Starbound, a 72-foot ketch, recently made the 225-mile voyage from northern Maine to Narragansett Bay to begin its new mission as a platform for youth education and adventure.
The vessel is currently under a long-term charter by a local non-profit, SALTY - Seamanship and Leadership Training for Youths. Specializing in 1-10 day youth group charters, SALTY will ensure Starbound will be a common sight on local waters, most often around Narragansett Bay, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Cuttyhunk.
However, recent inspections revealed age-related damage to Starbound’s two original wooden masts and bowsprit – an unexpected discovery that will call for a substantial fundraising effort. A campaign is now in the planning stages, and will make use of tax-deductible donations and sponsorships, with the aim to quickly raise an estimated $80,000 for the mast replacement project. The new masts will be designed to maintain the historical accuracy and beauty of the vessel. Details of the fundraising campaign will be released in the coming weeks.
Starbound has an adventure-filled history, having twice sailed around the world, and was once owned by the famed singer and actor Burl Ives. She was originally built in 1950, based on Joshua Slocum’s 36-foot Spray, made famous by completing the world’s first solo circumnavigation in 1898. In the late 1990’s, Starbound’s prior owners funded a $650,000 restoration to her wooden hull, deck and marine systems. Currently, she is wintering at Wickford Shipyard, undergoing inspection and preparation for Coast Guard passenger vessel certification. As soon as weather permits, she will be sanded down to bare wood and refinished; taking on new sails and spars prior to arrival at her home port, Norton’s in East Greenwich, RI.
Starbound will be the primary vessel for Sea Scouts Ship 1909, part of the Boy Scouts of America, a co-ed organization for young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. Other local youth groups have also shown interest. Charters are now being considered by The Girl Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, Ronald McDonald House and Gold Star Kids, an organization that provides experiences for teens who have lost a parent in military conflict.
More information on these programs will be shared in the near future, with the launch of the organization’s website. To learn more about charters, volunteering or making a tax-deductible contribution, please contact S.A.L.T.Y. today.
