Council of American Maritime Museums Conference Attendees Sail on the Erie Boat

May 31, 2009 | News & Events

We had a wonderful time sailing Friday afternoon with members of the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) who were in Erie for a conference at the Erie Maritime Museum over the weekend. The Erie Boat accompanied Niagara's three small boats to take the CAMM members sailing on Presque Isle Bay. BCMS maritime educator Alex Nagle and volunteer Matt McCain worked hard to get the Erie Boat ready. They launched it Thursday morning and stepped the masts with help from the crew at Lund Boat Works and Leclair Point. Friday the sails were bent on and the boat was made ready for the excursion, getting underway in about 13-16 knots of west wind on a beautiful, sunny, Erie afternoon.

Nine CAMM members were on board representing maritime museums from all across the United States and beyond, including the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Maritime Museum Foundation of San Diego, the Australian National Maritime Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of America.

We were underway for several hours, talking story and taking in the sights of the Erie waterfront. The crew took turns on the helm and trimming sails. After the delightful sail we all attended a reception dinner at the Erie Maritime Museum. Thank you to: Billy and Rob, first mate and bosun of Niagara for helping get the Erie Boat prepared, and to Walter Rybka for including the Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies in the CAMM Conference activities.