Virginia (schooner)

"Virginia" is a wooden schooner which is a modern replica of an early twentieth century pilot vessel of the same name. She conducts educational programs and passenger trips along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States and Canada, as well as in the Caribbean.

The original "Virginia"

The original schooner "Virginia" was commissioned by the Virginia Pilots Association and designed by naval engineers Cox and Stevens. Pilots Association president William Rowe Boutwell instructed the designers to model the vessel after the America's Cup competitors of the day. She was built by A.C. Brown & Son of Tottenville, Staten Island, New York, and was completed in 1916. Although steamboats were readily available at the time, "Virginia" was built with no engines so as to maintain the pilots' sailing skills and train new apprentices. [http://www.schoonervirginia.com/virginias_history.php Schooner "Virginia" history, from the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation] ]

"Virginia" served actively as a pilot vessel during World War I. Following the war, she was fitted with two 75 hp diesel engines, which necessitated a shortening of her fore boom to accommodate a smokestack.

In 1939, "Virginia" was sold to Walter K. Queen of Boston. She was sold again in 1944, and in 1945 was sold to her final owner, William H. Hoeffer of New York. In 1947 she was reported "stranded."

The modern "Virginia"

The replica "Virginia" was commissioned by the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation and built by Tri-Coastal Marine in Newport News, Virginia. [ [http://www.tricoastal.com/shipbuilding/woodship.html Tri-Coastal Marine's construction of "Virginia", with structural photographs] ] She was completed in 2005. [ [http://cgmix.uscg.mil/PSIX/PSIXDetails.aspx?VesselID=709972 Coast Guard registration for "Virginia"] ] She is a gaff rigged knockabout schooner, meaning she lacks a bowsprit; her headsails can be handled and furled from the deck.

In 2004, Virginia's senate deferred a bill which would establish the Commonwealth of Virginia as a co-owner of the "Virginia". [http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp524.exe?041+ful+SB686 Virginia bill tracking 2004] ]

In 2007, "Virginia" was awarded a $10,000 grant from the United States Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program, by way of the American Sail Training Association, for her youth sail training programs. [cite press release |title=Schooner "Virginia" Awarded Grant from The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) for it Youth Sail Training Program |publisher= |date=2007-04-07 |url=http://www.sailtraining.org/grants/TSYA/documents/PressReleaseVirginiaGrantRecipient10K.pdf |format=PDF |language= |accessdate=2008-09-05 |quote= ]

Programs

In the summer, "Virginia" offers week-long educational programs for boys and girls aged 13-17. In conjunction with the professional crew, the trainees help to sail, maintain, and navigate the ship. [ [http://www.schoonervirginia.com/youth_sail_training.php "Virginia"'s youth sail training programs] ] "Virginia" also provides scholarships to allow underserved youth to participate in these programs.

"Virginia" also carries paying guests between various destination points. [ [http://www.schoonervirginia.com/guest_passages.php "Virginia"'s guest passages] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.schoonervirginia.com/ Schooner "Virginia" homepage]