During the Charles W. Morgan‘s farewell ceremony on May 17, 2014, Mystic Seaport President Steve White read aloud his letter of instruction that he presented to Captain Kip Files, the 22nd captain of the 1841 whaleship. The letter, which was based on the content of orders given to Captain Franklin F. Smith of the ship Flora of New London on June 22, 1830, stated:
(left to right) Dana Hewson, VP of Watercraft and Preservation Programs at Mystic Seaport; Kip Files, the captain of the Charles W. Morgan; and Mystic Seaport President Steve White. May 17, 2014
Captain Kip Files,
The whaleship Charles W. Morgan under your command, being now ready for sea, our advice and instructions to you are to embrace the first favorable opportunity to proceed to sea on a voyage along the coast of southern New England from Mystic, Connecticut to Boston, Massachusetts.
This is a voyage to celebrate and reconnect Americans with our shared maritime heritage. Your cargo is history and knowledge, and your mission is to collect it and the share it with all who will listen. Further, this Voyage will highlight our close relationship with the oceans, the whales, and all else who dwell within.
From Mystic you should proceed to New London, Connecticut; thence to Newport, Rhode Island; Vineyard Haven on Martha’s Vineyard; New Bedford, Massachusetts; Provincetown and the National Marine Sanctuary at Stellwagen Bank; thence to Boston, Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy by passing through the Cape Cod Canal on the occurrence of its centennial.
We have prepared the ship well and given you a good crew and all that we think will be useful to you, and entrust her well-being to your long experience at sea and prudent seamanship. We look forward to a memorable and successful voyage and your safe return to Mystic Seaport in August of 2014.
The Charles W. Morgan goes under the Mystic Bascule Bridge on May 17, 2014.
NEW LONDON — After an overnight of storms and rain in the Mystic area, the weather cleared just after dawn on Saturday, May 17, and presented a spectacular day and ideal conditions to move the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan down the Mystic River and on to New London, Conn. on the first phase of the ship’s historic 38th Voyage.
A brief ceremony was held at 8:45 a.m.in the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard, the ship’s home for the last five years of a comprehensive restoration. Several hundred visitors gathered to listen to comments from Rep. Joe Courtney and a moving blessing by Capt. Van Dickens, the Command Chaplain at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Mystic Seaport President Steve White then read and presented Capt. Kip Files, the 22nd captain of the Morgan, with his Letter of Instruction that formally entrusted the well-being of the ship to his care.
Lines were cast off at 9:11 a.m. and with the help of the tugs Sirius and Thuban — one in front pulling and the other pushing from the stern — the Morgan slowly made her way off the pier and into the Mystic River Channel in a procession that included the Museum’s fishing vessel Roann, the steamboat Sabino, the launch Necessity, and five whaleboats rowed by Mystic Seaport staff and volunteers. Timing was very important as the ship needed to make the 10:05 opening of the railroad swing bridge and high tide at the mouth of the river near Noank.
Cheers erupted from crowds lining the shoreline throughout the down river trip and the procession was accompanied by many spectator boats, many of which followed all the way to New London.
A high point of the journey was the Morgan’s passage through the Mystic highway bridge in the heart of downtown. The ship had never been below the bridge since her arrival on November 8, 1941, and the moment drew loud applause and cheers from hundreds of onlookers as Capt. Files and the crew carefully threaded the ship and tugs through the constricted channel beneath the bridge.
Crew members throw heaving lines to the pier from the Charles W. Morgan during her arrival in New London.
Once clear of the river, Sirius dropped back in standby and Thuban towed the Morgan to New London at a relatively swift 8 knots. Upon arrival in New London, the Morgan tied up at a berth at City Pier at 12:48 p.m.
When asked, “What did we learn today?” Capt. Files said that they learned that the ship tows easily and faster than they anticipated.
“Now we have to get her ready to go sailing!” he added.
On board the Morgan for the trip was a combination of project supporters, restoration volunteers, members of the news media, and some Museum and Shipyard staff members.
A special passenger was Hermine Dudda, who is one of the few remaining witnesses to the ship’s arrival to Mystic in 1941. Dudda was 10-years-old at the time and walked down to the river with her twin sister Ernie to see the ship pass by.
“I remember I wasn’t so impressed with the Morgan then because she was in such shabby condition,” she recalls. “But to see this ship 72 years later and be on board today is an honor and privilege, and I feel like I am living a part of history.”
“This is the culmination of so much planning and execution on the part of so many people in the Mystic Seaport community, it is hard to describe the emotion this seemingly simple act of taking the ship down the river generates,” said Museum President Steve White. “It is a proud moment for everyone: We achieved what we set out to do.”
The arrival in New London starts a very busy week for the crew and select Shipyard staff as the need to finish ballasting the ship, bend on the sails, and pass a U.S. Coast Guard incline test to prove the ship’s stability under sail. During that time the ship will be closed to visitors, but she will open on four weekend days for the public to board the ship and to experience the traveling dockside exhibition that will accompany the ship to other ports on the voyage. Those days are May 24-25, 31 and June 1, and the hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lead Shipwright Rob Whalen watches as Gary Anderson installs the eagle on the Charles W. Morgan.
MYSTIC – After more than five years of restoration and hundreds of thousands of work hours, the staff in the Shipyard are putting the final touches on the Charles W. Morgan in preparation for her scheduled departure Saturday morning, May 17.
A crane was brought in to load heavy items such as casks, anchors, and a whaleboat. The gangway was busy with the new crew moving their belongings on board. A high point, and a symbolic moment, was the installation of the new reproduction eagle on the transom. An iconic detail of the ship, the gold eagle was carved by local expert woodcarver Gary Anderson.
The tug Sirius, from the Vineyard’s Tisbury Towing, arrived on Thursday. Sirius will be responsible for pushing the Morgan down the Mystic River and then seeing her all the way to City Pier in New London once they reach Fishers Island Sound beyond Noank. Late in the day, Capt. Kip Files could be seen hanging over the transom as he worked with the tug’s crew to carefully situate the tug’s prow in the metal bracket installed on the stern to allow it to drive the ship.
All eyes are now on the weather forecast, as the conditions tomorrow morning dictate whether or not the transit to New London can go forward as scheduled. Rain would not necessarily delay the trip, wind is the primary concern.
The ship is scheduled to cast off at 9:15 a.m. after a brief ceremony in the Shipyard that begins at 8:45 a.m. The Museum gate will open at 8:15 a.m. for those who wish to attend.
We are carefully watching the weather and an update on the status of the departure will be posted later today. Please check the website home page for the latest news. Should the trip be delayed, the next available opportunity is a 10 a.m. departure on Sunday morning, May 18.
After reviewing scores of applications and video auditions from qualified candidates, Mystic Seaport has selected journalist Ryan Leighton, of Boothbay, Maine, to stow away aboard the Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest surviving merchant vessel, during her 38th Voyage this summer.
As the stowaway, Leighton will be immersed in all aspects of the 19th-century whaleship’s 38th Voyage — living on board the ship with the crew, handling the sails and lines, steering the ship, and most important, sharing his daily experiences through a blog and social media platforms.
“Ryan proved he has the ‘sense of the adventure’ Mystic Seaport was searching for from the outset of the stowaway contest,” said Susan Funk, executive vice president of Mystic Seaport. “As a successful journalist, he has relevant experience and the necessary skills to fulfill the role of the stowaway aboard the Morgan’s most documented voyage ever. In addition to his enthusiasm, we are confident Ryan will bring his tireless work ethic, his ability to adapt to new situations, and his creativity to the 38th Voyage.”
Ryan Leighton
Leighton, who graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and advertising and a minor in history, had been waiting for a unique and extreme opportunity such as this.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to become the stowaway is because it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sometimes the most satisfying feeling is not knowing what tomorrow will bring,” Leighton said. “Typically, stowaways are forced to remain hidden below deck, but with this opportunity, I will be able to insert myself into the daily routine of the ship. I want to take chances and be creative in order to make this journey as exciting as possible. My goal is to fully immerse myself, so that others are able to live vicariously through my videos and stories.”
Leighton will watch, inquire, learn, participate, and use his creative energy to share the voyage experience with the general public through blogging, videos, social media, and activities in the port cities. He will be a key player during events and exhibits at each port of call with an opportunity to explore the community and meet its people.
To quote Nat Wilson, the Morgan’s sailmaker, ‘it is the only way to carry the ship’s future forward because the living memories are all gone,’” Leighton said. “Sailing is a big part of the New England heritage – It’s how we got here. And what better way to learn about the past then to relive it in the present?”
Leighton will come aboard as the Morgan‘s stowaway on June 2.
While on the 38th Voyage from May to August, the Charles W. Morgan will stop at historic ports of call throughout New England including visits to New London, Conn.; Newport, R.I.; and Vineyard Haven, New Bedford, and Boston, Mass., where she’ll dock next to the USS Constitution. She will also anchor off the coast of Provincetown, Mass. for day sails to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, where the Morgan will team up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to observe whales in their natural environment. While the Morgan’s cargo was once whale bone and oil, the vessel will embark upon her final voyage bearing a message of peace and serving as a symbol of our changing relationship with the natural world.
The one-hour documentary film “The Charles W. Morgan” tells the extraordinary story of America’s last wooden whaleship and the incredible saga of whaling, the first global industry dominated by the United States. From her 1841 launch in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the film follows the Morgan on 37 voyages around the world where this “Lucky Ship” survived freeze-ups in the Arctic, attacks by hostile natives, fire aboard ship, and a host of other stories, each of which had the potential to end the vessel’s life. Yet, more than 170 years later, the Charles W. Morgan lives on and sailed again on her 38th Voyage in 2014.
Millions of people have walked the Morgan‘s decks, from ship builders to whalers to movie stars; the whaleship is a lady with a past as complex and unexpected as the era she signifies. In her lifetime, this vessel has witnessed nearly every human emotion, experienced radical changes in technology, and survived the transformation from wind and wood to oil and steel. Yet with all of this progress, in her time of need, the only way to restore this unlikely survivor was to return to the old ways of wooden shipwrights, an experience that transcends generations and redefines a long-forgotten art form.
From her early days in New Bedford to her restoration at Mystic Seaport, the Morgan‘s story is the story of American maritime history. Combining stunning archival material with evocative live cinematography and powerful on-camera interviews, the film chronicles the rise and fall of America’s first great industry using the only remaining vessel of the time period as a portal to the past.
Filmmaker Bailey Pryor
Bailey Pryor
Five-time Emmy winner Bailey Pryor has worked in the film and television industry for more than 25 years. He has produced six feature films and more than 150 television programs for ABC, PBS, Outdoor Life Network, Versus, Fox Sports Net, ESPN, Discovery Channel, Spike TV, Animal Planet, Tennis Channel and Travel Channel. He is currently the President & CEO of Telemark Films, and has previously held the positions of President & CEO of Warren Miller Entertainment, Staff Producer and Associate Vice President of Production at Sonalysts Studios, Marketing Assistant for the Samuel Goldwyn Company and Producer’s Assistant on the feature films “Mystic Pizza” and “Home Alone.”
Mystic Seaport was featured in an episode of CPTV’s “Connecticut’s Cultural Treasures,” a program that highlights the best of the arts and cultural institutions in the state, on May 24, 2014. CPTV’s film crew spent two days shooting on Museum grounds for the five-minute segment, and the producer later remarked that he had a difficult time trying to fit the many aspects of Mystic Seaport into such a short span of time. From the Museum’s vast Collections Research Center to the new web-based learning platform Mystic Seaport for Educators, the piece highlights the many ways Mystic Seaport staff and volunteers work daily to preserve and protect the authentic maritime experience.
Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped us reach our goal of raising $1.4 million for the Museum’s Annual Fund. Your enthusiasm for Mystic Seaport has achieved a remarkable accomplishment and set a new standard for philanthropy at the Museum. A robust and successful Annual Fund is critical to sustaining the core strength of the Museum and enables our continued growth and success.
Each and every day more than 150 staff members and dozens of volunteers come to work at Mystic Seaport.They are astronomers, shipwrights, administrators, actors, riggers, gardeners and professionals of every sort. They walk through the gates to their duty stations and they bring Mystic Seaport to life. I say this intentionally, because Mystic Seaport is not a static museum focused on preservation, but a dynamic living community fully engaged in restoration. The work we do is keeping the skills, crafts, trades and knowledge of a bygone era alive for this current generation.
In my first remarks to the staff of Mystic Seaport back in 2009, I spoke about the importance of community. There is a preponderance of evidence that the wellspring of success for the Museum over the past 85 years has been the community that is Mystic Seaport. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the success of the 2013-2014 Annual Fund. More than 2,000 members and friends came together to commit $1.4 million to strengthen the Museum and to support our mission to create an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.
We are all drawn to Mystic Seaport by our own unique personal interests. Yet, we are united in our belief that the mission of Mystic Seaport is vital and that the Museum is worthy of our support. We have much to be proud of. Thank you!
The 38th Voyagers in front of the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan at Mystic Seaport.
In the summer of 2014 the Charles W. Morgan will sail for the first time in more than 80 years. During this 38th Voyage, the 19th-century whaleship will sail to seven historic New England ports, engaging communities with their maritime heritage, raising awareness of the changing perceptions about whales, and furthering research about whales, whaling, and whaling peoples.
A select group of adults will be aboard the whaleship during different legs of this journey, participating in an unprecedented public-history project. This group includes artists, historians, scientists, journalists, teachers, musicians, scholars, and whaling descendants. Dubbed the “38th Voyagers,” the 79 adults will use their own perspectives and talents to document and filter their experience aboard the Morgan and produce a creative product for Mystic Seaport to share online and through exhibits, publications, and public programs.
On Saturday, April 26, more than half of the 38th Voyagers showed up at Mystic Seaport for a day of orientation in preparation for their time at sea. (The remaining group of Voyagers will visit Mystic Seaport April 30 for their orientation.) The group toured the 1841 whaleship and learned about the restoration, and they spent time learning about the logistics and conditions aboard the ship while underway. They were also brought into the vast Collections Research Center to view the artifacts that are the core of the Museum. A number of Voyagers were even given the chance to climb the rigging of the square-rigger Joseph Conrad (the Morgan‘s rigging is still a work in progress).
The day was inspirational for everyone present and brought the much-anticipated voyage one step closer to the Morgan‘s May 17 departure date.
