Adventure (1926 schooner) facts for kids
Sailing in the tourist trade
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
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| Builder | J. F. James & Son Shipyard |
| Launched | 16 September 1926 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Schooner |
| Tonnage | 130 gross register tons (GRT) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m) |
| Height | 110 ft (34 m) |
| Draft | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Sail plan | Gaff rigged schooner |
| Complement | 27 |
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Adventure (schooner)
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 Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Gloucester, Massachusetts |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Thomas F. McManus |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002054 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 11 December 1989 |
| Designated NHL | 19 April 1994 |
The Adventure is a special type of sailing ship called a gaff rigged knockabout schooner. It was built in Essex, Massachusetts, USA, and launched in 1926. Its main job was to fish for cod and halibut in the cold waters of the Grand Banks. This area is off the coast of Newfoundland. The Adventure sailed out of Gloucester. It is one of only two "knockabout" fishing schooners still around. These ships were designed without a long pole at the front (called a bowsprit). This made them safer for the crew.
In 1994, the Adventure was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place or object. It had a big repair job in 2012. Today, it sails from Gloucester, taking tourists on fun trips.
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The Story of the Adventure
The Adventure was designed by Thomas F. McManus from Boston. It was built at the John F. James & Son Yard in Essex, Massachusetts. The ship was made for Captain Jeff Thomas of Gloucester. It was one of the last wooden sailing ships built for the "dory-fishing" industry. Dory-fishing meant using small boats (dories) launched from a larger ship.
Captain Thomas's young son drew a fleet of fantasy ships. The Adventure was named after one of these drawings. It was a "knockabout schooner." This design meant it did not have a bowsprit. A bowsprit is a long pole sticking out from the front of a ship. Not having one made the ship safer for the crew. A famous historian, Howard I. Chapelle, said this design was the best of the New England fishing schooners.
Fishing Days
The Adventure was launched on September 16, 1926. It was about 122 feet (37 m) long. It had a gaff rig for its sails. It also had a 120 horsepower (89 kW) diesel engine. A crew of twenty-seven people worked on board. From 1926 to 1953, the Adventure fished the rich Grand Banks. This area is in the North Atlantic. Captain Jeff Thomas and later Captain Leo Hynes were its captains.
The Adventure was very successful. It caught nearly $4 million worth of cod and halibut. This made it the biggest money-maker of its time. When it stopped fishing, it marked the end of American dory-fishing schooners in the North Atlantic.
A New Life as a Windjammer
In 1954, the Adventure was sold to Donald Hurd, Dayton Newton, and Herbert Beizer. They changed the ship for a new purpose. It became a "windjammer" for tourists. A windjammer is a large sailing ship that takes passengers on vacations. The ship carried people up and down the coast of Maine.
The old fish pens were turned into cabins for passengers. The engine was removed to make more sleeping space. The Adventure became very good at sailing in the Gulf of Maine. People even called it the "Queen of the Windjammers."
Coming Home to Gloucester
In 1964, Captain Jim Sharp of Camden, Maine, bought the ship. He continued using it for tourist trips for almost twenty-four years. In 1988, Captain Sharp gave the Adventure to the people of Gloucester. He wanted it to be saved as Gloucester's historic tall ship. The goal was to teach people about the important role of fishing in American history.
A non-profit group called Gloucester Adventure, Inc. was formed in 1988. Their job was to protect the schooner. They wanted it to be a reminder of Gloucester's history. Thanks to this group and many volunteers, the Adventure is now a special place. It is part of the Essex National Heritage Area Maritime Trail. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. And it is a designated National Historic Landmark. In 1999, the Adventure was chosen as an Official Project of Save America's Treasures. This is a program by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Restoring the Adventure
Work to restore the Adventure began in 2012. This work happened at Maritime Gloucester on Harbor Loop. In September 2012, a new Detroit Diesel 671 engine was put in. This was the first time the ship could move on its own power since 1954.
In August 2013, the Adventure sailed out of Gloucester Harbor with all its sails up. In June 2015, it received its Passenger Vessel certificate. This means the United States Coast Guard approved it to carry passengers safely.
