38Talk:

Might we veteran 38th Voyagers raise the issue of ambassadorship with any and all appropriate entities from classroom penny collections to kickstarter campaigns online and call it the 39th Voyage Fund?  Maybe shoot for a bi-annual embassy visit at the Whales' Headquarters?  I see the whole 38th Voyage Stellwagen Bank encounter as a Truth and Reconciliation Committee meeting with the former and still oppressed victims of human marine practices........Peter G. W. 
 

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From: NoReply_FrankReed@fer3.com
To: peterwhittemore@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 10:51:16 -0700
Subject: [38Talk] Re: Ten days to Mystic, and another day before New London

André, you wrote:
"It appears that the 'the last official sailing day of the 38th Voyage' has been re-scheduled for tomorrow."
Yes, and with a twist! It left Mass Maritime around noon, and it's still in Buzzards Bay east of New Bedford. They can't get to New London today, and sure enough, the notice at mysticseaport.org says "The MORGAN is being towed to New London. She will arrive on Wednesday morning around 10 a.m." That means the ship will be spending the night somewhere off-schedule, either near Newport (perhaps at Fort Adams again just for the night), or maybe behind the breakwater at Point Judith in the "Harbor of Refuge", which they could reach by about 7:00pm. Then if they leave just after dawn Wednesday morning, they could arrive at New London by 10:00am.
You commented:
"the donation box in one photo refers to the "Ambassador to the Whales". That means the Charles W. Morgan, I think. Does this indicate that the Charles W. Morgan will be sailing among the whales again, as embassies must remain among their constituents?? I spoke with representatives of Mystic Seaport while I was in Boston who said the Morgan would probably not sail again. This is not so much an embassy as a "pilgrimage", isn't it? A gentle apologia and now the vessel retires again to the home port to hibernate."
I understand that this is still an open issue. The safe statement is that they "have no plans" to sail again, but that doesn't mean they are not eager to do so, and as you say, the vessel cannot be an "ambassador to the whales" unless it sails regularly. It's mostly a question of finding the money. Embassies are expensive! Given the great success of the 38th Voyage so far (and now nearly ended), I suspect they will succeed in finding funding to maintain the Morgan as a seaworthy sailing vessel. 
Frank Reed
ReedNavigation.com
Conanicut Island USA

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