year ago, there were a few frames up in the Burnham yard after hosting a Frame Up and keel signing ceremony on Labor Day 2010. Here it is one year later and Ardelle is fully-rigged, Coast Guard certified and ready for a sail. The community support has been amazing, so please do come down and support this new endeavor!

Click here for all the GMG Schooner Ardelle Coverage

http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/the-schooner-ardelle-has-hung-its-shingle/

Schooner Fest 2011

2011-09-10T05:55:00.001-07:00

Ardelle on the day of the race!

Harold and good friend Bill Cronin of Charlton, MA

We had about 39 on board for the schooner race.

Three Burnham-built schooners..the Thomas E. Lannon, the Schooner Fame and the Schooner Ardelle

Ardelle sailing into inner harbor in Gloucester

Steve Willard, on bow of Ardelle looks at the Essex-built schooner Roseway.

Henry fires the cannon...you are awesome, Henry!!

Dan Tobyne..who documented the entire building project for the year shoots with an artist eye. He is also one of the good ones all around. Thanks, Dan, for everything.

Our young miss does not like the sound of cannons!

Harold and the shipwrights, crew, family and friends.

The crew watches the Alabama at the start of the race. We need more cowbells, I mean topsails!

Looking over at the schooner Liberty Clipper

The afterguard...Uncle Stevie, Robin and Bill.

The Alabama, American Eagle and the Ardelle at the start of the schooner race. Photo by Carl Gustin.

Getting ready for the start. Photo by Carl Gustin

The Ardelle and the American Eagle at the start of the schooner race.
Photo by Carl Gustin

Seriously, folks, the Ardelle is really comfortable with a big group!

We had the building crew on board for the Schooner race over Labor Day weekend...about one year almost to the day that we had Frame Up day - Labor Day 2010 - and the first frame for the Ardelle went up...here we are Labor Day weekend 2011 and we are sailing in the schooner race. Thank you Mike Dyer and others for these photos!!

A Shout Out to Good Morning Gloucester

2011-09-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

We have not been able to thank all of the individuals who have helped us out over this past 11 months since we began building the schooner Ardelle. Over the next month or so, I am going to write about those of you who have not been recognized as yet..I hope you know who you are..Bill, Jack, and many others. For today we just wanted to be sure and thank both Good Morning Gloucester and Messing About in Boats for thier consistent and enthusiastic online and print coverage of the schooner Ardelle's construction, launch and arrival in Glouester.

Good Morning Gloucester is an immenseley popular blog published by Joey Ciaramitaro of Gloucester who is a lobster broker and produces one of the most popular blogs on the North Shore of Massachusetts and beyond with well over 30,000 visits per day. I know that blogging requires a lot of time at the computer but I am amazed at the effort Joey and his crew put into being out there in the community and reporting on events, people, happenings, issues, sights and sounds. It takes an amazing amount of work and it is a great blog. The crew at GMG also include contributing photographers like Marty Luster who have been at the yard shooting great shots all along. Thank you Good Morning Gloucester!

To see the coverage go to
http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/parade-of-sails-gloucester-schooner-festival-2011/

We would also like to thank Bob Hicks of Messing About In Boats, published in nearby Wenham, MA, who has been publishing our blog in his magazine each month. Bob wrote a final editorial about covering the Ardelle's construction and it was a very moving piece and illustrates not only Bob's talent as a publisher but as a writer, too. Bob, a print publisher and Joey, and online publishing master, have helped get the word out about the schooner Ardelle and we appreciate the many hours you have all put into it!

Schooner Festival Is A Great Day for Essex-Built Schooners!

2011-09-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

Three Essex-built, Burnham built schooners together at today's Schooner Festival in Gloucester! Photo by Marty Luster

We have been really busy since we became a charter business on Friday afternoon. We had our first customer Ethel Rhodes of Gloucester who joined us on our first -ever charter sail. Yesterday was Heritage Day at Maritime Gloucester and we had two public and one private charter. It was great...everyone enjoyed themselves. Today we had the entire building crew and their families out to race in the Schooner Festival. Although we did not finish in the top of the fleet, it was a great day and we were able to sail with our three fellow Essex-built, Burnham-built schooners the Thomas E. Lannon of Gloucester, the Fame of Salem and the Lewis H. Story.

Tomorrow we will be running charters in the afternoon at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. or please just give us a call at 978-290-7168.

Hearding out to the schooner race/

Passing Eastern Point

Sailing with the schooner Fame

The last three photos were kindly provided by

Len Burges

We Are Ready to Roll! Certificate of Operation Is OK and We Are Ready to Charter

2011-09-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Schooner Ardelle is now available for public and private charters - starting now!

One year ago, Labor Day 2010. We have come a long way!!!

What a difference one year makes. On Sept 6, 2010 we held Frame Up day at the boatyard. See photo above. On Sept. 3, 2011, at the start of Labor Day weekend we are now Coast Guard certified and holding our first public sail today, Friday, Sept. 3 at 430 p.m. We will also offer sails tomorrow, during Heritage Days at Maritime Gloucester from 9 to 11 a.m., 2 to 4 p.m., and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

It has been an amazing experience since we began construction of the schooner a little less than one year ago. There are so many people we are grateful to for all of their assistance. That is why on Sunday we are entering the schooner race with the shipwrights and their families so they might enjoy sailing on the Ardelle after the long hours of building her. Harold has been going around the clock to get the boat wired and ready and after two days of inspection - and a year of working with the US Coast Guard each week - we have everything in place from horns to lifejackets to fire extinguishers and we think the able crew can make the public sails unique and fun - as was the whole process of building the Ardelle.

We hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend and if you are in the area please do come by and see us! For more information on charters, please go to schoonerardelle.com. We are scrambling now to shift gears but we are going to be around all fall until the snow flies so do plan to book a sail.

Boatyard Dog

2011-09-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Daisy, the boatyard dog.

Keeping an eye on the crew

Daisy likes to lie in the road

What are you doing Uncle Steve?

Checking out the docks

Steve is pounding clams - yum.

While we await the start of our charter business, we have been noticing it is a bit quiet now around the boatyard. Well, photographer Nicole Goodhue Boyd reminded us of the not so quiet times when the schooner was under construction. The past 11 months would not be complete without a few photos of our boatyard dog, Daisy. She is a great dog with some major character flaws...but all we have right now are the photos from Nicole when Daisy, the boatyard dog, was just doing her thing. Thanks, Nicole!

Great Video from Our First Sail - Around Cape Ann

2011-08-30T05:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you Kirk Williamson from the Cape Ann Beacon for joining us on the sail around the world - er, I mean our world...Cape Ann! Great Video, thanks!

Thank you Kirk, for this video. The Cape Ann Beacon has also posted 11 or so photos from our arrival in Gloucester. Great images! Please review those here http://www.wickedlocal.com/gloucester/photos/x383665054/PHOTO-GALLERY-Schooner-Ardelle-Arrives-in-Gloucester

A Great Welcome to Ardelle, A Great Sail

2011-08-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

Mass. State Senator Bruce Tarr of Gloucester and Harold Burnham

Sailing past Pigeon Cove above and Senator Bruce Tarr and Maritime Gloucester President Geoff Richon greet the Ardelle

The Ardelle Sails into Gloucester harbor. Photo by Barry O'Brien

Happy Harold. Photo by Barry O'Brien

Schooner Ardelle enters the harbor. Photo by Barry O'Brien

Ardelle Under Sail. Photo by Barry O'Brien

Schooner Ardelle Meets the Thomas E. Lannon. Photo by Bill O'Connor

Schooner Ardelle Arrives at Maritime Gloucester

Gloucester, MA - Maritime Gloucester and Senator Bruce Tarr welcomed the Pinky Schooner Ardelle to Gloucester on Wednesday night marking the beginning of a new era for the center, the harbor and the city.

With two Essex-built schooners – the Thomas E. Lannon and the Schooner Ardelle now calling Gloucester their homeport, the Ardelle will enhance and add to the cultural and historic importance of this port.

Sen. Bruce Tarr and Maritime Gloucester president Geoffrey Richon were on the docks to greet the Ardelle after her maiden voyage from Essex on Wednesday. The schooner pulled into the dock with most of the building crew aboard, and with family, supporters and friends on shore to greet her, there was a sense of excitement that a traditionally-built and designed Essex schooner will be seen – and likely – remembered by generations of Cape Ann residents now and in the future.

“This schooner is really about our heritage, about who we are,” said Sen. Tarr (R) at Maritime Gloucester – formerly called the Maritime Heritage Center. “We do have to continue to fight to preserve our fishing legacy and our maritime past, present and future. Having a schooner here at Maritime Gloucester, for our young people to see and learn on, is a very important moment for our city and for us.”

Burnham, 44, also addressed the crowd at Maritime Gloucester when he said that, “having both the Thomas E. Lannon and the Schooner Ardelle in Gloucester – both Essex-built boats – is very important to our heritage and our legacy, in that in order to have authentic cultural tourism we must first and foremost preserve out unique culture.

The Ardelle’s arrival on Wednesday evening marked the end of an 11-month building project that took place at the Burnham Boatyard in Essex. The crew of shipwrights came from all over the North Shore and worked as volunteers, lending their skills and time tirelessly. After both a long year of boatbuilding and a long day of sailing around from the Essex River to Gloucester with a stop over in Rockport the crew were greeted by a grateful and supportive crowd. The crew includes Justin Ingersoll of Essex, Zach Teal of Essex, Frances Cleary of Essex, Bernie Powers of Beverly, Chuck Redman of North Andover, Chad Gadbois of Beverly, Henry Szosta of Beverly, Steve Willard of Marblehead, Bruce Slifer of Gloucester, Andy Spinney of Hamilton, Pierre Erhard of Wenham– among others – were aboard for the sail.

With winds gusting to 20-knots, the Ardelle handled beautifully and sailed with speeds of up to 8 knots. Dr. Robin Tattersoll, a special member of the Ardelle crew and former Olympic sailor helmed much of the way. “She sails beautifully,” he was heard to say to Harold, and Ardelle reached 8 knots on a broad reach off Eastern Point. And, the sentiment was shared on shore as the Ardelle arrived at Maritime Gloucester a fan held up a sign that said simply “Absolutely Perfect.”

Gloucester Times Piece Details Our New Move

2011-08-23T18:16:00.000-07:00

August 22, 2011

Ardelle ready to move

By Jesse PooleStaff Writer

As Essex shipwright Harold Burnham plans to set sail his newest creation, the pinky schooner Ardelle, from Essex Bay to Gloucester Harbor on Wednesday, the winds of change are also blowing on its destination — the newly renamed Maritime Gloucester, formerly the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.

The new name change is not the only new rendition for the center. Along with a new board structure and executive director, the center is excited that the schooner Thomas E. Lannon, another Burnham creation, will share the harbor with the Ardelle.

Is Gloucester Harbor big enough for two schooners?

Geoffrey Richon, president of the Maritime Gloucester board, said he thinks so. He said it'll be a great addition, not only for Maritime Gloucester, but also for the city.

"It will be beautiful to see the two sailing together," said Richon. "And it'll be good for the schooner business, bringing more people here, as a destination point."

As the museum plans to utilize the Ardelle as an educational tour boat for maritime science students in Essex County as well as for passenger rides, the new schooner's arrival and presence in Gloucester is pivotal, according to Richon.

But its route to the city and the Maritime center is still unknown, said Burnham, who was working on the schooner Monday with three volunteers.

Burnham and his small crew were preparing the Ardelle for the Coast Guard's arrival to perform a stability test on the schooner today. They were placing large blue plastic barrels on the sides of the inside of the craft, to be filled with water.

Burnham Boatbuilding staffer Laurie Fullerton said the schooner must be able to carry 49 passengers, each weighing an average of 180 pounds — a heavier individual weight than covered by previous regulations.

After the barrels were filled with water of the right weight, by 3:30 p.m. Monday, the Ardelle passed the test in an hour-and-a-half-long process, according to Burnham's 15-year-old daughter, Perry Burnham.

Now with the approval of the Coast Guard, Burnham anticipates just a few more chores on the boat, including sanding the floor, said Fullerton, who painted the vessel on Sunday.

With its masts already up, Fullerton said its possible the Ardelle may make its way through the Annisquam River. But according to Fullerton, Burnham would prefer to sail around Cape Ann, a more dramatic passage. His final decision, however, depends upon the tides and whether they depart on time, which is planned to be at 5 a.m. Wednesday.

The craft is expected to arrive at Maritime Gloucester at 6:30 p.m. but it probably won't take the whole day to get there, said Fullerton.

"We'll probably moor off Rocky Neck and wait," she said.

Maritime Gloucester, at 9 Harbor Loop, will hold a welcoming party upon the Ardelle's arrival, which Richon promised will be a gala event.

"It will be one of the most significant moments in the growth of Maritime Gloucester, going from a founding period to a sustaining period," said Richon.

Richon said many of the changes that are coming to the center stem from the plans of the late Harriet Webster, who was the executive director. Webster passed away in June.

The board will be announcing the new executive director on Sept. 8 at the center's "Bluenose Dinner," a major annual fund-raising event.

Jesse Poole can be reached at 978-283-7000, x3447, or at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x833715033/Ardelle-ready-to-move

Ardelle Passes Her Stability Test

2011-08-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

The US Coast Guard conducted the all important stability test yesterday and we passed! Thank you USCG for the photos here

The barrels are full of water and set on heavy pine...and measured.

The test took about two hours.

The test was thorough and went very well.

We celebrated at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum last evening. Thanks Perry Ardelle Burnham for this foto.

Photo by Perry Ardelle Burnham

The barrels were moved to one side...as the testing wrapped up.

Yesterday was a hectic day as the US Coast Guard arrived for the all important stability test. The test involved filling large blue barrels with water and loading the schooner with heavy pine. The barrels were moved around the boat…simulating the weight of up to 49 passengers. Well, the passengers…er I mean barrels…were moved here and there and passed all of their tests. Passing the stability test is a huge hurdle and the crew and the Coast Guard worked through the hot afternoon to get the job done. All we can say is thank you to the USCG for all your hard work and dedication … we have been working with you all year and have learned a lot from you and we look forward to sailing with you soon! After we passed the stability test, the barrels came off, the pine boards came off and the work continues today. Tomorrow we sail for Gloucester! We are all looking forward to arriving at Maritime Gloucester at 630 p.m for a celebration!

Bon Voyage to Essex on Monday Evening

2011-08-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

It is amazing but the Ardelle's dance card is filling up already with a lovely Bon Voyage cookout set for Monday put on by the Essex Shipbuilding museum and the welcoming part at Maritime Gloucester on Weds (see prior post for all the details). Thank you everyone for making it a festive week!

Monday, August 22 · 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Location	Essex Shipbuilding Museum 66 Main Street

Created By	Essex Shipbuilding Museum

More Info	The Pinky Schooner Ardelle will make sail for her new Port of Gloucester sometime at the end of next week. In celebration, we are gathering for a modest potluck supper, a little music and kind words will be held in honor of those who helped to make Harold Burnham’s dream an historic reality. Bring your own food and refreshments. We’ll supply Bar-B-Que grills to cook on, tables in the Waterline Center, music and good company. Join us!

Scary Clown Makes a Splash!

2011-08-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

We have a late breaking update here at Burnham Boatbuilding....as some of you know, twice a day the Ardelle grounds out while she is on the moorings and slowly settles down on one bilge here in the Essex river basin. Occassionally, a few things get left on deck that we hear slide down into the bulwarks. Tonight, as the Ardelle settled on her bilge, we heard that sliding sound and then splash! We realized something (ballast, tools, stanchion or what have you) had gone overboard and was possibly gone for good. So, Harold decided to row out in the dark and have a look. And, while passing under the bow, there it was. Scary Clown's upturned head had come off his body and slid through the freeing port. Harold yelled back to the house...it's is the clown's head! That really settles it ... we can't leave Essex on Wednesday without that clown. Some have suggested a sea burial once we leave the river....but this clown has nine lives at least!

Scary Clown has a close encounter...losing its head overboard...thankfully rescued by Harold.

Schooner Ardelle Will Sail Into Gloucester on Weds., Aug 24

2011-08-18T05:32:00.000-07:00

Ardelle on her first sail down the Essex River last Sunday. Thank you
Leo Formenoy for the foto!

Take a moment to read this press release and come on by Maritime Gloucester to welcome us to our new home!

ESSEX-BUILT SCHOONER ARDELLE TAKES UP GLOUCESTER RESIDENCE AS HERITAGE CENTER TAKES ON NEW NAME
Sailing history will be made again in Gloucester on August 24 AT 6:30 PM when the Schooner Ardelle arrives at its new home at Maritime Gloucester, formerly known as the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, on Harbor Loop.

The addition of the Ardelle to the Gloucester fleet means that two "passenger-fisherman" schooners built in a Burnham boatyard in Essex will be sailing regularly from Gloucester. It will join the Thomas E. Lannon, also built by Burnham, and launched in 1997.

The Ardelle, built and operated by Harold Burnham, will offer day and evening sails to the public.

It will also serve as a floating classroom and laboratory for the several thousand students who participate in hands-on marine science education programs at Maritime Gloucester.

Burnhams' have been building schooners since the early 1800's and Essex has turned out more than 4,000 of them. The traditionally built double-ended "pinky schooner" Ardelle is “sawn frame and trunnel fastened” using indigenous resources, both material and labor in the tradition of the Essex boat building industry.

In addition to its educational role she will offer several two-hour public trips a day and be available for charter for weddings, birthdays, family events and other special occasions.

"I could not be more proud of the people who helped build this vessel in the Essex tradition and the opportunity to sail regularly from Maritime Gloucester, which continues an historic community linkage that goes back centuries. It's an opportunity to help people discover and value our past while also helping students develop their science and math skills and explore future opportunities that may not have previously been obvious to them," said Harold Burnham.

Heritage Center Changes Name, Welcomes Ardelle

Maritime Gloucester, under the Heritage Center banner, has become the region's leader in hands-on education in marine science and related fields. It now serves more than 3,000 students from Cape Ann area schools each year and expects to double that number in five years. It also hosts some 30,000 visitors to the Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary exhibit, the aquarium touch tanks and to Gorton's Gallery where the story of fitting out schooners in the late 1800's is told.

The name change, and its new tag line, "Oceans of Discovery", reflects its evolving mission as an educational center that continues to feature Gloucester's maritime past.

The change, to be formally unveiled Friday, September 2, at the organizations annual Bluenose Gala, is the result of a major strategic initiative begun last year under the late Harriet Webster, who served as executive director from the organization's earliest days, to emphasize its growing success delivering hands-on marine science education to students.

In addition to the new name and tag line, Maritime Gloucester has set a goal of doubling its student population, now at more than 3,000, in five years. It's looking to offer its programs to middle school students throughout Essex County and beyond.

Geoffrey Richon, president of the Maritime Gloucester board, called the arrival of the Ardelle "one of the most important events in the 11-year history of Maritime Gloucester. Having the Ardelle as an integral part of Maritime Gloucester's programs for students and the public makes an important statement about Gloucester's role in maritime history, as well as about the importance of science and technology to a sustainable environment and a strong economy."

Rockport middle school teacher Carolyn McWilliams, whose students are active participants in Maritime Gloucester's programs, said the addition of the Ardelle "will significantly enhance the already impressive hands-on learning experience at Maritime Gloucester. It's an experience that both excites and inspires students to discover their passion for science and math. For our students, the programs offer a period of discovery that couldn't be found elsewhere. The addition of the Schooner Ardelle is a tremendous building block in the learning process."

The Ardelle will begin sailing for the public soon after its arrival and will be fully integrated into Maritime Gloucester's education programs this fall. For additional information visit the Ardelle website -- http://schoonerardelle.com/ -- or call 978-290-7168.

Sailing on the Ardelle!

2011-08-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

The Ardelle has its first sail!

On the Essex River basin..fotos by Perry Burnham

We had 18 people aboard...shipwrights, friends and family

Plenty of room for everyone.

Perry Ardelle Burnham and her Dad.

Steve and Henry Hastings on the stern

Bruce, Harold, Zach and Erik Borden

Wow, we have come a long way!

Nice shot of the bow

Great team work!!

Daisy really enjoyed her first sail on the Ardelle. Thanks, Patty, for the foto!

Drifting...

Chuck and Harold. Photo by Patty Fredette

Reaching by...

After a long day loading ballast and rigging the topmast, we finally got the Ardelle out for her first sail today. It is hard to believe how far we have come since last Labor Day weekend when we hosted Frame Up day.

Today was Chuck Redman's last day as a full-time shipwright with us. He joined us just over a year ago when he was considering attending the Landing School in Maine. At that time, we told him that he could do that or help us build a schooner. In the year he spent with us, he helped loft the vessel, made all the molds and many patterns, helped build the keel and frames, made the sails, drove trunnels, cut and fit stanchions, worked on the shelf clamp, laid the deck, worked on the rails and caps and now he is headed of to a full time job with Mark Lindsay at Boston Boat Works. Awesome job, Chuck, we are very proud of you and and what you have done. We will see you soon!

Sails Going On Today and the Crew is Taking a Ride Down River

2011-08-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

A great "second" maiden volage down river and back on the Ardelle.

Yesterday, we had a great ride down river on the Ardelle and today we are putting on the sails and will have our first sail on the Ardelle. We are doing a stability test and getting the crew together for a sail. Yesterday, Harold and the crew got the lead all into the boat and the top mast on. We had a lot of fun yesterday on the river but a lot of hard work went on, too. It looks like this week the vessel will really begin to look more shipshape with more finishing touches and a visit from the Coast Guard, too. Stay tuned for more photos and updates on when we head over to Gloucester and move to the Heritage Center.

This a.m. the Ardelle is on its side...yep, when the tides is out...she rests on her side. Time to head for Gloucester harbor..soon enough!

Charles "Chuckie" Burnham enjoys his first ride on the Ardelle; named after his mother.

Grandmother Lane rings the bell from her porch as we motor past her on the Ardelle. Her two grandsons, Zach Teal and Jeff Lane were on board.

Scary clown did survive a years' worth of hard work and tough conditions so we put his head back on and gave him a great view of the river on his first ride.

Tom and Steve Hastings (and Stephanie) get a good look at the Ardelle. The schooner is named after their grandmother, too, as their mom Lois and Chuckie are brother and sister.

Zach and Chuck were not just on the Ardelle for a ride they really did build her, too.

It's Almost Time to "Bend the Sails"

2011-08-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

Capt. Simon Koch, our neighbor and a great sailor. He has been a great help with the rig.

The mast stepping was a great sight.

Zach Teal gets a birds eye view from a top the mast

Zach heading up the mast.

Harold gets a knee on the trestle trees

No, it is not really fun up there.

Dave Brown is a great rigger and educator extraordinaire.

The mast stepping is full of interesting moments.

Harold is pleased with the way the masts look.

On Saturday, the crew stepped the two masts on the Ardelle and the rigging process began the following day. The process of building every part of the rig has been ongoing in that Chuck Redman made the sails over the winter and the spars were also built as time allowed. Rigging a schooner is yet another complex phase of the work and just when everyone here can see the horizon off Cape Ann in their minds, and imagine the boat under sail, the rigging still has to get done. We have some great help and yesterday Harold and Zach Teal went up the mast, and, yes, it feels pretty lonely up their at the top. With the exception of trapeze artists, most humans like to be looking up at the masts, and not looking down at the deck from 60 feet in the air without a net. So, we are glad that the rigging process is nearly complete..and it looks like the booms will be on today and we will hopefully be "bending the sails" on today or tomorrow. Bending a sail really means fastening it to its yard or stay. So, although we won't be sailing yet, look for the sails on the short horizon between the barn and the creek, and you will get a taste of what the Ardelle will look like under full sail.

Mast Went In Beautifully

2011-08-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

Chuck Redmond and Simon Koch holding on to the mast.

Chuck and Simon Koch

The two masts are in.

Ardelle and the barn

The crew puts in the windlass

Windlass is installed

Ardelle and Justin Ingersoll.

Mast is stepped

The mast went in beautifully on Saturday evening and everything went off without a hitch. The Ardelle really looks great and everyone who pitched in did a great job. Thank you so much Simon Koch, Geoffrey Richon, Dave Brown, Jeff Lane and many others for all of the help!

Masts Are Ready to Go On This Sat at 5 PM

2011-08-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

Harold and Zach work on the trestle trees and iron work

Zach is working on the top of the mast

Harold will not be able to stand on the top of the mast like this after Saturday

Great work everyone

Masts will be up by Saturday night

The crew has been working long and hard and finally let me know that the masts will be ready to be hoisted and go up.

It should happen around 5 p.m. on Saturday so come on by!!

Thanks Dan for the great photos!!

Masts To be Stepped This Saturday at 5 p.m.

2011-08-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

Harold in the engine room. It is now running and the whole space looks great!

Harold is hiding from the sun while he works in the engine room.

Dan Tobyne's eye wandered over to these two boats at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum

At the Essex Shipbuilding Museum

Putting the hatches in place

Row boats and dories at low tide at the ESM

Come by the Essex Shiipbuilding Museum around 5 p.m. this Sat., August 6 to see the Ardelle's masts hoisted up with a crane and safely put into the vessel. Phew! That will be a big hurdle for us and will bring us that much closer to going sailing. Harold just now uttereed "I can't wait to go sailing" and he is ready but there are still quite a few more things to do.

We have had some great help this week particularly from José Hernández-Juviel who lives in Long Beach, California. He and his wife (who is a native of this area) were visiting family and he offered up two days of his time to work on the rigging. He and Zach worked on the spars and the rigging and he did some beautiful leather work on the gaffs. We thank you, Jose, for your great company and hopefully you and your wife will be back again! The top mast is nearly finished and the masts may be stepped this Saturday. We will know more tomorrow but they will likely be stepped in the creek adjacent to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.

We also had a visiting traveler named Ari Gold who is riding his bike around the country. He gave us two days of his time and sanded the cabin tops and helped paint. Thank you Ari for your help and good luck in your travels.

Harold and Zach arre talking to Chuck before the vessel left the creek for its maiden voyage on Monday.

Harold is measuring the trestle tree. It looks great!

Ardelle Had Maiden Voyage Down River

2011-08-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Ardelle had her maiden voyage down river yesterday

The crew took Ardelle down river, and many took a swim off of her as well!

Trestle Trees being made for the masts

Scary Clown made it through the launch and is now resting on the old bench!

Harold, Zach and Bruce - Bruce has done a great job on the masts!

Bulwarks were painted the other day. And, the cap rails are done too!

Chuck is helping get the boat out of the creek. We took a maiden voyage on Monday this week down the Essex River!

The Engine Room is actually nearly finished now, and the engine runs well!

A great deal of work has been going on with the Ardelle and yesterday the crew were able to take it down the Essex river for its maiden voyage. The top mast is now going on the main mast. The engine room and engine installation is done, the spars are getting a lot of work done. The deck, bulwarks and caprails are being painted. Paul Schwartz has delivered to beautiful cabin tops so the cabin tops are down.

Engine Room is Nearly Finished and The Crew is Back

2011-07-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Ardelle has settled in for a little while longer.

The Ardelle bumped the Maine out of the coveted slot in the creek.

Not a bad place to wait out the tide.

The spars are ready.

A veiw from the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.

Harold is finishing up the engine room now.

Tim Walsh got the cabin tops ready and they are now in place.

Harold and Chuck. Harold does need a bit of a rest, we think, but perhaps this winter!

Bob Hicks, publisher of Messing Around in Boats sent this PDF-file of his story on the side launch of the Lewis Story. I am going to try and enlarge this as it is a great story!

The Ardelle is still in the creek and a lot of the crew have returned after taking a little time to enjoy some of these great summer days. Steve Willard, Bruce Slifer, Justin Ingersoll, Zach Teal, Chuck Redmond have all been back and working hard. Also, Tim Walsh, Jackson Friedman, Jeff Lane and others are coming by and working as much as they can. It is great to see everyone back...we wish the work was done and we could start sailing but there are still some big jobs ahead. The mast should be going on early next week or even the end of this week, we hope, and that will be quite a sight to see. The cabin tops are on and the tiller is being built. The boat needs a lot more paint...Harold is nearing completion of the engine room which is huge. Thank you Dan Tobyne for the great photos.

The story of the Lewis Story launch as it appeared in Messing Around in Boats

What Is a Pinky Schooner Exactly?

2011-07-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

The Pinky Maine last winter

The grand lady of all Essex schooners - The Ernestina
The Ernestina (not a pinky) had her bow and front section restored in 2008 at Boothbay Harbor shipyard, Harold oversaw the restoration.

Just before the launch, some people who are knowledgeable about such things described the Ardelle as being a clipper pinky - which she is. The clipper description is due to the fact she does have a slightly more defined bow than say the pinky Maine. This is due in part to some pleading from Laurie, and her friend Aarjan, who argued that we would sail across the Atlantic Ocean on the Ardelle, but we wanted to get there quickly, or relatively quickly, and we felt we would need a clipper pinky to cut through the waves. Well, that is the way we are telling the story but it is open to intepretation. We love the bow, and it is alogether a very yar vessel!

However, a lot of folks have been asking lately...what a pinky schooner is so we have a brief description here by way of explanation. Pinky schooners were a common type of New England fishing vessel that sailed out of local Cape Ann harbors from the early eighteenth century through the early twentieth century. In 1839, there were 64 registered pinky schooners out of the Cape Ann and its district. Pinkies were generally smaller vessels from which men fished over the side but they were also known for their seaworthiness. These vessels were so distinctive in their look and common that a careful study of many marine paintings from the era will have a pinky or two in the background. Many of the paintings of the internationally renowned artist Fitz Henry Lane, including those in the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. usually have pinkies in the background of the painting. "Pinky" means that the stern is "pinked" or pinched together which indicates a pointed stern and may originally be a Dutch word.

It is believed that the pinkies developed from Chebacco boats. A good many of them were built at Essex. These vessels were built to a very high standard and some lasted a very long time. The original MAINE was built in 1845 and sailed until 1926. The ARDELLE is a typical full-rigged clipper Pinky and her design is largely based on the original MAINE – although the Ardelle is larger and havs more of a clipper feel.

The clipper pinky schooner Ardelle

The Ardelle during the planking stage

"I can't wait to get her out of the creek" - HAB

2011-07-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Ardelle needs a tiller!

The Ardelle is grounded for now...but will be sailing soon. Nice shot! Thank you Dan.

The Ardelle is picture perfect ... but we think it is too hot for the artists today.

Yes, there is a lot more work to be done yet.

The Ardelle awaits her rigging and is in the mud for right now.

It is about 100 degrees in the shade today so the crew is stopping early but the momentum is building to get the Ardelle out of the creek and out sailing. Every day, the first thing Harold says is "I can't WAIT to get her out of the creek." He does not like to see such a vessel tied to the dock...and the Ardelle is chomping at the bit to get going. It is like we are almost at the summit but the work is just not quite done. Lots more to do, lets hope the heat wave passes soon.

This is a great vantage point at the time of the launch

We can't get enough of this!

The hard working crew in the last week before the launch

Another great pre-launch foto. All photos by Dan Tobyne.

Where is the Ardelle?

2011-07-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

The Ardelle on the ways last Sat., July 9. Where is she now?
Photo by Caitie Tobyne

Where's the Ardelle? She was last seen on this jack stand..at least before the launch.

Where's the Ardelle? She was on the ways until recently

Where's the Ardelle? Gordon Hertel got to watch her launch and saw her first frame go up. Hopefully, he will see other schooners built here throughout his lifetime. Anyway, the Ardelle is in the creek around the corner from here. She will be sailing very soon, at least that is what we hope. Should be the first week of August, here's hoping. Just have to get the masts done and some other items...Harold has a long list but he is hammering away at it.

Where's the Ardelle? An immense amount of work went on the night before the launch. Including fastinging the chain plates to the hull. Zach is down below tightening the bolts while in the next shot Zach and Henry are finishing up the chain plates on the outside of the hull.

Anchors Aweigh - Boston Sunday Globe Story on the Launch of the Ardelle

2011-07-17T03:10:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Joel Brown, reporter for the Boston Globe for today's story about the launch of the Ardelle. Joel spent a couple of days here before the launch and then stayed the entire day for the actual launch so the story definitely reads well and he did a great job capturing the significance of it all. Thank you, Joel!

Here is the first paragraph and do go on and read the article with the link here http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2011/07/17/anchors_aweigh/

ESSEX - At high tide, it came down to teamwork and muscle.

Perhaps a thousand spectators watched from the Essex Shipbuilding Museum across the water last weekend as traditional shipbuilder Harold A. Burnham prepared to launch the 55-foot schooner Ardelle into the Essex River.

An announcer explaining the process called for quiet as Burnham and a dozen or so grimy volunteers carefully jacked the hand-built wooden boat, tipping it to lean on its port bilge. This was an old-school Essex side launch, providing extra buoyancy to keep the vessel from getting stuck in the muddy shallows, as it might if it went straight in on the keel.

Teenagers jumped off the nearby Route 133 bridge to swim. A policeman on a jet ski kept boaters at a safe distance. Someone handed out slices of watermelon. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2011/07/17/anchors_aweigh/

What A Great Launch Day

2011-07-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Dan Tobyne arrived early on launch day. This is the only day that the staging is gone...and a great opptornity for a photographer.

Great panoramic view of this quintessential Essex scene. Photo by Dan Tobyne.

Such a graceful launch! Photo by Dan Tobyne

The launch happened around 6:30 p.m. on July 9 at high tide. What a great evening we had!

There is a lot of chaos and some tense moments at a launch. But, for this one, Harold was very calm.

The launch of the schooner Ardelle was definitely the talk of the town - and YouTube - as anyone who googles Launch of the Schooner Ardelle - will find all kinds of postings. One can see the launch from all different angles. People have been stopping by all week showing us their slideshows, and You Tube favorites. We have been featured in the Gloucester Times - with a great front page shot of Steve Willard with the American flag and the Ardelle, and Zach waving from the bow of the Ardelle after the launch. We have been on the front page of the Cape Ann Beacon and North Shore Sunday...with the schooner launching and a picture of Jackson and Justin watching it slide down the ways. We have seen Perry, Harold and Chuck on the front page of the North Shore Sunday. The minister of the Lutheran Church in Gloucester wrote an editorial about the launch. The school children of Essex were all here, screaming with excitement as they watched the boat launch. Once it launched, all the boys in town jumped into the water from the short bridge in the river basin. A friend said to me, "this is the most New England thing I have ever seen!" It was a bit of Norman Rockwell day...there was something very American, very New England about this day. We all wish we could hold onto it and keep it forever...but already the day is becoming something that happened last week, and soon it will be last year. We just would all like to see more schooners come down the ways here...just as they had done for nearly 400 years! wow. Just have to say, You Go, Harold!

Elaine, Vivian Low and Deb Burnham carry the daisy chain towards the Ardelle. Ardelle was Deb's grandmother and Daisy's were her favorite flower. She was an avid gardner and the boatyard was once full of flowers!

Just another day for Geoff Richon's old dog.

Ben Lauer was a huge help during the days before and during the launch. Thanks, Ben!

Zach's hair was cut off by Perry and Erica after the launch. They used giant sailmaking scissors! oopss!

Great view of her going down the ways

The crowd swelled to 2000 around the basin.

Perry Ardelle Burnham brings it home with a great smash, then splash!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=811537496#!/video/video.php?v=10150244474084431&comments

Great Shots by the Cape Ann Beacon

2011-07-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

The Cape Ann Beacon has posted some great photos and a video so please do take a moment to check this out!

http://www.wickedlocal.com/essex/ardelle/x2028115218/GALLERY-SCHOONER-ARDELLE-LAUNCH

and this great video

http://www.wickedlocal.com/essex/multimedia/videos/x2028115216/VIDEO-Ardelle-Launch

and the Dyers sennt this one in of Steve Willard

Uncle Steve

The Ardelle's Debut ' Story by the Gloucester Times

2011-07-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

The Glocuester Times has a great story and photos in today's paper, featured here, but thank you to all for making this such a great event. We would also like to post pictures as everyone has a different angle of the launch which is great. Today, we thank Dan Tobyne and my cousin Wendy Upton for their shots!!

Here is the times story with link below
July 10, 2011

The Ardelle's debut

By Gail McCarthy

Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Sun Jul 10, 2011, 11:58 PM EDT

ESSEX — The launch of the latest Essex schooner is now history.

Close to 2,000 spectators watched the 60-ton splashdown of the Schooner Ardelle in Essex on Saturday evening at high tide at the historic Burnham Boatbuilding yard.

The air filled with hushed anticipation from the crowd after the christening when the workers began to sledge hammer away the wooden blocks keeping the vessel, crafted by Harold Burnham and his colleagues, in place at the water's edge just about 6 p.m.

Then, within about 15 minutes, it was all over. The Ardelle floated on the calm waters after it listed dramatically to one side.

The atmosphere was tense when the boat began to move along its track, with a palpable gasp from the crowd. Then it stopped. More work was done to free the blocks and let Mother Nature takes its course.

Barry O'Brien, who serves on the board of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, explained to the crowd what they were watching, and what they could expect to see.

"At some point, gravity will take over," he said.

And that it did, when the Pinky Schooner hit the river, followed by cheers and a "hip-hip hooray." About a dozen boys and girls seated on the bridge over the river then plunged into the high-tide water
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1227516204/The-Ardelles-debut

Ardelle on Sat. a.m. with the staging down. Dan Tobyne photo.

Photo by Wendy Upton

Ardelle launches in the Essex side launch style without a hitch. Huzzah!
Photo by Dan Tobyne

Check out all the pictures in Good Morining Gloucester! http://networkedblogs.com/kdjLM