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2019 Boston Station Fall Cruise

Whales and Whaling, a historic tour of southeastern Massachusetts’ historic whaling sites.

Our cruise will feature stops in Mattapoisett, New Bedford, and Nantucket where we will learn from museum curators, historians, and current researchers about the history of whaling and the current state of various whale species.

Saturday 14 September to Saturday 21 September, 2019

Detailed Schedule

Saturday, 14 September- Mattapoisett, Mass-

“By the early to mid 1800s Mattapoisett, MA was one of the centers of American shipbuilding.” The majority of the New Bedford whaling fleet was built in Mattapoisett.

We will have a gam ashore at Sam and Hilary Vineyard’s home for chowder, light snacks (BYO), and a rum keg. We have invited a local historian to speak to us about the shipbuilding history of Mattapoisett.

Sunday, 15 September- New Bedford, Mass. Optional working waterfront tour

New Bedford was the center of the whaling business in the 1800s and is currently the largest fishing port in the US in terms of $$ of fish landed. There are many historical and interesting things to do in New Bedford, from seeing the actual working waterfront to a number of museums.

There will be an optional (extra cost) opportunity to have a guided tour of the working waterfront of New Bedford. This will be your opportunity to learn the difference between scallopers, draggers, and other commercial fishing boats.

The tour will start around 3:30 at the Fishing Heritage Museum with a museum visit and short film. The group will then walk down to the docks for a docent led tour of the fishing docks.

Cost for this optional tour will be $10 per person (pay on site)

Monday, 16 September- New Bedford, Mass-

We will have guided visits to the New Bedford Whaling museum starting at 1500, including:

Gallery visit to new Whales Today exhibit with Michael Moore (WHOI and CCA) leading a tour “Whales in Context”

Lagoda Whale Ship Gallery - Curator talk - Akea Bernard - NBWM Curator of Social History. “How whalig voyages influenced today’s ethnic diversity in New Bedford”

Wattles Gallery curator talk - Christina Connet - NBWM Chief Curator - new exhibit “De Wind is Op!”, Dutch and Flemish paintings on wind, climate, and sea.

Cocktails (cash bar) and simple buffet dinner in the Harborview Gallery following the tours (about 1730).

Thursday, 19 September- Nantucket, Mass

Nantucket was another of the centers for whaling in the 1800s.

We have arranged for shore access and launch service at the NYC, will have tours set up at the Nantucket Whaling Museum, and Maggie Merrill will host a gam at her home on the harbor with heavy appetizers and a rum keg. There are also many other historical sites in Nantucket that are worth visiting.

Friday and Saturday, 20/21 September

There are many ports to visit in the Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay regions and we encourage members to set up mini Gams to enjoy these locations.

Moorings/Dockage

Moorings and dockage will be covered by each individual boat on the cruise. There are moorings available in Mattapoisett, moorings and dockage available in New Bedford and Nantucket.

Launch service

Mattapoisett has no launch service available, thus dinghies will be required to reach Sam and Hilary Vineyards home on Neds Point.

There is launch service available in New Bedford from the mooring provider. This service will drop us at Pier 3 in New Bedford, a short walk to the NBWM and many other sites and restaurants.

We have arranged to have Nantucket Yacht Club provide launch service and access while we are in Nantucket. The NWM and Maggie Merrill’s home are both located within reasonable walking distance from the NYC.

Costs

There will be a per boat fee of $50 and a per person fee of $100 which will cover the cost of all three events on the cruise.

Land cruisers can join us at the New Bedford Whaling Museum for the tours and dinner for $70 per person.   

Registration

 

The Cruise is Full.  Please check with the organizers before signing up.

Please register with your boat, skipper, and crew information at the 2019 Boston Station Fall Cruise site.

Register here: https://bospay.cruisingclub.org/boston-fall-cruise-payment-registration

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