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View Full Version : Merchant Marine Academy gets a Classic



Jonathan Kabak
02-04-2010, 07:33 AM
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2G5aTOG6wBI/Svsng3QYfZI/AAAAAAAAJQc/oGz63fzPCTM/s1600-h/IMG_5336.JPG

The schooner Summerwind was recently donated to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Sailing Foundation for use as a training platform for the Academy's Midshipmen.

Here's a little C&P about her:

The Schooner Summerwind was launched as the Queen Tyi in 1929 from the yard of C.A. Morse (now Lyman-Morse) of Thomaston, Maine. Designed by the John G. Alden Company of Boston, Massachusetts, considered by many to be one of the top design firms of this type of craft, she was built for a Wall Street banker who lost the vessel in the Market Crash of 1929. Renamed Sea Gypsy, she was to become a well known schooner yacht, racing and cruising the waters of New England and serving her country during the Second World War as part of the Coastal Picket Patrol with her designation CGR-1989. As the noted historian Samuel Eliot Morison wrote, “( these vessels) had the arduous task of patrolling areas around Nantucket Shoals, west to Shinnecock and down to 40 degrees North…They kept at sea for a week of more and took everything that old man Neptune uncorked.” She was part of the development of the classic yachting movement that began in the late 1960’s as older vessels were joined by newly built replicas as evident in a 1967 New York Times article with the by-line “Block Island waters to drip with nostalgia June 28 as schooners compete” about a gathering of schooners as part of the Storm Trysail club’s recently created Block Island Race Week. By the 1980’s she was chartering in the Mediterranean and her classic gaff rig was converted to that of a staysail schooner. She had several refits during her career as a charter vessel, but her lifespan was nearing its end when she was purchased in Spain in 2006 and transported to Palm Beach Florida where a massive restoration was undertaken. Almost entirely replanked; every structural element was evaluated and either restored or replaced and her engineering systems redesigned. Her sailing rig was again updated, this time to make her a champion racer on the extremely popular classic racing circuit. The efforts of this tremendous two year undertaking were rewarded when she took first place in her class at the 2009 Newport Bucket. Renamed Summerwind, she is a classic vessel in new condition ready to embark upon a championship career.

JimConlin
02-04-2010, 08:36 AM
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OtKDKuTb-Tw/SiQS5-UACLI/AAAAAAAABY8/L38lAOhIZY4/s400/IMGP2040.JPG

rbgarr
02-04-2010, 08:49 AM
I was looking at the Moores Marine website showing her rebuild just the other day:

http://www.woodenboatrepair.com/index.php?option=com_joomlapicasa2&view=album&album=5421459110548954721&page=1&Itemid=16

Jonathan Kabak
02-04-2010, 10:46 AM
http://usmmawaterfront.blogspot.com/search?q=summerwind

This is a link to our blog. Lots more photos available there.

Funny after managing to be a member of this forum for some ten years I'm finally going to have to figure out posting photos....

JK

fast
02-06-2010, 09:48 AM
Can anyone identify the color on "summerwinds " doghouse deck (or coachroof). It's a common color as seen on many decks of vessels of the 30's and 40's ,but not one I've seen on contemporary color charts. By the way , I'm refering to Jim Conlin's post. Thank You.

peter radclyffe
02-06-2010, 01:05 PM
its called filfy rich by dulux

Boatsmith
02-06-2010, 05:05 PM
We did much of the interior work on this rebuild of Summerwind. I think that this rebuild was basically a really poorly planned ordeal. If one wanted a classical racing yacht that would be fine. If one wanted a mother ship that would also be fine. This boat has seven cabins and the main passageway is so narrow that you have to turn sideways to pass. It is so full of electrical and hydraulics and ac lines as to be guaranteed of spending more time at the dock waiting for repairs than out being used for fun. The showers are a joke, the owners shower is so small that if you drop the soap you have to open the door to bend over enough to pick it up. The guest/crew shower is a major rot pocket due to completely crummy design. The boat has two big generators. She has two HUGE sail drive units sticking down from the hull. The teak deck was not replaced and was leaking and being repaired before it left the yard.
The sole in the owner’s stateroom was tiny, varnished teak and holly with a break where it started up the side of the hull. There are 3 doors opening up into this tiny space and in stocking feet many workers fell down from slipping on this change in angle, This at the dock. The owners were in their 70s. There was a broker on the boat being given a listing after the 2nd trip to the Bahamas and before the various trades had completed the punch lists. IMO the owner was led down the path. He would have been much happier to have a basic simple racing schooner and a big Broward mother ship for less money and more fun. I don't believe that this boat will encourage other folks with deep pockets to want to play the game.
That's my nickels worth. David

Russ Manheimer
02-06-2010, 05:20 PM
Jonathan,

Nice to see you back in the neighborhood. Beautiful vessel and nice gig. Any plans to bring Summerwind to Mystic?

Russ

Jonathan Kabak
02-06-2010, 06:24 PM
David-

I won't comment on the story of the restoration process other than to say that we are looking forward to getting our Midshipmen underway in her and utilizing her to train future merchant marine officers in the arts of proper seamanship as can only be done on the deck of a large sailing vessel.

If there are particular insights you would like to share with us that will assist us in her care and maintenance, you are welcome to contact me by private message. I recently heard from several folks involved in the project and would enjoy hearing from you as well.

Russ-

Thanks, although having spent the last year or so sailing offshore on a brigantine I can't really complain. We are working on bring the boat to Mystic.

Peter-

I think it is either an awlgrip or sterling 2 part product. Let me see what I can find when I get back on Monday.

Jonathan

Russ

Jonathan Kabak
02-17-2010, 01:01 PM
Hey Folks,

Looks like the Midshipmen and I will be bringing Summerwind up to the Woodenboat Show this year. Make sure to stop on by for a peak.

Jonathan

Soundbounder
02-18-2010, 04:37 AM
http://usmmawaterfront.blogspot.com/search?q=summerwind

This is a link to our blog. Lots more photos available there.

Funny after managing to be a member of this forum for some ten years I'm finally going to have to figure out posting photos....

JKJust took a look at the Picasa photo gallery.
Nice!!!!;)

BarnacleGrim
02-18-2010, 06:26 AM
Midshipman? Isn't that a naval rank?

Jonathan Kabak
02-18-2010, 07:37 AM
Yes Midshipman is a Naval rank. Students at the United States Merchant Marine Academy are members of the Regiment and are part of the US Naval Reserve.

You can find out more at www.usmma.edu (http://www.usmma.edu)

Jonathan

BarnacleGrim
02-18-2010, 03:11 PM
Seems to me like they make you pay to join the navy. What are the benefits of the Merchant Marine Academy?

John B
02-18-2010, 04:43 PM
Ye gods, but those trainees are going to have some high expectations in the future, she's just stunning down below......:eek:

What are the booms made from ,Jonathan?

Jonathan Kabak
02-18-2010, 04:54 PM
John B-

The booms are carbon fiber composite by GMT in Rhode Island painted to match the sitka spruce masts.

The Midshipmen already have high expectations, our previous big donation was the 90' super-maxi Genuine Risk.

Barnacle-

Kings Point is a Service Academy much like West Point or the Naval Academy in Annapolis. The Academy is run by MARAD, the United States Maritime Administration whose purpose among other things is to ensure that there is a sufficient merchant marine to support the needs of the country. Instead of tuition the students make a commitment to work in the maritime field for several years following graduation. They also have the option of becoming a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces.

Take a look at the Academy's website www.usmma.edu (http://www.usmma.edu) which can do a far better job explaining the setup.

Jonathan