Schooner VIRGINIA Announces Three Weeks of New England Youth Sail Training in July and August
Norfolk, VA (PRWEB) June 30, 2014 -- Want to know what it is like to climb 65 feet in the air above the deck of a rolling ship, or watch a pod of dolphins glide and jump through the water less than 10 feet away? Like challenges and adventure? For those who can unplug from the virtual world long enough to get to know a new crew of people standing right next to them at sea, check out schooner VIRGINIA’s summer programs, now heading to New England.
Schooner VIRGINIA’s youth sail training programs, which are so much more than just learning how to sail, head to New England next month. See the full schedule below.
In addition to seamanship and navigation, youth sailing training also builds self-discipline, character, personal responsibility, and leadership skills in a team environment for the toughest fun kids will ever have. Schooner VIRGINIA's programs come for students of all ages, ranging in length from a few hours to multi- week voyages, where maritime history, marine science, and literature of the sea come alive.
But, the focus truly is on personal growth. Working together to set sails, navigate, and simply keep the ship clean; students learn to live by the motto of the sea – Ship, Shipmate, Self.
To reserve a bunk and/or for more information, call 757-627-7400 or e-mail kaia(at)schoonervirginia(dot)org.
Total capacity for students is 16. Youth program participants must be between 13 and 17 years old.
Day sails and dockside reception options are available in New London, CT; Portland, ME; Newport, RI, and Boston, MA.
Course Changes – New England
-July 15 – July 21, 2014
-Board: 2 pm, Tuesday in New London, CT Depart: 2 pm, Monday in Portland, ME
-Cost: $1,200 per student.
-This is VIRGINIA’s introductory course for 13-17 year old students. The program emphasizes traditional navigation and sailing with plenty of shore excursions in exciting New England ports. Potential stops include historic New Bedford, MA, with its rich fishing and whaling history; Provincetown, MA, where students will learn about efforts to protect the local whale populations; and/or Gloucester, MA, where schooners similar to VIRGINIA have been built and sailed for hundreds of years.
Course Changes – New England
-July 24 – July 30, 2014
-Board: 2 pm, Thursday in Portland, ME Depart: 2 pm, Wednesday in Newport, RI
-Cost: $1,200 per student.
-This is VIRGINIA’s introductory course for 13-17 year old students. The program emphasizes traditional navigation and sailing with plenty of shore excursions in exciting New England ports. VIRGINIA will work her way down-east along the beautiful Maine coastline before turning south for Newport, RI. VIRGINIA is a regular in these waters, which offer some incredible opportunities to explore the rugged shorelines and see some truly amazing marine life – whales, mola-molas, dolphins, and porpoises.
Course Changes – New England
-August 18 – August 24, 2014
-Board: 2 pm, Monday, Newport, RI Depart: 2 pm, Sunday, Boston, MA
-Cost: $1,200 per student.
-This is VIRGINIA’s introductory course for 13-17 year old students. The program emphasizes traditional navigation and sailing with plenty of shore excursions in New England. Potential stops include historic New Bedford, MA, with its rich fishing and whaling history; Provincetown, MA, where students will learn about efforts to protect the local whale populations; and/or Gloucester, MA, where schooners similar to VIRGINIA have been built and sailed for hundreds of years.
About VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA is a two-masted, gaff-topsail knockabout schooner that is 126 feet long, 24 feet wide and weighs 157 tons; her tallest mast – the mainmast – towers 112 feet off the water.
She is home ported in Norfolk, Virginia. VIRGINIA is a re-creation of her namesake vessel, the last pure sailing vessel built for the Virginia Pilot Association on the Chesapeake Bay between 1917 and 1926. She was designed using the blueprints of the original ship.
She is a vessel that links hundreds of years of tradition to modern times. Virginia Pilots have safely guided ships through the shoals of the Virginia Capes and the Chesapeake Bay to the Ports of Virginia. The pilots relied on fast, seaworthy and easily handled vessels that could operate in all kinds of weather. The pilot schooners of Virginia became world renowned for these traits, and stayed in service long after other vessels had turned to steam.
In the early 20th century, there were still plenty of ships under sail coming through the Capes and the pilots needed to keep their sailing skills sharp. The original VIRGINIA was built to serve as a floating home and training vessel for the pilots. She was the last all sail vessel built for the Virginia Pilot Association who worked her from 1917 to 1926 when she was replaced by a steam ship.
Schooner VIRGINIA is owned and operated by the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation (VMHF), a nonprofit 501 C-3 organization established to promote the maritime heritage of the Commonwealth. For more information, visit us at http://www.SchoonerVirginia.org or on Facebook at The Pilot Schooner VIRGINIA.
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Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation
500 East Main Street, Suite 600
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-627-7400
kaia(at)schoonervirginia(dot)org
http://www.schoonervirginia.org
Stephanie Heinatz, Consociate Media, http://www.consociatemedia.com, +1 757.713.2199, [email protected]
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