Great News for the Schooner Virginia

Schooner Virginia racing the Pride of Baltimore II.  Photo by Fred LeBlanc.

Here's an update on the work accomplished on the Schooner Virginia during the past year as reported by the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation. The ship has literally come back to life thanks to the extraordinary efforts of her many friends, volunteers, and most importantly, donors without whose financial support, the 'Schooner Virginia' would not be here today.


•  Great News #10: Virginia successfully completed the U.S.C.G. inspection for an attraction vessel.

•  Great News #9: Virginia was dry-docked, her hull scraped clean and caulked tight.

•  Great News #8: Virginia received immeasurable support and assistance from members of the maritime
community including Lyon Shipyard, Colonna’s Shipyard, Crofton Diving, Bay Diesel, Metro Marine to name a few.

•  Great News #7: Received tremendous support and assistance from two very important maritime associations, the Virginia Ship Repair Association and the Virginia Maritime Association.

•  Great News #6: Received notice that the grant request for $250,000 for the Transportation Enhance Act has been approved. Though these funds can only be used to reduce construction debt, it allows the Virginia to funnel other donations to the important work of maintenance and repair to get Virginia sailing.

•  Great News #5: Because of your support, the Virginia has new masts, booms, gaffs, and topmasts that are needed to replace the originals.

•  Great News #4: Mast stepping was completed.

•  Great News #3: Because of the extraordinary efforts of the Virginia's faithful volunteers, Virginia’s bright work has been varnished, below decks cleaned and general care, including protecting the ship from Hurricane Irene, accomplished.

•  Great News #2: The Virginia is close to finalizing the details of our relationship with Nauticus that will place Virginia in the center of the very exciting new community sailing center to be located there.

•  Great News #1: Virginia will be ready for Virginia OpSail Virginia 2012, the extraordinary collaborative event among OpSail National, the United States Navy, Norfolk Festevents, and hundreds of other national, state and local organizations in June of 2012. This will be the largest maritime event in our region’s history and Virginia will be prominent vessel among the Commonwealth’s fleet!

Donate now and help get Virginia buck under sail!

In addition to the in-kind donations that have reduced the Virginia's expenses while providing much needed work, they have also continued to receive generous donations from members of the board and the many friends of the schooner Virginia.  Without this support, the Virginia could not have kept up with maintenance and other expenses.

Supporters hope a partnership with an educational sailing center proposed at Nauticus will keep the ship going. Recently, philanthropist Jane Batten pledged $1.5 million for the center, which will serve disadvantaged youths.

The news is great but the work list to prepare for sailing as a participant in OpSail 2012 and beyond is also great and urgently need your support now to keep this momentum afloat. Please consider making a donation today. You can donate to the Schooner Virginia by following this link on the Schooner Virginia website.

You can also support the Schooner Virginia by purchasing Schooner Virginia apparel, gifts and accessories. buy Schooner Virginia apparel and proudly wear your support! Shop the Schooner Virginia Nautical Store online by visiting the link here to the Schooner Virginia Ship's Store!

Hope to see you during Virginia OpSail 2012!

Joe & Alison Elder
Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery

Schooner Virginia Now at Nauticus

Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation and Nauticus Foundation have partnered bringing schooner VIRGINIA to the downtown Norfolk waterfront for summer education programs, visitation and special events as fund raising efforts to get VIRGINIA sailing intensify.

Schooner Virginia's new location at Nauticus.

The Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation, owner and operator of schooner Virginia, and the Nauticus Foundation have partnered bringing schooner Virginia pier side at Nauticus, offering public visitation, education programs and special events during the busy summer season. The joint venture of the two foundations is a great fit that takes advantage of the synergy and missions of both organizations – specifically youth education. While the VMHF continues to seek the support that will sustain Virginia into the future, the move to Nauticus will place Virginia back in the public view and provide a platform for Nauticus to launch a new externally focused maritime program.

For the community, the move provides an opportunity to explore a piece of the living history of Hampton Roads, a re-creation vessel of a Chesapeake Bay Pilot Schooner. It will also be a part of the ongoing educational programs already in place at Nauticus, adding value to the visitor experience.

Schooner Virginia under sail.

Like the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation, The Nauticus Foundation, also a non-profit 501(c) 3 foundation, receives donations from individuals, corporations, and other foundations in the form of grants to support educational and outreach programs affiliated with Nauticus. Through this public support, the Nauticus Foundation is able to provide funding for additional educational outreach after-school science clubs, in-class workshops, and additional field trips that inspire and teach over 100,000 school children each year.

As part of the move, Virginia won’t be sailing this summer, as it is still not financially feasible to hire the full complement of crew necessary to sail.

We need your help. Please consider a tax deductable donation to VIRGINIA today! Schooner Virginia website.
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