The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven, Michigan is now recruiting volunteer sailors to be part of the Ship’s Company for the 2020 season aboard their tall ship Friends Good Will. Built for and by the Museum in 2004, Friends Good Will is a replica of an 1810 merchant ship that plied the Great Lakes in the early years of Great Lakes shipping. Enjoy the excitement of traditional sailing as you share the unique maritime heritage of the Great Lakes with museum guests, students, and fellow sailors on daily sailing excursions on Lake Michigan.
To qualify as crew, volunteers must participate in the Museum’s Basic Seamanship Training (BST) program. This year’s BST is scheduled over two weekends, April 25-26 and May 16-17. Training consists of both classroom and on-water components and is specific to the Museum’s tall ship. Seamanship skills, line handling, knot tying, and more are all part of the training. Once students pass BST, their training will continue throughout the sailing season alongside staff and seasoned volunteers. The more you sail, the more you learn! New Ship’s Company crew will have ample opportunity to sign up to crew as much as desired, be it one or two sails a week or one to two days per week on Pirate Chasers or Day and Sunset Sails. If you have a desire to crew aboard Friends Good Will, they will show you the ropes!
“What better way to share a passion for sailing and history, than crewing aboard a tall ship like Friends Good Will.This is a wonderful opportunity for teachers, sailors, historians, and adventure seekers alike,” says Captain Bob Harnish, Commander of the Fleet for the Museum.
Participants must complete both weekends of training in full to be considered for crew. Minimum age requirement is 16 years of age. The course is free to participants. Museum membership is required. To register contact captain@mimaritime.org or call 269-637-8078.
