Category: News

Mystic Seaport will be the first destination for this year’s Hinckley Rendezvous with more than 20 of the iconic Hinckley picnic boats, and 70 guests, visiting the Museum August 4-5. During their stay, Hinckley owners will tour the Museum’s Collections Research Center viewing photographs from the Rosenfeld Collection and artifacts relating to the schooner America. In addition, a tour of the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard will be given as well as a special tour of the exhibit “Over Life’s Waters” featuring the art collector Charles Hamm.

Following the Mystic Seaport events, Hinckley owners will travel to Newport for the second leg of the Rendezvous. A parade of boats is planned for the 9:40 bridge Friday morning. The Hinckley Rendezvous was chaired by Mystic Seaport Trustee Grant Cambridge and his wife Peggy. It is an example of the Museum’s Mystic Affinity Program (MAP), which is new strategy the Museum is using to introduce new people to the Museum and to the region through events hosted by members and friends of Mystic Seaport.

Hinckley Yachts, headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode island, is known for the beauty and craftsmanship of their boats. Hinckley builds a variety of motor and power yachts through the Hinckley Yachts, Hunt Yachts and Morris Yachts brands, which are distributed worldwide.

Every year, Mystic Seaport honors the work of its volunteers at a celebratory dinner and awards ceremony. The corps of more than 500 volunteers carry out a wide variety of jobs around the Museum and are active in almost every aspect of the operation. The following are those who were honored for 2017.

William C. Noyes Volunteer of the Year Award

The William C. Noyes Volunteer of the Year Award was established in 1998 through the generosity of Bill’s widow, Bettye, and donations received in Bill’s memory. The award is presented each year “to honor a Museum volunteer who best personifies Bill Noyes’ example and the ‘true spirit’ of a Mystic Seaport volunteer.” Bill, who was known for his friendly manner, his willingness to work, and his firm belief in the Golden Rule, gave freely of his time wherever he was needed the most. Between 1983 and 1997, he volunteered over 6,000 hours in numerous departments, offering his services to any and all.

The 2017 Noyes Award was given to Howard Veisz – a dedicated volunteer in the Watercraft Department since 2009 who has been working on GERDA III and has adopted her as his special project volunteering approximately 4,000 hours. He is always eager to introduce people to the story of the rescue of the Danish Jews and the role that GERDA III played. Howard is a man of integrity and his commitment to passing along the inspirational story of GERDA III and her crew to the next generation exemplifies the mission of Mystic Seaport.

Special Recognition Awards: Volunteers

This award is presented to volunteers who have shown outstanding work, leadership, and skill in a specific area or department at Mystic Seaport. 

George Lipphardt. George has logged in more than 7,085 hours in support of the Facilities Department for over 25 years. He is a respected member of the Facilities team endearing himself to all staff for his friendly, positive attitude and his commitment to the many tasks that he has completed over the years.

Grace Cleere.  Grace is an extremely versatile volunteer who has worked for several Mystic Seaport departments. She is enthusiastic in performing her duties whether In the Interpretation department, Membership, Exhibits or the Watercraft Department. She is always ready with a helping hand as she did during the voyage of the Charles W. Morgan, providing support at four different port locations and taking her own personal time and expense to transport other volunteers to the different locations.

Junior Volunteer of the Year

Caroline Morehouse. Caroline volunteered in 2015 in Interpretation and in 2016 with Visitor Services. She showed initiative in each area and learned about the history and value of the Seaport. In the VRC, she drew visitors into the Seaport with her warm smile, pleasant “hello and welcome.” She demonstrated the ability to work independently to engage visitors across the age groups and present a positive first impression of the Seaport.

Special Recognition Award: Staff

This award is presented to a staff member who has worked enthusiastically and efficiently with many Mystic Seaport volunteers.

Nicholas Alley – Captain of the Schooner Brilliant was nominated by volunteers Team Brilliant: “With deepest respect and gratitude for his leadership and all that entails, and all that he does above and beyond the call of duty, and for the satisfaction we feel when we think of what we accomplish under his leadership and support, and the spirit Captain Alley fosters among his Volunteers and Professional Crew.  Captain Alley is a rare leader, possessed of a passion for his mission, shared most generously.”

The 50th Newport Bermuda Race will hold firm in both memories and the record books. Just under 200 boats and some 1,700 crew members readied for the start on Friday, June 17, but with conflicting forecasts indicating strong northerly gales and extremely rough seas as the wind clashed with the Gulf Stream’s northerly flow more than 50 boats declined to race with 133 boats taking the start.

The early story centered on the 100-foot boat, Comanche, owned by Jim and Kristy Hinze Clark and skippered by Ken Read. Comanche shot off the start and was through the Gulf Stream in less than 24 hours with Read reporting they were making 20-25 knots. Comanche continued on and set a Newport Bermuda Race record at a provisional elapsed time of 34 hours, 42 minutes, and 53 seconds–almost five hours ahead of the previous record set in 2012 by George David in Rambler.

For those interested in following race developments on social media, search the hashtag #bermudarace.

For those interested in the meteorology and planning in advance of the race, Mystic Seaport trustee Frank Bohlen, a multi-time navigator, published a pre-race weather analysis that gives an insight into what goes into preparing for the “Thrash to the Onion Patch.”

Mystic Seaport was well represented in the race with a number of members and friends participating. We look forward to reports from the race and photos from Bermuda. In the meantime, we have a selection of images from the start taken by Captain Brad Baker of the yacht Rena.

Members & Friends

Mystic Seaport formally dedicated the new Gallery Quadrangle for the late Donald C. McGraw, Jr., in a ceremony on May 20. McGraw was a longtime supporter of the Museum and a charter member and first chairman of its National Council of Advisors.

The dedication was attended by members of the McGraw family, the Board of Trustees, and other friends and supporters of the Museum.

“Don McGraw… believed that our maritime heritage should be saved and shared, not stuck away in curiosity cabinets available only to scholars, but exhibited and used to tell stories that inform and inspire,” Board Chairman Barclay Collins told the assembled crowd. “We are present at the dawn of a new age of exhibitions at Mystic Seaport in which the Donald C. McGraw Gallery Quadrangle will play a central connecting role.”

An avid collector, McGraw brought his passion for the artifacts of America’s maritime heritage to his leadership and support of the Museum, and his philanthropy significantly increased the endowment and the enhancement of the Museum’s priceless collection of J.E. Buttersworth paintings. The McGraw family’s commitment to Mystic Seaport continues with his son Robin’s service on the Board of Trustees.

The McGraw Quadrangle replaced what was Anchor Circle on the north end of the Museum’s grounds. It is comprised of the Stillman, Wendell, C.D. Mallory, P.R. Mallory, and R.J. Schaefer Buildings as well as the Greenmanville Church. The Thompson Exhibition Building, presently under construction, will complete the Quadrangle’s north border. In the center, is a grassy open common.

The common will be the site for this summer’s inaugural “Arts on the Quad” performance series, which begins July 2 with Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” by New London’s Flock Theatre.

The Thompson building is scheduled to open September 24, 2016.

The Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport is proud to open its 2016 season Saturday, April 30 with “New Horizons in Modern Maritime Art,” an exhibition and sale of original works of art by leading maritime artists.

This show will inject a new twist to the Gallery’s familiar theme by focusing on color and form in depictions of maritime objects. More than 50 invited contemporary masters, including John Tayson, Stephen Lush, and Robert Blazek, will capture the timeless beauty of the sea in paintings, drawings, and sculpture.

This is the first original show organized by the Gallery’s new director, Monique Foster.

“We asked our artists to approach this show with a new perspective, one that looks at the color and form in a maritime subject and let that guide their work. The result is a wonderful series of representations that reflect a different sentiment from what we usually feature,” said Foster.

The Gallery also welcomes three new artists in this show: Leith Macdonald, who creates small diorama-like works inspired by the coastline of Maine; Irma Cerese, a Boston-area artist who works in acrylics; and Annie Wildey of Stonington, CT, who paints photorealistic images of waves and water.

“New Horizons in Modern Maritime Art” will be open through July 17.

View the Exhibition and Sale.