The Sailing Club has sailed on the Victory Chimes in Maine, the Polynesia in the West Indies, and last year on the Liberty Clipper out of Boston. This year, we will again be racing and cruising in the 28th annual Gloucester Schooner Race. Last year, we commandeered the entire boat and participated with several other tall ships in the festivities off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Ships hailed from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Bermuda.

The Liberty Clipper, a 125-foot long tall ship, is a recently renovated gaff rigged schooner. She is a faithful reproduction of the Baltimore Clippers that carried gold seekers around Cape Horn to the gold fields in California. There are accommodations for 20 passengers in ten cabins - five standard and five premium. Once the trip fills up, there is no more room! The premium cabins have an upper double berth while the standard cabins have two single bunks. All cabins have a sink with hot and cold running water. There are three heads with toilets and showers.

Boston is easily accessible by automobile, air, and my favorite for this trip – the train. Those of us who were on the August 2009 Boston Day Sail know of at least two fantastic restaurants near the ship, which is berthed at Long Wharf, near the New England Aquarium. We will stow our gear Friday evening and then meet at the either the Black Rose or the Chart House.

Saturday, it’s away from the dock at 8:00 AM and an offshore sail to Gloucester. We’ll look for whales in Massachusetts Bay, and stay ahead of any accompanying tall ships on the way to Cape Ann. The evening festivities will include a lighted Parade of Sail followed by fireworks. Both the festivities Saturday night and the race the following day may include additional passengers – talk up The Sailing Club!

Sunday is the Mayor’s Cup Race in the coastal waters off Cape Ann. Get your camera ready to capture the unforgettable images of tall ships under all canvas beating to windward – in our wake hopefully. The race starts at 9:00 AM and finishes around 4:00 PM. There will also be plenty of time to explore Gloucester, America’s oldest seaport with America’s oldest art colony.

Monday, we head south for Boston in the company of whales and the tall ships we beat in the race. Listen to the crew tell how their skill saved the day and the parties they survived ashore. We will be having a special barbeque before arriving back in Boston (between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM). Once secured to the dock, it’s time to disembark – no need to fuel up, pump out the head or empty the refrigerator.

The cost of the trip is $607.50 per person for a standard cabin, and $675.00 for a premium cabin. This is the same price as last year! This price covers early boarding Friday evening, all meals on Saturday and Sunday, including a Sunday dinner ashore at the awards tent, and breakfast and lunch on Monday. A $100.00 deposit is required to hold your position. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed reservation form to Larry Sherwood at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning on April 13, 2012 with a random draw of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first-come, first-served basis. The balance of $507.50 or $575.00, depending on your cabin choice, will be due on June 15, 2012.

Cancellation Policy:
A full refund will be provided for cancellations prior to July 3, 2012 (more than sixty days prior to departure). After that date, refunds will only be provided if a replacement can be found. Trip cancellation insurance should be considered. One source is www.insuremytrip.com, where you can compare prices from several providers.

A pre-trip meeting will be held Monday, August 22, 2012 at 6:00 PM. The location will be provided with your confirmation notice. All crew members should plan to attend.

We look forward to seeing you on another exciting sailing trip. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bruce.

Trip Leader

Assistant Trip Leader