31st Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Bob Lavertue and his son Scott with their Herreschoff Coquina 'Cabin Boy'

Father and son built this boat together.

The Coquina is reputed to be Capt. Nat's favorite design and he sailed her often

Spingfield Fan makes incredible copper and bronze fittings for small craft.

Alexandria Seaport showed up with a lovely Staten Island Skiff.

The restoration of skipjack 'Rosie Parks' is nearing completion. Two days after this photo was taken she was set in the water to begin swelling up and have her spars added.

Chesapeake treat. Cheese and pickle plate is a local favorite side dish for steamed crabs.

 

All photos copyright Thomas Armstrong

As always, this gathering is a favorite destination each year and never fails to reward. This year, however, due to unforseen circumstances, I am not able to give a full report. Begging your indulgance, however, I urge you to seek out many (and I mean many) more photos of the weekend by visiting my friend Barry Long's website. Barry was there all weekend, took scads of photos and is publishing them on his Eyeinhand website, in the Marginalia section. Barry is a very skilled photographer and his images are stunning. Don't miss these. Also find more photos posted by the Museum on their Facebook page here. Hopefully I'll have a more complete report next year, but in the mean time there's plenty to savor at these two sites.

Thanks to John Ford and Tracey Munson @ the CBMM for their genorous  support.

Originally posted by Thomas Armstrong on 70.8%

30th Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

A couple of looks at the waterfront and activity on the Miles River

Coming in from the race is James Miller in Fretless, a 26' Tancook Whaler built by Peter Van Dine in Qwings, MD, 1979.

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Lourie

Pete at the dock taking care of the details

Here's Dark Star, a smart little round stern sharpie.

I just caught the owner as he was pulling out, said she was a 'Gardner' sharpie, no more info.

While the above two boats were new to me, this Welsford Navigator, Slip Jig, is a perennial visitor,owner built by Kevin Brennan

Just in from the race is another regular face at the MASCF, Andy Slavincus  and his Olin Stephans Blue Jay.

Tim Shaw added a sailing rig to his self designed and built outrigger canoe/proa Al Demany Chiman, and went to the races. Tim blogs about his boat activities @ Chineblog.

Detail-Ama

Detail

This marvel, and I am unsure of her name, was built by the Lavertue brothers,

 In Dan Sutherland's NY shop,

And fitted out with Bob Lavertue hardware. She took a spill in the race, but has recovered nicely.

Man and Baidarka become one.

Sultana Projects built this replica of the John Smith shallop a few years back.

 

She now resides at the CBMM.

The museum grounds have some terrific displays,

like these found in the appentice boatshop.

Bessie Lee is a seaside bateau,, from the Eastern Shore of VA. These boats worked both the bay and ocean sides of the penninsula. She has three mast steps, visible on the foredeck, to accommodate various conditions. Built c. 1820 by Hanson Downes, Capeville VA.

A big chunk of something destined to become part of a restoration, though I'm not sure which boat.

 Rosie Parks in her restoration shed.
The skipjack Rosie Parks was built in 1955 in Dorchester County by legendary boatbuilder Bronza Parks, for his brother, Captain Orville Parks, Sr. The sailing oyster dredging workboat was named after their mother. The skipjack is now under historic restoration at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Keel detail

 

Her new deck is almost finished caulking.

Doesn't she look grand!

All photos copyright Thomas Armstrong except where noted

Another grand day in St. Michaels, MD. This festival never fails to please the small boat enthusiast. While it's not as broad in scope as Mystic, it's every bit as engaging and satisfying. That's a tall order. A little rain towards the end of the day dampened no ones spirits. It's a great museum doing really good work, and hosts a multitude of interesting weekends. Check it out if you aren't familiar with them. My day at the festival was followed by crabcakes, shrimp and drinks with my companions in charming St. Michaels.. Doesn't get any better.

Sincere thanks to John Ford and Tracey Munson for easing my way, and to all the participants in #30!

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Originally posted by Thomas Armstrong on 70.8%

Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival XXIX

Barry Long's recently completed melonseed skiff Aeon.

I was drawn to the boat immediately on entering the festival grounds.

She's meticulously crafted, as is most of what Barry does.

There is a lengthy and beautifully photographed record of this build at Berry's website, Eye in Hand.
Nice commentary, as well.

Aeon is one of a pair of melonseeds Barry built simultaneously.

Here's the other:

Caesura

Well done Barry

Tom Shepard, Wen Byar et al showed up with the Marion Brewington, down from the Independence Seaport Museum.

Mike Wick brought his brand new Cortez melonseed Moogie.

photo courtesy John Guidera

She took on a little water, but Mike will soon have that remedied.

Tied up next to Mike was this smart little catspaw dingy Vairea, a Joel White design owned by Joe Manning.

Jon Harris of CLC was back with his very roomy Pocketship.

Rick Urban brought his Swampscott dory Old Spice and a very convincing canine.

Jay Eberle with his Oughtred Ness Yawl Sara and Damian Siekonic's nicely restored sea bright skiff Persephone, built by C. Hankins in 1985.

Notice the deadeyes. Damian's company Privateer Media specializes in providing all manner of support to those doing historical productions, including boats.

I haven't been able to identify these two decked sailing canoes...

but felt it a shame not to include them. Help, anyone?

Pegasus is a Sam Crocker raised deck Stone Horse.

She is a member of the CBMM's flotilla.

Here's Dale Davenport paddling his Cape Falcon F1, a skin on frame kayak designed by Brian Schultz.
You can download the free plans for this boat here.

Obadiah, a Joel White Marsh Cat

She is owned by Dr. Pete Peters,

and was built by Marc Barto. Marc is a shipwright at the museum and known for his melonseed plans.

Another Marsh Cat, named Frankford Yellow Jacket.

Owner Ned Asplundh explained that the name refers to a Philadelphia professional football team of yesteryear. Ned and Mike Wick are the co-editors of the Ash Breeze, the publication of the TSCA. The latest edition has an engaging article on the history of the MASCF.

Yet another Marsh Cat, this one is Comfort, owned by Doug Oeller

The beautifully restored and maintained Edna E Lockwood

A Chesapeake Bay bugeye, she is the last of her kind, and designated a National Historic Landmark.

Nearby was this little beauty, obviously a Chesapeake type and probably also an oyster craft, but I have yet to identify her, presumably also a CBMM boat. (John Ford wrote to me recently to inform me that the boat is an Egret Sharpie based on a Chapelle design [so not a Chesapeake type after all] and donated to the museum. She will likely be used in the museum's educational program.)

Speaking of beautifully restored and maintained, here's Ric Carrion aboard Elf. The restoration and preservation of Elf have become the nexus of Ric's life and he is passionate about her. Ric said he'd be leaving Sunday morning to begin making his way to Philadelphia and the Independence Seaport Museum's wooden boat fest, this coming weekend.

Nearest in this photo is Tim Shaw in his skin on frame outrigger canoe Al Demany Chiman.
Tim, where's that sailing rig?

A father and son pair of Canvasbacks, designed by Karl Stambaugh.

Here we are back again to Sara.

After a long chat Dale and Jay invited me to a sail. I had written about these two in my report of the first MASCF I attended back in 2008, when Dale brought his Caledonia Yawl as well. Dale recently sold that boat and is moving both to larger and smaller

Here's that lovely lug main.

Looks as though we're having fun!

A great way to end my visit, my thanks to Jay and Dale

There may be a few of these still available. Contact the museum.


all photos Thomas Armstrong with exceptions noted

The 29th Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival took place last weekend in St. Michaels MD on the campus of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. For the first time in my four years of attendance the weather was a bit less than perfect, and while that may have contributed to there being a few less onlookers, it in no way diminished the number or enthusiasm of the participants. This is a spirited gathering of like minded folk who come together to celebrate their passion for small craft. Many of the boats are built by their owners and certainly almost all maintained by them. Hands on. It's a pleasure to be in their company and the enthusiasm is contagious. I'd also say the museum and volunteer staff are gracious and accommodating. What fun.
Mike Wick sent me the 'race' results:

MASCF 2011 Sailing Order of Finish
# Name Vessel
131 Tom Johns Sunfish
64 Al Fittipaldi Thistle
134 Harold Bernard Annalie Glen-L 15
21 George Surgent Buna-Monia , Crotch Island Pinkie
13 Pete Peters Obadiah Marshcat
104 George Loos N/N Blue Jay
67 Kevin Brennan Slip Jig Navigator
31 Lawrence Haff Red Dragon Sailing Canoe
#53B Scott Lavertue Calico Jack Coquina
32 Dennis Keener Whisper Sharpie Skiff
111 Gail Sheppard Sea Hound
26 Carl Weissinger Baguette, Sandbagger
145 John Depa N/N Sailing Canoe
112 Tom Shephard Marion Brewington, Tuckup
118 Mike Wick Moggie Cortez Melonseed
28 Jay Bliss Haiku
69 Jay Eberly SARA
43 Doug Oeller Comfort, Marshcat
87a Marie Cobb Bonito
9 Steve Layden Pigwidgeon
48 John England Hannah Banana, Sailing Sharpie
44 Ned Asplundh Frankford Yellow Jacket Marshcat
73 Reade &Molly James Faith
87b Ed & Michelle Cobb Kermit S.F. Pelicanilh.

Apparently there was a bit of a blow outside the harbor, as Mike quipped per email:

"Only the strong survived."

Looking forward to next year.

Special thanks to John Ford at the CBMM for his assistance.

Orignally posted by Thomas Armstrong via 70.8%