The Martha's Vineyard Times

Charter School students set sail aboard the Alabama

July 11, 2012

Photo by Lisa Epstein

Charter school students prepare to set sail. [More Photos]

Despite looming grey skies, 22 Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School students set sail on June 25 for a five-day sailing school program aboard the Black Dog Tall Ship Alabama.

While aboard, the fifth- and sixth-grade students traveled over 110 nautical miles, anchoring in Tarpaulin Cove on Naushon, in Nantucket harbor and off of Chappaquiddick.

Highlights of the trip included racing ahead of a storm as they sailed to Nantucket at speeds up to 12 knots, viewing a double rainbow over Nantucket Harbor, a final night talent show performed by passengers and crew and casting overboard messages in bottles which will hopefully be found in many faraway places.

Since the early 1990s, the Black Dog Tall Ships company has offered educational programs onboard its fleet of schooners — Shenandoah, Alabama, and Chantey.