2010 ASTA Conference

Todd Kosakowski, of BBHS and Harold Burnham are presenting a New Program Showcase: Restoration of Schooner Ernestina at the 2010 ASTA Conference in Long Beach, CA on board the Queen Mary being held November 15 and 16.  Ernestina was at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard in 2008-2009 for midship, bow and decking repairs.  Ernestina previously known as Effie M. Morrissey has an amazing history involving Capt. Bartlett and later the Cape Verdians.

The Safety Under Sail Forum and the Education Under Sail Forum will follow the conference on Wednesday, Nov. 17.

Ernestina at BBHS

ASTA’s Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships gathers ships' masters and crewmembers, port representatives and festival managers, public officials, marine suppliers, naval architects, preservationists, environmentalists, program administrators and educators for an inspirational and informational 3-day conference.  Topics concerning vessel operations, regulatory issues, management, educational programming, and safety at sea are addressed each year, as are sessions on media relations, marketing, funding, communications, and port event organization.  Held annually during November, the ASTA Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships is both fun and informative and offers oceans of networking opportunities.

Solo Sailors Sailing the Seas

The Ultimate Solo Challenge began on October 13, which is divided into five sprints that together will circumvent the world.  There are five yachts and solo sailors in this years race.  Brad Van Liew is the leader in the first sprint, which started in France then around Spain, south, almost off the coast of South America and then back to the southern tip of Africa.  The first sprint ends in November at Capetown, South Africa.

Solo Captains and their Yachts

Not only is this an amazing race but the internet media coverage is fantastic.  On their website is a google map of the day to day movement of each of the sailboats.  There are interviews and updates from the captains of each boat taken from stationary video cameras mounted in their cabins.  Don't you love it when technology makes those adrenaline sports even more exciting!

Leader American Brad Van Liew