There was a reception to mark the transfer of the Ernestina/Effie M. Morrissey Archives.  Several dignitaries including Chancellor Dr. Jean MacCormack, DCR Commissioner Edward M. Lambert, General Consul of Cape Verde Pedro Graciano Gomes de Carvalho and New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang spoke of the opportunity that opening these archives to the public will allow more people to share Ernestina’s amazing story.

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There are more details and contact information HERE.

Annie McDowell, Chuck Smiler, Tim Walker, Fred Sterner

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Some of the items in the archive are showcased in an exhibit.  Guests enjoyed viewing the items before the ceremony began.  You can stop by the Archives to view the exhibit yourself.

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The Schooner Ernestina Commission has two new Commissioners!

Gene Monteiro and Fred Sterner were sworn in on Monday.

The Commission meets this Friday Oct 21 at 1 pm at NBWNHP

Yesterday Ernestina finally returned to her berth at State Pier in New Bedford after Coast Guard-required work was completed at Fairhaven Shipyard.

Ernestina waiting on the railway. It's Launch Day!

The Department of Conservation and Recreation is Massachusetts’ steward of Ernestina.  They spent about $180,000 meeting this responsibility during the 4 months of work this summer.  In addition to the repairs, an extensive survey of the ship has been conducted.  SEMA looks forward to the estimates that will be developed from these surveys which will delineate the repairs needed to return Ernestina to carrying passengers.    Everyone should remember that DCR and the Schooner Ernestina Commission will need partners to finish the work that will be needed.  Please consider joining SEMA today!

As the railway's chain drive clanks, Ernestina's keel touches the water.

As the cradle slides deeper into the water you can see Friendship of Salem on the next railway.

Friendship of Salem is is part of the Salem Maritime National Historical Park.  Ernestina is a partner in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.  It’s great to see a sister NPS ship just across the harbor!  We look forward to sailing together in the Gloucester Schooner Race soon!

Captain Charlie Mitchell and Tug Jaguar standing by.

Once most of the ship was in the water the launch was paused for 30 minutes so the planks could begin to swell and the crew could check the bilges for leaks.

Once the crew was satisfied the ship was ready, Ernestina was moved out of the cradle.

Jaguar came alongside and made fast to Ernestina for the trip across the harbor.

Here Jaguar has backed out to the channel with Ernestina in tow.

Leaving Fairhaven behind. Headed for State Pier.

Longtime volunteer Marty Casey and Master Shipwright Leon Poindexter as Ernestina travels across the harbor.

Ernestina and Jaguar found a narrow passage to the berth!

Maneuvering to "thread the needle"

Marty, Fred Sterner, DCR carpenter Manny Silva and Leon adjusted the docklines.

A very happy group greeted Ernestina at State Pier including a couple visiting from Brigus, Newfoundland, Captain Bob Bartlett’s hometown.  Standard Times reporter Don Cuddy was also there and reported on the event. in the newspaper today.

Volunteer Paul Anthony, DCR Regional Director Don Matinzi, SEMA President Mary Anne McQuillan, Volunteer Louise Anthony, Janice Leamon, Kevin Rowlands

Also a rare photo including Tom Lopes, tireless recorder of Ernestina’s story.  Tom is usually behind the camera and we are glad we were able to catch him.   Check his YouTube channel for videos like this one from the 1982 voyage.

Paul, Don, Mary Anne, Tom Lopes, Janice

The next project will be the rig inspection.  The masts will be removed with a crane so that the components can be inspected on the ground.  The foremast will have to be replaced and SEMA has ordered a new one.  We welcome donations to The Ernestina Mast Fund

Ernestina was moved down the railway to wet her bottom today.  This accomplishes two things.  The planks of the hull can soak and swell after spending 4 months dry and it can be determined if there are any places where the caulking needs to be replaced.

Ernestina slid down the rail just enough to get the bottom wet without lifting off the blocking on the railway.  After a few hours she will be hauled back up.  With the Columbus Holiday the earliest they will move her is next Tuesday.

Behind Ernestina you can see Friendship of Salem arriving. She’s next on the railway.

The finish coat of paint is going on Ernestina.

The ship should be “wet” by the end of the week and back at her berth at State Pier next week!

A message from Ernestina Commission vice-chair Laura Pires-Hester:

I am honored to offer a brief tribute to the President Aristides Maria Pereira.  Born  on the small island of Boa Vista in 1923, he died recently in Lisbon Portugal, at the age of 87. I was blessed to be in his presence a couple of times.  The first time occurred when he greeted us as the first group of Cape Verdeans and Cape Verdean-Americans invited by the government to the newly-independent  Republic of Cape Verde in 1981.  What struck me most was his gentleness and kindliness of spirit, focusing on each of us in turn.

As a Cape Verdean-American woman and anthropologist, I have been keenly interested in the history of independence of Cape Verde and its subsequent development, and therefore clearly impressed with his significant contribution to both.  He was one of the closest confidantes and compatriots to Amilcar Cabral, the leader of the Independence movement, and co-founded the PAIGC (Partido Africano da Independencia da Guine e Cabo Verde) with Cabral in 1956.  After Cabral’s untimely assassination in 1973, Pereira became the new country’s first President in 1975 and served three terms.  He became a leader not only of the new country but also highly-regarded internationally.  For example, he and Cape Verde played an important mediating role in southern Africa issues.  I remember at that time that one international writer characterized that role as an important “honest broker.”

The new President agreed to allow Ernestina to come to the United States in 1976 to participate in the Bicentennial OpSail in New York, which unfortunately ended in her dismasting, and then to his decision to make a gift of the Schooner to the people of the United States.  When Ernestina was preparing for her historic return and repatriation voyage in July 1982, President Pereira came aboard and bade farewell and Godspeed to the Cape Verdean and American crew of fourteen.  He himself visited the United States for the first time in 1983, and at that time Voz di Povo recorded his comment:

“I must say that this visit left me immensely impressed, particularly to see a community that is not only large but also very old.  That is to say, they are a people who feel sentimentally linked to Cape Verde and who religiously transmit all our cultural ways to their children,  from generation to generation,  from family to family.”

I give thanks for his life, for his commitment and sacrifices for human betterment, and extend condolences and prayers to his wife Carlina and family, friends, and all who knew and worked with him.

Despite threatening weather forecasts, the last weekend of September at New Bedford’s Working Waterfront Festival was a great event for Ernestina.  The only thing that would have made it better would have been the ship in her berth next to State Pier.  Many of the visitors asked where Ernestina was which gave us the opportunity to use Fred Sterner’s excellent display of photos to explain the work that has been done this summer at Fairhaven Shipyard.

Thank you to all the volunteers!

Annie McDowell, Julius Britto, Fred Zinger, Vi Taylor, Andrew Awad, Louise & Paul Anthony, Marty Casey, Stephen Gaun, Jim & Cindy Bean, Polly Zajac, Kristen Sarkarati, Chuck Smiler, Denise & Alfred Barnaby and Fred Sterner

Ernestina is as safe as she could be on the railway in Fairhaven. With the Hurricane Barrier closed no concerns about a storm surge.

At 8:30 pm August 24, 1982 Schooner Ernestina docked at Ft. Adams in Newport, RI after a 38 day passage from Mindelo, Sao Vicente, CVI.   Photos and details on Archived website.

Sailing off Newport RI in August of 1982

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Effie M. Morrissey first set sail from Gloucester for the Grand Banks on March 14, 1894.  A century ago she brought her catches into this port.  In 1982, as Ernestina, she was returned to Massachusetts,  a gift from the Republic of Cape Verde.   On Labor Day weekend (September 2-5)  Gloucester celebrates its 27th Annual Schooner Festival.  Ernestina provides an opportunity to tell the story of the fishing schooners that sailed from Gloucester and this important part Massachusetts’ history.  Ernestina can also tell the story of today’s fishermen as they struggle with some of the same challenges that those dory men faced and with the new challenges that those men could never have imagined so long ago.  Stop by the Ernestina booth to chat about fishing or Arctic exploration or the years of carrying cargo and passengers to and from Cape Verde or perhaps Ernestina’s more recent sail training years.  Even better:  Please consider volunteering to spend one or two hours with us at the Ernestina Booth at the Gloucester Schooner Festival Heritage Day Saturday, Sept 3 from 10:00 am-5:00 pm.  CONTACT coordinator Stephen Gaun to volunteer.  See you there!