Nautical Things

This page will be a hub to all of my nautical endeavors. For now, just follow one of the links above.

What is ELISSA?

ELISSA is a three-masted, iron-hulled merchant barque built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Over her 90 year commercial history, she carried cargo to ports around the world—including two stops in the port of Galveston during the 1880s. She has 19 sails covering over one-quarter of an acre in area. From her stern to the tip of her jibboom she measures 205 feet. Her height from the deck is 99 feet, 9 inches at the main mast.

Who is ELISSA?

Today ELISSA is much more than a set of impressive statistics or an artifact from a bygone era. She is a fully functional vessel that continues to sail annually as a part of the Galveston Historical Foundation’s Texas Seaport Museum.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of ELISSA, and indeed the very reason for her continued existence. The Galveston Historical Foundation purchased ELISSA in 1975, rescuing her from being scrapped in a Greek shipyard. Once in Galveston, a team of traditional craftsmen, assisted by the very first group of ELISSA volunteers, spent several years restoring her to her original glory.

ELISSA continues to depend on the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, who put in more than 20,000 hours each year to maintain and sail her, and to preserve and steward her heritage for future generations.

Who can join ELISSA’s crew?

If you are over 18 and have a passion for (or even a passing interest in) the skills and arts of 19th century square rigged sailing ships, there’s a place for you in ELISSA’s ranks. Our crew members have ranged from highschoolers to octogenarians, and come from as far as Houston, Austin, and even Florida! We come from a variety of life experiences, too.

Those with special skills, such as canvas or leatherwork, carpentry, plumbing and engineering, are always welcome, but elbow grease and your willingness learn is most in demand.

The Texas Seaport Museum also offers a parallel Youth Seamanship Program for volunteers under 18. Contact TSM for details and a brochure.

Come sail the 1877 tall ship ELISSA!

Seamanship Training
Come See What it's all About
Orientation July 21, 2007, 1:30-5:00 pm

Texas Seaport Museum, Pier 21, No. 8
Galveston, Texas 77550 (409) 763-1877
elissa@galvestonhistory.org

Here's a shot of me on the fore course
(4th from Left)

Foremast crew 04 at the end of a long day

What will I be doing?

Maintenance: It’s arguably the most important job that ELISSA volunteers do. There is always something to be done on a boat, and on a 19th century sailing vessel, that goes more than double!

Every day of the week, you will find a TSM employee or volunteer foreman, supervising as volunteers replace lines, repair blocks, tar rigging, sand, paint,
varnish, sweep, scrub, and more.

Preservation & Stewardship: ELISSA’s crew are custodians of maritime craftsmanship, folklore and customs of the sea that have all but disappeared in the 21st century. As a museum, ELISSA is always in need of dedicated folks who love giving tours, working on collections and research, and demon strating seamanship and the sailor’s arts.

Sailing! ELISSA is one of only three tall ships in the country with an all-volunteer sailing crew.

Each year, TSM conducts a U.S. Coast Guard approved Seamanship Training Program, with experienced volunteer instructors teaching new and returning crew the language and skills required for safely sailing and maintaining a 19th century vessel. Over the course of 20 classes, you will be pulling lines, tying knots, climbing the rigging, learning the helm, standing the watch, straining with your crewmates at the capstan and windlass, and most of all, having fun. Some volunteers have grown up sailing or spent time in the Navy, while others have never set foot on a ship before coming to Pier 21.

For those interested, special opportunities exist in small boat handling, engineering, quartermaster duties, teaching and several organizational committees.

Graduates celebrate the completion of the course by sailing ELISSA in the Gulf of Mexico for her annual spring sea trials.

How much will it cost?

All instruction is free. A course manual is available for purchase at printing cost. You will be responsible for other small expenses such as a crew shirt and a knife.

When can I start?

As soon as you like! Once signed up, volunteers may work any day of the week with clearance from the Waterfront Manager. The structured Seamanship Training Program classes begin in July and run most alternate Saturdays through daysails in March, but you can stop by TSM anytime to see what it’s like.

Not sure that you’re ready to join us? Just drop by for the orientation session to take a tour, ask questions and meet with instructors and returning crew. We hope you’ll decide to join us and take advantage of this truly unique opportunity!