Traudi sent this for you to enjoy:

“Amigos,  

Uma storia…. in Criolu

My friend Zizim Figueira from São Vicente living in Paris, France wrote this story when I had contacted him years ago.  Ate logo se Deus quiser,

Traudi”

You can download the article here.

Schooner Ernestina Commission Programming Committee members Barbara Burgo and Chuck Smiler coordinated a wonderful event for AHA! February 9 at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

Programming Committee chair Laura Pires-Hester and volunteers Annie McDowell and Chuck Smiler prepare the Ernestina history display

The celebration began with an introduction of the Schooner Ernestina Commission.

Barbara Burgo interviewed DCR manager Don Matinzi and Commissioners Fred Sterner, Gene Monteiro, Laura, Brian Rothschild, Captain Norman Gomes and Supt. Jen Nersesian

Barbara welcome the newest Commissioner Brian Rothschild

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell cut the birthday cake

Laura, Mayor Jon Mitchell, SEMA President Mary Anne McQuillan, Brian

and the celebration continued with video, dancing, lectures and a parade as described in this note and with photos from the organizers, Barbara and Chuck.

If you were at AHA!’s Carnevale and Schooner Ernestina‘s 118th birthday party youprobably can still hear the music, feel the drum beat and are probably still smiling at the thought of the wonderful time we had on February 9th at the National Park Service’s Visitors Center in New Bedford.  In addition to Commissioners, DCR representatives, and Captain Norman Gomes who are pictured here, a special thank you goes out to the many local leaders, friends, family and residents who came to help us celebrate, including but not limited to Rep. Tony Cabral, Mayor Mitchell, City Council members Brian Gomes, Bruce Duarte and Henry Bousquet, School Committeeman Jack Livramento, Carlos Almeida, Advisor of the Cape Verdean Student Association at UMASS Dartmouth, local musicians Tony Cruz and Beto Santos and their band Tuegeda, and the Zezinho Semeda, Vanila Silva-DaRosa and Tida Rodriques of the Kominhu Longi Project, and exceptional youth dancers from Our Sister’s School taught and brought along by Vanila.

Thanks to Ruth and Abby, the National Park’s 19th Century ladies, who brought their special presence and mask makers to the party.

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We thank Captain Gomes for his presentation of memories of the Ernestina’s return voyage from Cape Verde in 1982 with additional comments from Captain Tommy Grace.  Watch for more celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of this voyage later this summer.

…and Muito Obrigado to photographer Tootsie Russell and Tom Lopes, owner of  CVN COOL!

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For presentation of this evening we thank the ever-faithful volunteers on the planning committee as well as AHA! Director Lee Heald, for getting out the word, for bringing cable access coverage, and a donation of celebratory bead necklaces and SEMA for providing the refreshments.

Viva Carnaval! and Filis Aniversariu, Effie M. Morrissey/Schooner Ernestina!!!

your friends, Barbara Monteiro Burgo and Chuck Smiler

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Congratulations to Carol Dutra who won the door prize of a Jeff Eldredge print of Ernestina in full sail.

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Everyone can be proud as we look back at the accomplishments of the Ernestina partners during 2011.  DCR  addressed immediate Coast Guard requirements and commissioned a full report and estimate of additional work that will be required.  DCR also provided a seasonal interpreter at the Visitor’s Center during the summer.

The Commission welcomed three new members and assured safekeeping of the ship’s historic materials with the official transfer of the Ernestina/Effie M. Morrissey Archives to the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth’s  Claire T. Carney Library Archives and Special Collections.  The Commission is working on Memorandums of Understanding with SEMA and with DCR, and the Commission Programming committee conducted outreach at various festivals.

SEMA has continued reaching out to tell Ernestina’s story through the website and Updates.  2011 saw ongoing fundraising by SEMA and support of the Programming committee’s activities by providing volunteers and logistic and material support.

The Forum held in October 2010 helped point the way for 2011.  We look forward to 2012 showing even more progress toward preparing Ernestina to serve the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as she should!

This article from Scouting Magazine 2001 just surfaced thanks to the family of Scoutmaster Joe Leavens of Troop 182.  This kind of trip is one of the reasons SEMA is working to get Ernestina sailing again and serving the Commonwealth as she has in the past.

The original article has many great photos.

Were you on this voyage?  Please contact us!

Mystery Voyage to Yesterday

Yes, it IS a Happy New Year!

THANKS to YOU!

Many Ernestina supporters rose to Bob’s challenge and in one short month we have raised over $14,000!   SEMA is looking forward to 2012 surpassing 2011 in progress toward getting Ernestina sailing again.    We will begin formulating a major fundraising campaign in anticipation of the estimates being prepared by Shipwright Leon Poindexter.   The work needed has been specified by Coast Guard requirements,  surveys by Captain Paul Haley, and thorough inspections by a naval architect and a marine engineer.  The final reports and estimates will be presented to the Schooner Ernestina Commission soon.

If you have fundraising experience and would like to help please CONTACT us.

On Friday December 9, 2011 Ernestina’s masts were removed from the ship and secured on State Pier for inspection, maintenance and repairs.  Shipwright Leon Poindexter is supervising the work and estimation process.  Tom Lopes produced a video of the process available on YouTube.  and here is a video of Adventure of Gloucester, one of Ernestina’s Essex sisters, having her masts removed on Leap Day, 2012.

Marty Casey releases the back stay.

while Steve Kirk prepares the rig and attaches the strap to the main mast.

and secures the crane's cable to the straps

Once Steve is on the deck, he and Fred Sterner loosen the starboard shroud lanyards while Leon Poindexter works on the port.

Below deck, Willi Bank sledge hammers the mast wedges up so Steve can remove them.

While the mast wedges are being removed, Marty and Leon lash the shrouds and back stay to the main mast.

Dennis Hudon from N.C. Hudon makes a last check.

N.C. Hudon, Inc. Crane company has raised Ernestina’s masts in the past too.

When all is set, the mast is lifted from the ship.

and swung over the floating dock to State Pier.

Until it is suspended near the blocking it will rest on.

Straps on the bottom of the mast are used by the forklift to maneuver the butt of the mast into position

and the mast is lowered onto the blocks.

The crew made sure the rigging was clear of the mast as it was lowered.

and the cross trees and trestle trees were lined up to clear the supports.

the coins or impressions are visible on the heel of the mast.

These coins were placed under the masts when they were stepped April 29, 2003 Follow the link and scroll down for photos of the coins.

The coins were placed there on April 29, 2003 when the masts were last stepped.

Why?  Tradition.

The main mast cross trees and trestle trees will need replacing.

Once the main mast was set the crew started on the foremast. Here Willi loosens the jib stay shackle pin.

While Steve secured the strap and cable.

Steve and Willi managed to free the jib stay

Leon, Fred and Marty began to loosen the shroud lanyards.

A reminder to always secure your tools.

But the fore stay was even more stubborn than the jib stay.

but with Willi on the 24" wrench and Steve on the sledge hammer ...

the shackle pin finally released and Steve could release the come along.

Once the fore stay was free ...

the fore shrouds and stays were lashed to the mast.

The mast started up, but there was a problem ...

The bands on the foremast

were too big for opening in the mast partners left in the new deck

and the bands had to be removed

before the mast could be lifted free.

and the mast was swung to the pier.

Once again straps were secured to the mast so the forklift could maneuver

and the foremast was brought to the blocks

Videographer Tom Lopes documented the process

It was a tight fit but soon the mast was set in place.

and the crane was on it's way before lunch.

As suspected the foremast is seriously rotted.

This white pine mast was shaped and raised in 1994.

As is the forward cross tree of the main mast

Some of the coins did not stick to the masts and were found in the base of the mast step.

The foremast had coins too.

Now that the masts are out work has begun on raising the winter cover.  As you can see from this photo from December 20 DCR Carpenter Manny Silva has the rails ready.

Commissioner Laura Pires Hester passed along this greeting to all Ernestina supporters.  The card features Ernestina!

Friday morning dawned cold and clear but more more importantly, calm.  The crane from N.C. Hudon, Inc.  arrived promptly at 7:30.

Shipwright Leon Poindexter’s crew was ready. A sling was put on each mast in turn and the rigging was detached from Ernestina then the masts were expertly lifted from the ship and placed on blocking on State Pier.

The shrouds were secured to the masts and the crew was done by lunch.

The masts and rigging will be evaluated and maintenance and repairs will be made.  The hardware will be removed from the foremast and readied for the new mast on order.  The SouthCoastToday posted an article.  Check later for more pictures of the process.