Ernestina Sailing Forward

The $50,000 Goal is in Sight!!!  More than $48,807 already raised!!!

September 30 was your last chance to donate to Ernestina Sailing Forward with the  GoFundMe portal . We will gladly accept your check or online donation to complete our pledge of raising $50,000 to purchase the new mainsail,

ESF only has $1,193 left to raise, won’t you help meet the goal!

Donate online (recomended) by PayPal HERE

If you prefer to pay by check, put “for the Mainsail” on the memo line and send to SEMA, PO Box 2995, New Bedford, MA 02741 with your mailing address and a note “for Ernestina Sailing Forward”.  If you have a special connection to Ernestina we’d love to know that too!

This pen, made of African hardwood, part of Ernestina's framing for 40 years, commemorates the gift. (watch the video)

Click to watch a terrific video celebrating the Repatriation in 1982 produced by Richardo and Alessandro Lopes, Voyage Digital Media.

~~~~ ESF is SO CLOSE to the goal!  Help us get to the finish line! Donate today!

In 1982 the people of Cape Verde sent a restored Ernestina ex Effie M. Morrissey back to Massachusetts as a gift to the people of the United States. Forty years later in 2022, Ernestina-Morrissey will once again visit ports along the coastline. Let’s “Raise the Mainsail!” for that trip as she sails from port to port carrying her history!

The Ernestina Sailing Forward Committee is asking for your donations and community support as we raise $50,000 for the purchase of the mainsail for the Ernestina-Morrissey. Now with her restoration nearing completion, Ernestina will again sail open waters in late 2021.

This pen, made of African hardwood, part of Ernestina's framing for 40 years, commemorates that gift.

A drawing, live on Zoom, was held on June 8th to announce the winners of 5 specially engraved African hardwood pens* (photo above).  The pens are from the wood that was used in the 1982 restoration of Ernestina.*   The winners were  Stephan Platzer, Edward Jackson, Catherine Dempsey, Jean Gifford and Stephen Baptiste. Congratulations! And thank you for your donations. Your pens will be in the mail soon. Stay tuned for a special sale of a small number of remaining pens.

~~~ There is less than $2,000 left to raise!  ~~~

Help  “Raise the Main” today!

You can donate as an individual, a family, an organization, a club, or anonymously to the Ernestina Sailing Forward Fund. 100% of your donation will go directly to Ernestina-Morrissey‘s sails, any financial fees will be paid by SEMA.  Any donation amount makes a difference in Raising the Sails on Our Tallest of Tall Ships as we get underway on a fully restored Ernestina-Morrissey impacting many generations to come and honoring our beloved Cape Verdean heritage.

Please donate HERE!

If you prefer to donate by mail please download THIS FORM (If you want you can make a dedication for your donation on the form.) Please indicate your donation is for the mainsail and mail to:

SEMA~Ernestina Sailing Forward

P.O. Box 2995

New Bedford, MA 02741

(Be sure to watch the wonderful video produced by Rick and Alessandro Lopes!)

The Hildreth-Stewart Charitable Foundation has donated $15.000 toward the mainsail! Bob Hildreth sent along this message:

Bob Hildreth ~ 2019 visit to the Shipyard

America owes a lot to Cape Verdeans who brought the Ernestina to America after its long history in the islands. It would be wonderful if the Cape Verdeans could remember their proud heritage by helping to raise the sails again of the Ernestina. Contribute to the campaign with any amount you can. And sail on the ship next year. The ship is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. But its history belongs to you.

*For more information about the African hardwood follow this LINK.

~~~

Many donors have made a dedication any you can too. Memorial and Honors

Act Now! Viva Ernestina! Obrigado!

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