Norfolk, Virginia - After a long Winter’s rest and refit with her transom newly replaced, the schooner Virginia waited patiently in the shadow of the U.S.S. Wisconsin, at Sail Nauticus, while a crew of volunteers assembled to step her masts for the new season.

Recently, under the direction of Erik Lohse, captain of the schooner Virginia, about 25 crew members joined a professional team of crane operators to raise the masts and rig the ship for a new season of adventures.

See a short video click here.

“We’re very excited to get ready for a new season,” Lohse said. “We have a really great group of people who comes out here in all kinds of weather year-round, to serve the Virginia.”

There is quite a bit of sweat equity invested in the maintenance of the ship.

 Just tuning the rig is quite a workout. It took many hands to make light work using massive wrenches.

Annually, over 100 people volunteer to serve aboard the schooner, according to Lohse.

Anyone who wants to add to their numbers is welcome by contacting Nauticus. No experience necessary.

The schooner was ship shape and under sail in time for the Blackbeard Pirate Festival, May 29 through May 31 in Yorktown.

About the Schooner

Virginia is a reproduction of the last all sail vessel built for the Virginia Pilot Association. The original ship sailed for the pilots from 1917-1926, training apprentice pilots in seamanship and navigation. The reproduction, built in Norfolk between 2002-2004, is also used as an educational platform. Her programs include courses in maritime history, marine science, maritime literature, and team-building for both students and adults. The ship has sailed as far south as Trinidad, east to Bermuda, north to Prince Edward Island, and all along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.

The original schooner Virginia was built in the A.C. Brown & Son shipyard; Tottenville, Staten Island, New York; in late 1916.  At the request of the Virginia Pilot’s Association President, William Rowe Boutwell, she had been designed by the marine architects Cox & Stevens “along the same lines of an America’s Cup defender.”  Although steam power had come into use by the Virginia Pilots Association twenty-five years earlier, Rowe had wanted a strictly sailing vessel for the pilot’s Association, in order to “keep the pilots sharp sailors”, and to help train apprentices.

Rig Type – Two masted, gaff topsail schooner

Homeport – Norfolk, VA

Designer – Tri-Coastal Marine

Builder – Tri-Coastal Marine

Sparred Length – 126ft

Length Overall – 121ft 10in

Length on Deck – 114ft

Length at the Waterline – 84ft

Draft – 12ft 3in

Beam – 24ft

Rig Height – 112ft

Freeboard – 6ft 6in

Sail Area – 6,538 square feet

Displacement – 154 tons

Gross Tonnage – 98 tons

Auxiliary Power – Twin 205 horsepower Caterpillar Diesel Engines (3056)

Hull Construction – Frames are of laminated white oak and Angelique. The bottom is single-planked angelique becoming double-planked wana above the waterline. The deck is silverballi. Other wood used in various parts of the ship include green heart and teak. Masts and spars are laminated douglas fir.

Water Capacity – 1,000 gallons storage and water making capability

Fuel Capacity – 1,000 gallons

Crew Compliment – 10 professional crew, 16 trainees (overnight), 46 passengers (day sails)

Certifications – USCG Subchapter “R” Sailing School Vessel, USCG Subchapter “T” Small Passenger Vessel, ABS Loadline Certificate

For more information about educational use, contact the Nauticus Sailing Center at (757) 823-4242. For special event use, call (757) 664-1074.