Comments on: Bill of Rights Finds a Home!

By: matt walker

matt walker — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:49:21 +0000

Bill of Rights is indeed a beautiful schooner and a very welcome addition to the Southern Califonia sailing scene. (one can only look at so much white fiberglass). but please, please, please, PLEASE people. Bill of Rights is a SCHOONER! not a TALL SHIP!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:34:19 +0000

Thank you so much for the sail last week! It was so much more than I had imagined. This is definitely on my “must do” list for visitors. And I intend to bring local friends back for the tall ship sailing experience. Warning…we are scheming to come with kids dressed as pirates! In fact, I’d love to see a “Pirate Sail”, are you game?

By: Mike T.

Mike T. — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:27:22 +0000

My wife and I sailed on the Bill of Rights on July 4th 2011. It was a “Great Experience” to sail on a ship that led the Tall Ships into New York harbor 35 years ago. …. Let me give a sincere THANK YOU to one of the friendliest and informative crews I have ever met. I would recommend to ALL to take advantage of this experience. It was also a pleasure to meet a Great American (one of the crew volunteers) who honorably served our country during World War II, Commander Hal Wilder.

By: Hal Wilder

Hal Wilder — Sun, 29 May 2011 01:37:34 +0000

I was aboard for a group cruise with Ventura Power Squadron. Captain Stephen Taylor allowed me to steer for a few minutes and I became addicted. Life will never be the same again.

By: Jennie Butler

Jennie Butler — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 23:28:16 +0000

The Bill of Rights was built by my grandfather at his shipyard in South Bristol, Maine. I far as I remember attended the launching which was always very exciting. His yard was sold and new owners kept the name. Here’s a brief history:
http://www.gamageshipyard.com/history.htm

By: sailtimeci

sailtimeci — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:15:40 +0000

Bill you are welcome to tell as many stories as you like about Bill of Rights here. Im sure your stories are of interest to more than myself to be sure! I sailed into Nantucket harbor with my grandfather in the late 60′s aboard his magnificent ketch and can only imagine Bill making that kind of entrance – must have been grand and “Joe” must have known the harbor very well.

By: Bill M

Bill M — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:56:50 +0000

I was doing some house cleaning over the past couple of days and came across some literature on the Bill of Rights so I decided to do an internet search and see what came up. I have very ford memories of the “Bill” having been a passenger on her during the summers of ’74, ’75 and ’76 (Op Sail from Newport to Boston to participate in Tall Ships) I also took a Fall cruise in ’78 (could have been ’77). Nevertheless, my time aboard was absolute wonderful and Joe Davis was delightful. Cuttyhunk, Tarpaulin Cove, Nantucket, Edgartown, Menemsha, Marion, Stonington and many other harbors and coves I no longer remember; they all seemed like an adventure. I particularly remember coming into Nantucket harbor on what seemed to me to be a dramatic entrance. As be made the approach along the breakwater, we were on a reach with the “Bill” heeled over and the pennants flying, it seemed as if Joe had enough speed underway to take the schooner up onto Main Street. But at the right moment he turned the vessel into the wind and came to where he wanted to anchor. Later that evening while we were having a good time at a local watering hole (Brotherhood of Thieves) those in town who saw our entrance were still remarking what a site it was. Another time while entering Edgartown, Joe directed one of the crew who played the bagpipes to go aloft and play as we entered the harbor. At one point I started to undertake building a half hull model of the “Bill” and contacted McCurdy and Rhodes, a navel architectural firm on long island for the plans of the hull. They were most accommodating and gave me a large set of drawings of the hull that I still have. I have many more stories but I should stop for now. I would very much like to get in touch with Joe Davis but don’t know how or where to locate him. I would appreciate any information anyone may have on his whereabouts or contact information. Thanks.

By: Susan D

Susan D — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:10:08 +0000

I was lucky enough to be a crew member for her maiden year and the following year 1971 & 1972. I was deck hand and cooks assistant the first year. Cook and deck hand the second year. It was the best time in my life. Joe Davis was the owner/skipper we had a crew of six and we took passengers for weekend or 5 day cruises. We even had a few 7 day cruises. Her first winter was spent in Annapolis Md. Her home base was Newport R.I. She was heavy built by Harvey Gamage in Bristol Maine and an absolute joy to sail in good winds.

By: Dick Levine

Dick Levine — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:20:04 +0000

I first saw the Bill of Rights” at Channel Islands Harbor several months ago. Starting this June,I began volunteering to help the crew with the maintenance and care of the ship. So far I have accumulated twelve hours, and intend to put in many more,and go on some of the cruises. I call this “the experience of a lifetime.”

By: Whitney

Whitney — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:39:23 +0000

I spent the summer of 1984 as an apprentice crew member on board the Bill of Rights. We sailed weeklong cruises out of Newport for around 20 guests. We would sail the Elizabeth Islands, Fisher’s Island, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and sometimes out as far as Nantucket, depending on the wind and the tides. At the time, it didn’t have an engine, we would use our launch to push the boat if we couldn’t get somewhere under sail. I was 15 at the time and it was a formative experience in my life. I’m glad to see that she has been rescued and resuscitated.