Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Great Video from Our First Sail - Around Cape Ann

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

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

A Great Welcome to Ardelle, A Great Sail

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.”




Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Gloucester Times Piece Details Our New Move

August 22, 2011

Ardelle ready to move

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


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
Photo by Perry Ardelle Burnham
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!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Bon Voyage to Essex on Monday Evening

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

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!


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Scary Clown Makes a Splash!

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

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.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Sailing on the Ardelle!

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




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.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

It's Almost Time to "Bend the Sails"

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.