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Built in the time-honored fashion of wooden planks on massive deal frames, the schooner "Spirit of Massachusetts" was constructed at the Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts in 1984.
Designed by naval architect Melbourne Smith, the "Spirit of Massachusetts" is based on the design of another famous Massachusetts schooner: the 1889 New England yacht and fishing schooner "Fredonia".
Commissioned at Boston on June 3rd, 1984, the schooner works as a sail training ship for Boston's New England Historic Seaport. As a unique school under canvas, the Spirit of Massachusetts sails year round, ranging from Nova Scotia and the Eastern Seaboard in summer to the Carribean in winter. In addition to their regular school studies, students learn the technical aspects of life at sea: seamanship, navigation, and other marine topics. Self-reliance, self-discipline, and cooperation are also learned as they participate in the running of the ship.
Spirit of Massachusetts as a wedding present. The only rub was that the ship had to be built, and delivered, to upstate Michigan in time for the wedding - a mere three and a half weeks away. The groom's father wanted an extra-special gift for his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. It seems that the bride and groom have a very special attachment to the Massachusetts as they once shared a cruise together on the schooner. Was there any way I could do it? Well, sure, I could build one and have it there in time but, the sea would never be set enough to withstand the shipping. Even dispatching the ship by overnight courier would not give the sea enough time. Well, I thought, there's no way I can do this. Unless... I offer to take this copy of the Spirit of Massachusetts out of my "Under the Seawind" display and build a replacement for the display at a later date. Was he interested? Need I ask?
The new stand was soon built, stained and lacquered; a bright new cap, neck tie and special brass presentation plaque added, and the ship was ready to sail. Of course I couldn't resist "dressing ship" for the wedding - adding a new hoist of signal flags fluttering from the foremast gaff and a spanking new "Spirit of Massachusetts" flag flying from to the mainmast. And a week later, the ship sailed, on time, to be delivered in plenty of time for the wedding...
Sailing away...
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