Winter 2019 Newsletter
đ Download PDFCommodoreâs Message Greetings! As Admiral Andrew Cunningham, Royal Navy said in 1941: âIt takes three years to build a ship – it takes three centuries to build a tradition.â The Friendship Sloop Society began in the early 1960âs when a group of sailors decided it would be great fun to gather these beautiful boats together for sailing and camaraderie. The tradition of the FSS continues on that premise. The work of all of the people who came before to maintain and develop this âsmall sailing groupâ is nothing short of amazing. When I was contacted a few months after my father and motherâs passing to consider becoming the Vice Commodore, I cried, not because they were gone, but because the Friendship Sloop Society was here. It felt like coming home. My Dad, Don Huston, restored and sailed the Eagle #53 for 45 years. She was a member of our family from the moment she entered our backyard in 1963. In 1982, my UMaine boyfriend (now husband), John Fassak purchased Westwind #95. As we have built our life together over the past 35 years, we have restored Westwind, and we hope to launch her soon. My goal as Commodore, with your help, is to respect, build and carry forward the traditions of the Friendship Sloop Society. During the Annual Meeting in November a survey was circulated to all of the attending members. The intent was to ask for feedback on how members would like to see the FSS move forward. We received many positive responses and good suggestions. If you would like to participate in this survey, email me at commodore@fss.org. We have been working to âget the word outâ about the FSS and all the joy associated with Friendship sloops. I am very pleased to announce the creation of a new Social Media Group that will be in charge of our Facebook page AND the new and exciting Instagram account. Scott Phillips (3rd generation Cronin and Tannis crew) has graciously agreed to take the helm, and plans to add 365 photo posts to Instagram (many from Bill Finch!) in the year 2019 (see page 8 for details). If you look closely at the picture on the last page you will find me under the listing of âtwo Huston childrenâ. There I stand top row to the far right at age 8 with my brother Dennis (standing on top of the lobster trap). Who could have guessed that when that old, broken down wooden Friendship sloop Eagle came into our lives, she would set the stage for a lifetime of adventure, sailing and learning? Letâs keep the traditions of the Friendship Sloop Society going strong! Diane Huston Fassak, Commodore The Man Behind the Photographs When we see a beautiful photograph of a Friendship under sail against a perfect summer backdrop, or a group of sloops beating hard to windward, or several boats perfectly choreographed as their paths cross, it is almost always FSS member Bill Finch who has taken the picture. âFinch,â as he is widely known, not only produces these great images, but donates them with boundless generosity for publication in the FSS Yearbook and Newsletter, and allows access to various media outlets. At his own expense he prints out copies of multiple photos that members might want, and displays them at the Annual Meeting for folks to take home. For this yearâs Annual Meeting, Finch also supersized four of his superb sloop racing shots, framed them and placed them in the live auction, raising roughly $200 for the FSS with some lively bidding. Finch and his wife Carol âRosieâ Rose are longtime Friendship sloop owners. They started out 26 years ago as the owners of 19 foot Aurora #181, and realizing she was too small, found and bought 26 foot Venture #66, a 1912 Wilbur Morse- built sloop which they sailed out of Beverly, MA. She was sold last year and now is harbored in the Essex River near Harold Burnhamâs boat yard. Finch started taking photographs in high school, and mastered not only the art of taking good photos, but also the skill of dark room chemistry and development. In college in the 60âs he studied architecture and art, including photography at the Rhode Island School of Design with noted photographer Emmet Gowen. He then developed and taught a high school photogra- phy course for three years on Staten Island, NY. After receiving a Master of Architecture degree at MIT in 1973, Finch worked for the City of Lawrence, MA as a planner, where he became involved in several historic preservation projects. Following that (Continued to Page 6) Volume 31 FSS.ORG Winter 2019 Issue 1 Friendships Newsletter of the Friendship Sloop Society
Mary Cronin Mary C. Cronin, 87, of Sturbridge, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 26, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Mary was the matriarch of the Cronin family, Secretary for the FSS for many years, and a warm, supportive and welcoming presence everywhere she went. Mary grew up in Walpole MA, and in high school met Jack, who would become her husband for 65 years. They moved to Sturbridge in 1960. After dealing with clients every weekend in his growing construction business, Jack decided he needed an activity to get his family away on weekends. In 1968 they purchased the Tannis, a 37 foot Friendship sloop, and began a 50 year love affair with the sea. Mary worked side by side with Jack in the building business, and then managed the office of Cronin Cabinets for many years until her retirement. She was a constant within the Friendship Sloop Society for decades, attending Homecomings and serving as Secretary, role model, decision maker, manager, friend and mom to all. In spite of health challenges, Mary continued making the trip to Rockland annually, and it was not unusual to see a steady stream of people walking down the dock to visit and spend time with her aboard the Effie M, the familyâs rebuilt lobster boat. Sailing, crafts, cooking, baking, reading, flowers and working in her garden were great pleasures for Mary. Her first love, however, was always Jack, her husband of 65 years, their children and the extended family she welcomed with open arms and a kind and generous heart. Mary danced at 3 weddings this year â grandson Matthew Phillipâs in May, son Jeffreyâs in August, and grandson Andrewâs in October, just two weeks before her passing. Mary will be greatly missed by her husband Jack, her 8 children, 18 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and by all who had the privilege and good fortune to meet Mary and spend time with her. Memorial contributions may be made to Friendship Sloop Society, Treasurer Greg Merrill, PO Box 166, Butler, MD 21023, or Overlook Hospice, 88 Masonic Home Rd, Charlton, MA 01507. Dr. Henry Oliver White, MD Dr. Henry âHankâ White, a retired general and thoracic surgeon who cared for thousands of patients in the Mid-coast Maine area over a 30 year career, died on September 15 in Rockland at the age of 90. Also known as âDocâ White, Hank treated his patients with empathy, dignity and compassion, a 6â 3â âgentle giantâ who dedicated much of his talent and ability to developing a pallia- tive care center for the Mid-coast area. Hankâs interests and passions included medicine, music, sailing, gardening, geneal- ogy and travel. He was a staunch believer in a universal healthcare system and a strong advocate for hospice and compassionate end-of-life care. He was deeply involved in his community, serving on many boards and volun- teering his time with various organizations. Many of Hankâs happiest moments were spent on the ocean, particularly on the waters of Penobscot Bay. He was an avid and accomplished sailor, and handed down his love of sailing and the sea to his family. He was president of the Friend- ship Sloop Society from 1975 to 1976, and owned the sloop Sarah Mead #59 for 11 years. Hank is survived by Marian, his wife of 68 years, and their children and grandchildren. New Yearbook Editor on Board After more than 20 years of tireless service in the role of FSS Yearbook editors, Rich and Beth Langton are stepping down and George Hagerty is stepping up to take on this impor- tant role. George and his wife Jacki own Echo #54 and sail her out of Wickford, RI on the breezy waters of Narragansett Bay. He is enthusiastic about the new job and encourages people to contact him with stories, ideas, drawings, photos or comments at ghagerty@usart.com, or at (781) 856-2635. Race Committee Boat Needed After serving nobly as our superb Race Committee boat, Cerca Trova has been retired. Therefore, the FSS is now in the process of seeking a suitable replacement. The Race Committee is looking for a vessel of at least 26 feet LOA which can be available for all three days of racing in Rockland Harbor for the 2019 Homecoming on July 18-20. The prospective boat should be equipped with a head and sufficient electrical power to run a laptop computer and printer, with sufficient shelter from the sun and weather. Additionally, she should be capable of attaining a speed of at least 7-knots. Knowledge of such a vessel should be transmitted to Dave Graham, RC Chair, either via e-mail to dwg@shore.net, or by calling him at (617) 335-2198. – 2 – (Bill Finch Photo) Membership Reminder The FSS needs you! Please renew your membership today if you havenât already. Mail to: Carole Wojcik, 347 Lincoln St., Norwell, MA 02061. Thank You!
Membership Report By Carole Wojcik For the year 2018, membership is up slightly, with the percentage of members paying their dues higher than in past years. 81% of our members paid their dues in 2018, up from 75% in 2017. We have 228 total members at various levels: 114 sloop owners, 46 full, 58 co-operative, several honorary and six complimentary members. Since May, the Society has added a number of new members, many of whom joined as a result of participating at Homecoming or the Annual Meeting: Karin Strong & James Ritter of Cushing, ME. William French of Epsom, NH. Steve Rogers of Rochester, MA, who crews aboard #227 Celebration. George Lamberstson of South Thomaston, ME. Robert & Julia Fitch of Cumberland Center, ME. Robert Fraser of Salem, MA. Elizabeth Gardner of Altadena, CA. Kathleen Kent of Cape Elizabeth, ME (daughter of Al Kent, owner of Senility #153). Chris Bales of Saco, ME, who sails with Wayne Cronin, owner of Rights of Man #52. Mike Dunn, a friend of Joe Griffin, owner of Mary Anne #10. Letters from the membership: From George Hagerty, owner of Echo #54: Echo is fine and, for 2 years running, is so tight and dry that her pump almost never turns on! She has been beautifully repaired from damage sustained to bowsprit and billet head on 10/31/17 in Narragansett Bay during a 91 MPH tropical storm. She had a great season this year, over hard and loving every bit of it along with captain and crew in several 22+ knot days in the Bay! Larry & Deb Plumer, former Commodores and owners of Desiree #226 (now Adagio), sent along this family update: All is well in Byfield! Kevin has been in the Navy for 8 years! He served on a nuclear fast attack submarine stationed in Pearl Harbor for 3 ½ years. He used his navigation skills to bring the 365â sub in and out of Pearl Harbor, and he commented that it was easier than navigating Desiree in Maine as there was no fog to deal with! After being deployed for 6 months in the South China Sea area, he was relocated to Washington, DC where he has worked, through the Navy, at the Defense Intelligence Agency and now the Shipyard on the Potomac. He is also study- ing for his MBA! Jason graduated from college one year early, top engineer in his class and is working at Northrup Grumman in San Diego! New sloop owner Al Kent writes why he is changing the name of his sloop from Angelus #153: I am doing extensive modifications to the boat and decided a one word explanation as to why a 90 year old man would take on such a project would be senility. Thus the sloopâs new name: Senility. Gard Thompson of Saco, ME sends: For 30+ years I have flown the burgee from the masthead of a Venture 21â while sailing on Sebago Lake. Thanks for the pleasure. Anthony Cordasco sent the following: Celerity #115 never made it to the water this year. After my years of restoring her she remains on the hard in a shed. We even missed the races in Rockland. From Caroline Zuber of Friendship, ME: Gladiator #71 is safely ashore in her boathouse. Last winter she was visited by Dick Salter and Bill Whitney. Dick did two surveys, and Bill W. spent several days installing and refurbish- ing the electrical system (more switches, new panel, etc.). Bill Z. (retired) and the new owner / captain (son Andy) spent a week in August at the WoodenBoat School teaching 6 students how to sail a Class A Friendship sloop. It was very successful for every- body. Andy and Kandace sailed from Friendship to Center Harbor, living aboard. Kandace was âin trainingâ to learn how to live aboard an old boat in the fog and rain in Maine. She did VERY well! Gladiator raced in the Chowder Cup Race here in Friendship. It was a small fleet because the race was postponed a day due to weather. Andy and Kandace are now living in Brandon, VT and are adjusting to snow boarding instead of surfing in Florida. Gladiator is back in Friendship and will still be âhomeportedâ with us. Bill still has his âboat caveâ Registrarâs Report By John Wojcik We have again added no new sloops to the roster in 2018. The number of registered sloops still stands at 284, the number weâve been at since 2015. I recently received an email from Greg Ross of Prince Edward Island with an application to join the Society. He purchased a Muscongus Bay sloop in October in Kittery, ME from George Patten, who knew very little about the boatâs history, though it was on Swanâs Island for a number of years. Greg reports that the sloop is in excellent condition, but he is now trying to find out if it is one of the Muscongus Bay sloops identified by Al Zink and Bob Brooks years ago as being in existence but not registered with the Society. The possibilities are: Ranger, built by the Apprentice Shop, Tinker, builder unknown, An unnamed sloop built by Dean Stump. Greg has been in contact with past and present princi- pals of the Apprentice Shop, David Tew and Arista Holden, to see if they can shed any light on which sloop this is. We will have to wait to see if we are going to be issuing number 285. If you have any information on this sloop that was on Swanâs Island, please let us know. The following ownership changes have occurred since the last newsletter of May, 2018: Jesse Archer of Lewiston, ME has purchased Jim Salmonâs Kumatage, #206. Jesse will be mooring the sloop in Falmouth, ME. Mike Johnson of York, PA has acquired #5 Content from Ed Staples and Sue Drady. Mike is the ex-owner of #105 Lady E and was a member in 2007. Mike will be keeping the sloop in Annapolis, MD. Rodney Flora and Jill Schoof of Castine, ME, former owners of Wings of the Morning #70, have purchased Summer Joy #273, built in 1989 by Ralph Stanley. The sloop was homeported on Long Island. – 3 –
Marlinespike Seamanship Round Thimbles and Lizards By Ted Walsh One of the simplest components of a traditional rig is the round thimble. Typically used in sail making, they can be roped or stitched into a sail at clew, tack or cringle, but round thimbles are found in many places of the rig itself. Made of brass, bronze or copper, round thimbles are inexpensive and can be purchased through marine chandleries and from sail-maker supply stores, and come in a variety of sizes. They can be used in many places to eliminate chafe and make a strong connecting point between a line and a shackle. Lizards: A round thimble spliced into the end of a line with an eye splice can also function as a kind of sheaveless block. This configuration is known as a lizard. There are places in the rigging where a line might occasionally need to slide, as through a block, but where the load and the amount of slide is minimal and where the use of a block would be overkill. In this case a lizard might be used. In some cases the thimble is made out of an oily wood like teak or mahogany, and is technically called a bullseye. The line passing through the center of the lizard allows the same function as a block without the size, weight or expense of a block. If you are looking for a versatile addition to your rigging bag, throw in a handful of round thimbles. – 4 – A round thimble used as a connecting point for a pelican hook Round thimbles used to connect lines to blocks or shackles A thimble roped into the clew of a sail Teak thimbles set up as lizards for lazy jacks
Racing At Rockland â 2018 By Dave Graham, Race Committee Chairman The day dawned bright and clear on Thursday, July 19th, a fine day for racing Friendship sloops. Thus, fourteen superbly maintained sloops, lovingly cared for by their owners, had gathered at the Rockland municipal floats. Their aim was not only to race in the 57th annual Homecoming Regatta, but to proudly show their wares; and that, they certainly did! With the first dayâs 11:00 AM Skippersâ Meeting concluded, skippers, crew, sloops and the Race Committee cast off from the floats and were underway to Racing Mark âAâ, located inside the Rockland Breakwater, where they gathered to set the starting line and to begin the Day One racing. At precisely 12:50 PM, the âWarningâ cannon was fired from the RC boat Cerca Trova (meaning âSeek and Ye Shall Findâ), thus beginning the starting sequence for Division II. That race began at exactly 1:00 PM, and with a built-in five minute gap to allow the starting line to be cleared, Division 1 began its race at exactly 1:05 PM. With that accomplished, the first dayâs race of the three-day regatta was off and running under nearly ideal racing conditions, although an additional 2 or 3 knots of breeze at the start would have been welcomed. Eventually, a nice sea-breeze did fill in, providing all sloops and participants with a fine race! Happily, the Day Two and Day Three weather condi- tions could also be categorized as ideal for racing Friendship sloops. In the end, by late Saturday afternoon, fourteen âtried ân trueâ sloops were once again tied up at the Rockland floats as their pleasantly exhausted skippers and crew worked their way up the Town Landing for the eveningâs Awards Dinner. There was universal agreement that a good time was had by all. The complete 2018 trophy list appears on page 9. During the awards presentation, special recognition and appreciation was noted for Dick and Suzi Guckel for again providing their boat Cerca Trova as the RC boat and themselves as superb hosts and crew. In the area of safety patrol and mark-setting, Mike Heath and Dick Salter, staffing Mikeâs Cape Dory 28, Serendipity, and Jack Cronin and crew on the Effie M, were given grateful recognition for their work. In summary, our race program simply could not have been successfully undertaken without the coordinated effort achieved by such wonderful teamwork! For this, I am eternally grateful to all. Thank you ever so much! On to 2019 – – – How We Roll in Southwest Harbor By Scott Martin As many of you know, Miff and Marge Lauriat retired from running the Southwest Harbor race after 25 years, and the matriarchs of the FSS collaborated and decided to put Caroline Phillips and myself in charge of it. You all knew what you were getting yourselves into when you hired me! On the day of the race, instead of making sure all the charts and buoys were there, I made sure I had a pink flamingo balloon and butterflies. After consulting with Miff it was decided that allowing the released monarch to determine the course and following it might not be the best way to set a race course, so we decided to head up Somes Sound. After rounding the first mark, half the fleet split, with six sloops leaving Greening Island to starboard, and the rest of the fleet leaving it to port. I chose the latter, the opposite way Caroline begged me to go. We ended up near the second mark, with seven other Friendship sloops dead in the water not being able to make the buoy, only to see the other half of the fleet, which sailed the way Caroline had wanted me to go, flying across the bay. That group finished the race, among them ALL of the sloops visiting from Buzzards Bay in Massa- chusetts. Our bunch never got around the second mark, much less finished the race. So much for local knowledge! All in all everyone had a great time. Afterwards we met at Betsy Holtzmann’s Manset house for a potluck, in which everyone forgot to bring their potluck. No wind, no food, but we still had a blast! That’s how we roll in Southwest Harbor! SAVE THE DATES! The 2019 FSS Homecoming Rendezvous and Regatta will be held in Rockland, ME from Thursday, July 18 through Saturday, July 20. The Southwest Harbor Race and potluck will be held on Saturday July 13. We hope to see as many boats as possible at both events, so mark those calendars and start dream- ing of summer sailing! And how about a little music? Member Ray Perkins has suggested reviving the tradition of music under the tent as people gather for the Awards Dinner. More on this in the spring issue. – 5 – Eden #122, State of Maine winner (Bill Finch Photo) Lady M #193 (right) in close pursuit of Rights of Man #52 (Bill Finch photo)
Tech Tips: Checking a Marine Alternator or Generator Output By Bill Whitney Whether your Friendship is a Class âAâ or a newer sloop, chances are good that it has been modernized with some form of mechanical propulsion to complement her sails. This could take several forms. From the 1920âs through 50âs it was usually a gasoline engine, but as technology developed after WWll these power plants started shifting to diesel, providing a better safety margin, and as time progressed, less weight. Today we are seeing advances in battery and battery charging technol- ogy which have introduced electric propulsion. We have become used to having this âiron windâ capability to get us where we want to go when the wind quits or shifts contrary to our destination. We also have become used to having the electrical energy from the battery or battery banks. How much energy the battery banks hold is dependent on how many batteries there are, their condition, how well engineered the installation is, and how well fed they are by the generator or alternator driven by the boatâs propulsion plant. In other words, how big is âthe tankâ, how well is it connected, and what equip- ment do you have to keep it full. Since the first two elements of the equation are governed by the builder of the boat, and to a degree by the maintenance it receives, this article will only focus on the alternators, generators and their regulators that keep âthe tankâ full. Early gasoline and diesel engines were equipped with generators. Starting in the early 60âs, these engines were equipped with alternators. Whatâs the difference? The differ- ence is both mechanical and electrical and, to explain sufficiently, beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that generators produce direct current (DC) using mechanical switches, and alternators create alternating current (AC) and use big diodes (electric switches) to convert it into DC. Alternators are far more efficient and reliable than generators, and have universally replaced generators in this application. No matter which you have, generator or alternator, the key is how much energy it puts back into your batteries. A key component to this is the regulator that controls the deviceâs output. If you own a voltmeter it is fairly easy to check the health of the components in the system thatâs keeping the batter- ies fully charged. Before you begin testing the system you have to make sure the battery or batteries are in good shape and are at least 75% charged. A standard lead-acid battery at rest, that has not been charged or used for 12-24 hours, should read 12.4 volts or higher at the battery terminals. If it is less than 12.0 volts, the battery has a problem and should be replaced. Be sure that the measurement is made directly on the battery posts. If you take the measurement through any of the cabling, a drop in voltage may be caused by a corroded cable connection. The next step is to check the belt for proper tension. A loose belt will slip on the pulleys and fail to turn the rotor at the correct speed, especially when putting out a high current while recharging the batteries. Be sure to check the belt for wear, cracks or dryness. Worn or damaged belts should be replaced. A rule-of-thumb for belt tension is that the belt should not deflect more than 1 inch on its longest dimension. If itâs too tight it will stress the bearings of devices driven by the belt. Now it is time to start the engine and bring it up to a high idle of 800-1000 RPM. Now check the voltage at the battery again. After 2-3 minutes it should be between 13.6 and 14.2 volts. If it is less than that, measure the voltage at the output of the generator or alternator. This is done by putting the voltmeterâs positive (red) lead on the terminal where the big cable is attached and the negative (black) lead on the engine block. If this reading is less than 13.8 volts the generator or alternator is defective. If it is more than 14.8 volts then there is a problem with the regulator connections, the regulator itself, the cables going to the batteries, or the battery switch. In no case should it be over 15.0 volts. In this case you need to clean up all the connections or replace any questionable cables. Remember that you need to check both the positive and negative cable connections. On at least one occasion Iâve observed that the only problem was a questionable ground connection between the generator/alternator and the engine block. Note that most alternators have the regulator inside the alternator case where you canât see it. Some custom installations have an external âsmartâ regulator, which controls the alternator output. In either case the voltages shown above will tell you if things are working correctly or not. The Man Behind the Photographs (Continued from Page 1) he held the position of Historical Architect for the Massachusetts Historical Commission, then worked in a private firm specializ- ing in the conservation of historic buildings. In 1995 Finch became an independent consultant in historic restoration and preservation, taking thousands of pictures all the while. He has consulted on numerous projects involving historic houses, museums, churches, other historic institutional buildings, period furniture and interior details. In addition to his extensive archives of photographs relating to historic buildings, Finch has a growing collection of photos of Friendship sloops, other beautiful boats that catch his eye, and landscapes â not surprising, as the background of his sloop photos is often a key component of their beauty and attractiveness. Though Finch and Rosie no longer own a Friendship sloop, they now have a 20 foot catboat and plan to continue spending more time on the water and less time keeping a Class A Friendship afloat. A second home in Cushing, ME has them near the shores of the lovely and tranquil Maple Juice Cove, a favorite anchorage of cruising Friendships. The next time you cross paths with Bill Finch, please thank him for sharing his prodigious talents so generously with all of us and with the general public. His photographs do a great deal to promote Friendship sloops and keep those who love them connected and excited to be a part of the sloop world. – 6 –
Annual Meeting in Brief Nancy Toppan, Recording Secretary Commodore Jeff Cronin called the meeting to order on November 17, and welcomed everyone. Jeff introduced members who were attending the Annual Meeting after several yearsâ absence, members who are new boat owners, and also acknowledged past Commodores and honorary members. He called for a moment of silence to honor two members who had passed away during the year, Hank White and Mary Cronin (see page 2). Treasurer Greg Merrill reported that the FSS remains fiscally healthy, due in part to revenues from steady membership numbers and dues, additional contributions made by members, brisk Chandlery sales, strong Yearbook advertising, and Annual Meeting fundraising efforts (which are typically split between the general fund and the Scholarship Fund). Expenses remained nearly level, with the annual Homecoming, publications and FSS annual gifts to several local non-profits being primary. George Hagerty, owner of Echo #54, was introduced as the new FSS Yearbook editor. Rich and Beth Langton are retir- ing after many dedicated years of directing the publication of the Yearbook, and plan to work with George on the 2019 edition. Most Committee reports appear elsewhere in this Newsletter. Several non-racing trophies were presented and a full listing of all trophies appears on page 9. The final order of business was the election of new officers. Diane Fassak (Westwind #95) will take the helm as Commodore, with Victor and Nancy Goulding (Inherit the Wind #156) as Vice Commodores. Other officers re-elected were Greg Merrill as Treasurer, Nancy Toppan as Recording Secretary and Carole Wojcik as Membership Secretary. After the meeting was adjourned, the winners of the silent auction were announced and there was an extensive and lively live auction. Cocktails and a buffet dinner followed, with a chance to visit, catch up and renew friendships! The complete minutes will be posted on FSS.org. This note was received by FSS Secretary Nancy Toppan from new sloop owners Stacy Spaulding and Ray Wiles who attended this yearâs Homecoming for the first time: Thank you Nancy and the officers and members of the Friendship Sloop Society for the warm welcome! When we drove up from Baltimore we werenât sure what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the Homecoming was like a family reunion, and that the empha- sis wasnât on creating and showing museum pieces â but on sailing these beautiful boats. Our canvas FSS bag has been given a permanent hook in Genevieveâs hanging locker and we look forward to returning next year. Meanwhile, weâre keeping watch and looking for our fellow Maryland FSS members. Perhaps we can even convince them to undertake some friendly FSS convocations down here in the northern Chesapeake Bay! Much thanks for the warm welcome and encouragement! Stacy Spaulding & Rayned Wiles Genevieve #255 Friendship Memorial Scholarship Fund By Phil Pratt In 1967, Scholarship Fund founder Bill Pendleton hoped âthat this Fund will grow, and that subsequent years will see much more available for annual awardsâ. Bill would not be disappointed in the major increase in awards from 2017 to 2018, thanks in part to a recent large and successful capital campaign to increase the endowment. Graduating senior awards surged from $1600 each in 2017 to $3500 this year, and continuing education awards jumped from $1000 to $1800 each, for a total of $14,200 in scholarships paid out to six 2018 recipients: Graduates: Cassidy E. Benner Northern Maine Community College $3500 Abigail F. Barter Southern Maine Community College $3500 Continuing Education: Sierra S. Weeks University of Southern Maine $1800 Duncan K. MacLeod University of Maine, Orono $1800 Molly MacLeod University of Maine $1800 Alexia N. Hilt University of Maine, Orono $1800 So far in 2018 the Fund has received six gifts âIn Memory ofâ or âIn Honor ofâ: Winfield & Barbara Lash, Bill & Caroline Zuber, William J. Tompkins, Robert Kirshner, Hunter Ficke & Dolly Bellhouse, and Mary Cronin. The Friendship sloop half hull raffle was a huge success, raising $550 for the Fund. Many thanks to Irv Lash, who carved and donated the elegant mounted half model of a 37 foot sloop. The winner was drawn at the Homecoming banquet in Rockland, and turned out to be Liam Zuber, grandson of Friendship paparazzi Bill and Caroline Zuber. Gifts to the Fund are fully tax deductible and checks should be made out to the Maine Community Foundation, with âFREN – for distributionâ written on the memo line. Mail to: Friendship Memorial Scholarship Fund, Maine Community Foundation, 235 Main St., Ellsworth, ME 04605. For more information about the Fund, gifts, and qualifi- cations to receive a scholarship please contact Phil Pratt at davisloop100@gmail.com, (207) 832-4335, PO Box 129, Friendship, ME 04547. – 7 – Three generations of Zubers aboard Gladiator #71. From left to right, Bill Zuber, son Andy, and his son Liam. (Bill Finch photo)
Rockland’s South End waterfront went back in time Saturday, July 7, as a completely restored 1900-built Friendship sloop was launched. Hundreds of people turned out for the launching of the 33-foot long Blackjack at Snow Marine Park. The launching capped the three-year restoration of one of the “pickup trucks” of maritime transportation for the 19th and early 20th centuries. Blackjack was towed the several hundred yards to the water from the Sail, Power & Steam Museum adjacent to the park by a team of oxen. Museum founder Capt. Jim Sharp said he wanted the launching to be done as it would have been when Blackjack was originally built in Friendship by Wilbur Morse. He said that Morse was the Henry Ford of sloop production, building one every two weeks at the peak of his work. Morse built more than 500 Friendship sloops from 1890 to 1910. Sharp stated that Blackjack’s restoration was a labor of love for a few master builders and many volunteers over the past three years. The boat was rebuilt from the keel up, using only the tools available to Morse and his crews in 1900. Blackjack was saved when its former owners, Kelly and Diane Magee, of Bristol, RI, determined that restoring the sloop was beyond their resources and expertise. The boat had not been in the water since 2006 and the couple put out a call to members of the Friendship Sloop Society. In 2014, then- Friendship Sloop Society Commodore Noel March, the former U.S. marshal for Maine, met with Sharp and they moved quickly. The Magees ended up donating the vessel to the museum in Rockland. Blackjack is considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the existing Friendship sloops. These boats were meant to be extremely seaworthy because they were often used by island residents for lobstering, catching cod, visiting on other islands, or to transport cows. March said back in 2014 that they also were designed to be handled by one person. They were the primary boats used for lobstering until vessels were equipped with engines, which became widespread after 1910. Blackjack will be used by the museum to take passengers out in Rockland Harbor to lobster with old wooden traps. Blackjack has sails and no engine. The museum was opened 10 years ago by Sharp and his wife, Meg. She christened Blackjack (below) just before the sloop entered the water. Four oxen from Cox Kennel and Farm in Woodstock did the heavy pulling, taking about 90 minutes to cover the distance to the water. Paul Cox Jr. said this was the first time their oxen were used to tow a sloop. Eight fiddlers and a banjo player from Belfast Bay Fiddlers performed for the festivities, as did a bagpiper. The FSS and Generation Next Scott Phillips, third generation Tannis crew and grand- son of Jack and Mary Cronin, has taken on the crucial job of connecting the FSS to the younger, more tech-savvy generation by initiating and managing an FSS Instagram account. Instagram is a popular social network service that allows users to post photos or videos or share comments, in this case around the central theme of Friendship sloops and the people who love them. You may view the account on Instagram at Friendship_sloop_society. If you have a picture or an event that you would like put on the FSS Instagram account, please contact Scott directly at: sphillips4202@gmail.com or (774) 200-4202. – 8 – Blackjack Launched with Fanfare in Rockland Article and photos by Stephen Betts, reporter for The Courier-Gazette and Knox VillageSoup. Reprinted with permission
TROPHY NAME GIVEN FOR 2018 RECIPIENT Racing Trophies: Commodore’s 1st Place Division 2 (sloops > 27 feet) Tannis Gordon Winslow 2nd Place Division 2 Lady M Homecoming 3rd Place Division 2 Rights of Man Herald Jones 1st Place Division 1 (sloops < 27 feet) Eden Bruno & Stillman 2nd Place Division 1 Salatia Lash Brothers 3rd Place Division 1 Celebration State of Maine Overall Regatta Winner Eden Wilbur Morse 1st in Class A Gladiator Charles Morse 2nd in Class A not presented Rum-Line Skillful Class A crew retrieving Gladiator the "correct" buoy Danforth Middle of the fleet Celebration Tannis Award 7th overall Celebration Jarvis Newman 1st Pemaquid sloop Eden Liberty 1st Division 2 bald-headed sloop Rights of Man Non Racing Trophies: Stanley Cup Outstanding contribution to FSS Caroline Phillips and Scott Martin Owner - Builder New owner-builder who sails to Homecoming JimThoen Gladiator Sloop who sailed the farthest to Homecoming Bill Whitney Cy Hamlin Skipper who returns to Homecoming Bill Whitney after several years' absence Chrissy Woman who keeps sloop and crew together Cindy Pendleton Nickerson Youngest crew member Levi Sullivan, 11 months old, Gladiator Spirit of Friendship Skipper who exemplifies FSS spirit Dick and Suzi Guckel Ray of Hope Person or boat who has overcome adversity Mary Cronin Post Office Greatest gaff in 3 way tie: Banshee, boat handling during Homecoming Hegira, and Liberty Presented at the Annual Meeting: Bancroft Person contributing to FSS traditions Bill Whitney Omaha Good natured contributions to FSS Mary Cronin Messing About Person who truly loves Stacy Spaulding & "Messing About in Boats" Rayned Wiles, Genevieve Bruce Morang Award Outstanding contribution to the Yearbook Eric Turner for his story on Wenonah Donald L. Huston NEW AWARD: Seamanship, fun and safety Wayne Cronin - 9 - Friendship Sloop Society 347 Lincoln Street Norwell, MA 02061 Address Correction Service Requested - 10 - From the 1965 Friendship Sloop Society publication Itâs A Friendship:
