Hello, about the BoR girl

I had an experience on the Bill of Rights too. From January 1994 till November of 1994. It was the greatest experience. Course I didn't think so at the time. Being there with Visionquest and all. But, there hasn't been a day since that has gone by when I haven't thought of my being there and the traveling and experience it gave me. Wish I could go back and stay longer this time. But, as we all know. Life goes on. I'm sad to her that the old girl isn't still taking out the kids and helping them to grow, learn and experience life as she once did for me. Anyway, if you would like any other info or stories about my time on the BoR. Or were one of the crew on it with me. Please feel free to email me. MsMAReilly@ yahoo.com Thanks. And if you ever got to experience a ride on the BoR. I hope you loved her as much as I did.
Sent from my iPhone=0)

1976 "Bill of Rights" in Boston

Sir/Madam:

 

      In July of 1976 I was Captain of the 75' fishing vessel "Sea Dog" from Gloucester Ma. On the third of July we left Gloucester with the intention of going down to Boston to see the arrival of the tall ships that were coming in for the parade of tall ships for the bicentennial 4th of July celebration. We had several guests on board that we planed to drop off at the Cape Cod Canal before proceeding on our offshore lobstering trip to the canyons south of Cape Cod. After viewing the arrival of several  the ships off Boston we left for the canal, at about dusk we came upon the "Bill of Rights" Becalmed at the cape cod bay end of the Canal (see first picture). At that time the schooner had no engine and they had rigged their small tender off the stern and were attempting to push her to Boston, needless to say they were not going to make the trip in time for the parade the next day. I called Capt. Davis and offered a tow to Boston, he was happy to accept as he had some very high priced charterers expecting to ride in the parade. We took the schooner in tow (see second picture) and making about 9 kts arrived in Boston at about 2AM on the morning of the 4th, At that time it was to late to carry out our plan of dropping our guests at the canal so I asked Capt. Davis if he could see to it that they were taken ashore where they could make arraignments to get back to Gloucester. Capt. Davis not only took them but kept them aboard for the night and allowed them to stay onboard for the entire parade the next day (see third picture). The girl in the picture was my girlfriend at the time, now my wife, Kate Somers an artist here on Cape Ann (www,randomartsmagnolia.com  ) and this trip was one of the highlights of our time together. We will always treasure our memories of Capt. Joe Davis and the "Bill of Rights"

 

Respectfully

Glenn Somers

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.116632888425309.29254.100002357962688#!/profile.php?id=100002357962688

 

ATSI

New Life for Bill!

Hello,
I've been trying to track down Bill of Rights crew from years past the wide world over and here you are! We most certainly have something special in common. We are all "Friends of Bill of Rights".

As you may already know, Bill of Rights has been neglected and forlorn at the dock in San Pedro, California for over 2 years now. She was briefly rescued in January 2005, after 2 previous years of neglect, for a partnership with Lady Washington and to proudly schoone her way through ASTA's Tall Ship Challenge that summer. I helped with the first frantic refit in January of that year, sailed aboard when I could that winter and spring, and for a glorious 2 weeks that summer. It was a life-altering experience for me, and I haven't been in the age group of child for a long time!

I just came on board a new and exciting non-profit organization that involves Bill called American Tall Ship Institute.

www.americantallship.org.

We are currently in high-gear, trying to raise the last chunk of money we need for a downpayment on Bill. Yes, this is a solicitation, but please keep reading! This is a rescue effort more than anything else. She has many more years of service in her for at-risk and disadvantaged kids, and for educating and sharing the experience of sailing on a tallship. We have sponsors and fundraising strategies that require us to have the boat and be operating before we can get those going. One strategy we are able to employ now is appealing to those of us who share fond, and often life-changing memories of sailing on Bill of Rights.

As of this moment, we are vying with a wealthy French company who wants to refit her as a luxury yacht and bring her to the Mediterranean for the rich and bored. Financially, we can't compete, unless we come up with the remaining $65,000 we need to take possession, insure her, and recaulk the deck. Once that happens, we are ready to go. We have school groups and youth organizations standing by, waiting for us to start scheduling sails.

Please, visit our website. Donate something, anything. Also, please pass this on to anyone else you know who loves BofR or just loves tall ships. And please, respond to this email if you want to be on the Friends of Bill of Rights mailing list. Once we are operating, there will be membership benefits!

I look forward to hearing from you, and perhaps meeting you in person someday, perhaps on board Bill of Rights!

Sincerely,
Laura Levin
American Tall Ship Institute
Marketing, Fundraising, and Operations Coordinator
laura@americantallship.org

Comments from those who love Bill

Some more pax and crew from years past have posted comments here. The links don't always work, so I'm posting them on the main page so that everyone can read them. If anyone has photos of Bill in her past, please send them to me! I'd love to post them here.

- Kim Carver


Anonymous said...

Ahoy
I had the pleasure of being a guest on a Schooner named the "Bill of Rights" during the 1977 America's Cup race in Newport R.I. This marvelous vessel was built in Maine {without power} and skippered by a man named Joe Davis. It was officed in Pawtucket R.I. but was usually seen in or about Newport in the summer. I heard that it wintered in Mystic.
I was wondering if this could be the same vessel? I will check your site from time to time.




Bill Goldsmith said...

Hello Ty,

I was one of the 14 year old kids that sailed on the Bill of Rights in the summer of '73 for one week at the end of July. I do remember Captain Davis, and 24 hour race we participated in against other tall ships that week: Brilliant, Shenandoah, Tabor Boy and others. I have some pictures I took that week and I would be happy to post them if I knew how!





Anonymous said...

My name is Jerry Ritzer. I was on the Bill of Rights for almost 6 months back in 1991/1992. I happened across this post because I was wondering how she was doing myself. Also I was wondering about then Captain Richard Johnson and first mate Jessica Rice. If anybody has any good pictures of "The Bill" or knows anything about those two would love to hear from you. jritzer@msn.com





Anonymous said...

cbMy name is Nancy Madura. While cleaning out a closet, I ran across my BoR tote bag. I always wondered what happened to the Bill. My former husband and I were passengers for a week in Sept. of '76. We sailed out of Newport with Capt Davis to Block Island, through the Elizabethian Islands, Martha's Vinyard, on to New Bedford and back; his father and a wonderful golden retriver joined the trip in New Bedford. When we approaching Martha's Vinyard we met up with the Shenandoah and a race ensuded. The crew of the BoR brought up a canon and fired (tennis balls!) at the other schooner when she came alongside. This did not slow the Shenandoah in the least, she was smaller and squared rigged and won by a mile! There seemed to be quite a rivelry between the two ships. Capt. Davis swore he was going to add square rigs to the BoR just so he could finally beat the Shenandoah! I hoped he never did- she was too beautiful to change in anyway. That night in Edgarstown the crew had to stand watch- seems the two crews liked to board each other's ships and "borrow" lanterns. A few of the passengers that stayed up "to help guard" were treated to the most incredible meteor shower - hundreds coming in like fireworks. In New Bedford during a return shuttle trip the yawl boat ran through a school of jellyfish which were sucked into the intake ports and cooked liked hard boiled eggs. The engine overheated and seized solid! Without an engine sorce we had to be towed out of the harbor to get underway- Capt Davis was not a happy camper. On the return trip back to Newport we ran into the edge of a squall, it was very exciting. I'll never forget how the Bill cut so easlily through those huge waves that were crashing over the bow- very very exciting! (grey-green water- grey-green passengers!) That crazy dog stood on the bow of ship water crashing all around him- loving every minute. That week aboard the Bill of Rights will live in my memories forever. My ex (a professional photographer) got "custody" of most of the photos from that trip- but I coould track them down if anyone is interested.

From Ty Harrington

Ty Harrington said...
So great to learn the Bill of Rights is alive and well! Wondering why she's in limbo, trust her future's secure?

Just in case anyone wants to contact me for tales of the early days of the topsail schooner Bill of Rights, I was chief cook (and bottle-washer) aboard for about seven months in 1973. Then Captain and owner Joe Davis (who built the schooner as a "Bill of Rights" with his father, he said, [contact me for more to this tale, exactly as Joe told it to me], was a fine down-East skipper and he sailed the Bill in the stalwart New England tradition, highly skillful in navigation and ship-handling -- and as feisty as a Nor'east gale!
My memories of one adventure after another abound, as you may imagine, sailing the wide Atlantic out of Newport, Rhode Island with no engines and only the winds and tides our muses.
I left the steward's position to take a writer job with National Geographic Magazine and a few years later wrote a cookbook called The Sailing Chef, based in large part upon recipies I gathered from vessels who crossed our wake (Published by Walker, NY and picked up by Book of the Month Club, though now long out of print).
I have long wondered what happened to the Bill of Rights and it's so great to learn she is still afloat and doing good deeds. All interested in those days, now decades ago, are welcome to contact me at tyharrington@hotmail.com The Schooner Bill of Rights is a legacy, long may her banners wave.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006 5:26:32 AM

Bill's in Limbo

I haven't updated or checked this blog in months, obviously. But that doesn't mean people aren't stumbling across this page while googling for info about our beloved schooner.

Yeah... the deal fell through. Again. In fact I don't think there's any chance that she'll ever go to Puerto Rico. Maybe it's best. Who knows. Less teredos where she's at now. Wonder what LAMI will do with her...

The following was found in the comments of the last post, and I decided to post it here, in case people miss it. Forgive him for his caps!



MY NAME IS MIKE SCURLOCK,I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CREW MEMBERS ON THE BILL WHEN IT WAS OWNED BY (BOB BERTON)VISION QUEST.SHE WAS IN RUFF SHAPE WHEN WE GOT HER. A CREW OF 33,KIDS AN STAFF WE SAILED FROM ST.MICHAELS.MD TO ROCKLAND AN BY THE TIME WE GOT TO ROCKLAND SHE WAS THE FINIST SCHOONER SAILING THE ATLANTIC.I LEFT HER IN 1990 AN THE WAY VISIONQUEST WAS THEY WOULD NOT TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT HER. SO IF ANY ONE KNOWS WHY THEY SOLD HER OR WHERE OUR SECOND MATE MR GOMES IS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY EMAIL MSCURDOG34@VERISON.NET THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS SINCERLY MIKE

Gossip

Last I heard, our beloved Puerto Rican friends signed the papers to buy BoR just a few days ago, but the escrow period (?) could take up to 90 days.

In other news, I'm going to another boat so I'd like to hand over this site to someone with either more time, or proximity to BoR. Unless Nathalie wants it, it'll be up for grabs until I find myself aboard her again!

Kim

The Facts ala Potter & Parrot

Hi Kim! I have information about Bill for all hands...or at least anyone who's interested.

My co-op project from summer was just recently returned to me. As it turned out, the gentleman who read and graded it, Dan Parrott (author of Tall Ships Down, if anyone's read that...if not, you should), used to be Captain on Bill, back when she worked for Vision Quest. Here's Bill's early history as it came from him...

She was built at the Harvey Gamage Yard in South Bristol, ME (as opposed to the Gamage Yard in East Boothbay).

She's a type replica of a downeast cargo schooner.

She was originally built as a private passenger carrying vessel, with no motor, although she had a gig boat at the time. She also carried a pair of white sailing dories on her midship davits. One of them disappeared before Vision Quest bought the boat, but the other one should still be with her, as far as Captain Parrott knows. She carried passengers until the early 80's.

Vision Quest bought her in 1986 and installed the engine.

That's it for now...I'm midway through finals week here, hope everyone is doing well. I'll be in Tahoe for Christmas and New Years...if anyone's in the area, stop by and say hi!

Bryce

>>>>>>>>if you would like Bryce's email please email me at kim(at)ladywashington(dot)org<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

More from TSC '05 parties

photos of bryce & jimmy courtesy of Kent Matsuoka

Wooden Boat Dec '05 Issue

Cheers to Bhodi Sheridan, who is credited for his photo of Pride 2's wreckage on page 17!

Bill of Rights/TSC '05 Photo Request

Please click here to view Nathalie's request

it lives! IT LIVES!

at long last... 
Captain Christopher is speaking out! 
No more do we have to ask our friends 
"hey, so how's Cap?" 
"did you hear anything?"
"have you seen him?" 
"how does he look?"
here he is to dispel all the rumors....! 

(drum roll......)



ALOHA EVERBODY!

yes yes, i know, christopher is finally answering  
emails?!  My God, man, it must be the end times! 
say to yourself "I must repent!". 
anyway, enough of that...

for those of you who are pissed of at me for my 
silence on matters medical, past and present.

I apologize, sincerely.

my only caveat is that spotty communication via 
e-mail is the price one pays for the mistake of 
being acquainted with me.  and never mind the
NSA scrutiny, you shouldn't even notice.

right, some of you don't know that i was in a 
motorcycle accident aug 15, the monday after 
LA Tall Ships.  i was in 9.5 hours surgery and now
have more stainless steel in my right leg than 
the terminator (the first one, not t3).  
11 days in the hospital and home on the 22nd of aug.
it was a relatively slow speed accident 
and i pulled my leg out of the way in time, 
but the car hit my foot and the force went right 
up my leg.  soooo, i was in ugly shape for a bit.

Now, the bright side...  i did not hurt my: head, neck, back or pelvis.
No other damage, only a slight road rash on my elbow.  thats it.  now,
i am healing so fast that i can walk (sort of), i am on crutches and
walking with them.  i was never in a cast and within 3 weeks i was only
wearing a sock to bed (well, not ONLY).  i do have some impressive scars
on my foot and hip, and you guys know that 'chicks dig scars'.  i am
going to the gym 3-4 times a week and swimming well.  i don't have any
real pain, its a little achy and tender in some places, but, it is
healing rapidly.  amazingly enough, i did not blow out any joints and my foot
escaped devastating damage (ie. multiple surgeries or amputation).  so,
the prognosis is close to 100% in a year or so, and up and about within
6 months.  i am shooting for sooner than that.  however i am not stupid
and understand what the limits are.

bright side #2... The US Coast Guard granted a 6 month extension on my
deadline to test for the 1600 ton license upgrade on my Captains
license.  My friend tamara sent ALL of her study material for my my
educastional edification. my friend and landlord, melissa is in the process of
selling the house i livein, booo.     however, I would be out sailing
somewhere when it all went down, and how would i be able to pack and
where would  i go, on short notice or time constraints.. so, i now have
time to settle my affairs and figure it all out. high price to pay for
time, but, lets face it, the glass should to be half full.

I must say that my local friends have been heroes in taking care of me
and making sure i was comfortable.  my parents flew in to help out and
my aunt and uncle and cousins came out as well.  those friends who are
far away and knew sent your love and support in various ways, and those
who did not know,  well, i realize how poorly i handled that aspect of
the whole thing.  as some of you know, or have discovered, i don't
communicate well.

for those of you who are curious about what i was up to this summer,
tall ships 2005 in the pacific northwest.  you can go to
schoonerbillofrights.blogspot.com  or bobandshawn.com (click "gallery") and see some
wonderful pictures and read about the cool times we had.

right.  so, i am flying to oakland for thanksgiving, i have family
there.  and home to houston for christmas.

some of you i owe much more than a group e-mail.  i think you know who
you are, i do to.  baby steps.

ta for now,
i hope that i may see you all out there soon.

i love ya,

christopher

ps take you r time writing back, other wise my in box will be like
reading moby dick, set aside a lot of time.
(oh, yeah, i have a lot of time)

ct



Master, S/V Bill Of Rights

---if you would like Christopher's email address, please drop me a
line at kim(at)ladywashington.org and I will forward your request.

Spring '05 Memories

Por la estudiantes de Puerto Rico

Most of us up on the mainland do not know the details of why the Puerto Rico purchasing of Bill of Rights did not go through. I understand that several students of the proposed schooner study program are checking this site, but this is not an official site and unfortunately I have no official information regarding the future of your program. They may be looking for another boat.

The only people who might know a little more are back in Puerto Rico. Sean Griffin, Rafael Mendez, William Aponte, and Captain Victor were all aboard with us this summer. They may or may not have further details regarding barco escuela.

Not Much Going On!

Well I never hear from Kellick or Shawn on board. I suppose I should call them and get an update... BUT... JP emailed me and promised to send pics of his wedding! So those will go up here soon.

The Independence

Texas History Timeline readerboard found outside the Alamo in San

Antonio. I say it's a brigantine but I can't clearly define the top aft

sail or the gaff staysl? in the middle. Anyone know this boat?

Don't want to imagine...

what it was like for Captain Jan Miles standing at the helm...



photo from Bhodi & Erin's blog: pride2.blogspot.com

Pride 2 caught in squall

I rec'd this from Nathalie Reginster today:

It is believed that Erin and Bhodi are currently crewing on the Pride of Baltimore II. They were supposed to join her crew when she reached Europe. In a transit from Britain to Spain they were hit by a squall - 40 knots and seas to match. They lost the whole rig while at sea. Nobody was hurt. Apparently the bowspint carried away and the fore and main followed suite not long after. Everything went by "the board" as they say (over the side). They motored 80 miles inland and made an emergency landing in France dragging the remnants. My friend App's brother, who is also crewing said its the biggest rats nest he's ever seen. The spars have all been reduced to kindling and some of the sails are salvageable.

See the article for more info

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/4941345/detail.html-

... as far as I know, Andrew Mckee is still serving as chief mate on Pride and I also heard that Leann, formerly the mate aboard Schooner Lynx, is also aboard. - Kim

Name that sail

2nd sail from the top of the picture - just outboard of the Canadian flag....?

And

Jimmy & I will have you know that except for the fore topsl we

seized on just about every last one of the hanks/hoops you see in the

above pic!


But wait! What's this funky sail below called?

Ah the Captain who has all the answers!!!