Yo-Ho-Ho and a Schooner called FAME

The Schooner FAME has added a special cruise to its October schedule!  This Saturday, October 22 at 4:00 PM the FAME shall set sail with ample parts rum and entertainment on deck. 

Here's the scoop from Captain Mike:

Rum and sailors have always gotten along like wind and water! Molasses imported from the West Indies was being distilled into rum in New England from the earliest colonial times, and rum was the basis for many of the libations imbibed by the Sons of Liberty as they plotted to push Massachusetts into open rebellion against the Crown.

On this cruise, you'll have the opportunity to sample contemporary beverages, hear Tobias Tripp squeeze out 18th-century songs on his fiddle and squeezebox, and even dance a hornpipe! Revolutionary beverages based on rum & wine will be available for $5; soda and water are also available for $2.

FAME is a replica of a privateer schooner from the War of 1812. During the Revolution and the War of 1812, hundreds of privateers sailed from New England ports to strike a blow for liberty. Come see what all the fuss was about! Sing the songs, drink the drinks, dance the dances, and sail the schooners that helped earn us our independence from Great Britain!

October 22 at 4 PM 
$30 pp, no discounts, passes, vouchers or Groupons. 
Taste the latest New England rums from Turkey Shore Distilleries in Ipswich!
To purchase advance tickets go to zerve.com/schoonerfame/rum.

Schooner Fame

Schooner Fame as Mahi Mahi's boat, Finback, passes by.

I got to go for a sail aboard the Schooner Fame this week, and it was a real treat.  Captain Mike and his crew took great care of their passengers as we sailed out into Salem Harbor (and back) on a two-hour sunset sail.

  

The schooner is a replica of an 1812 Privateer, and it was built locally in Essex at the Burnham Boat Yard.  Sailing on the Fame is a great experience for all ages.  In addition to being immersed into our maritime heritage, you also get to see Pickering Light, Marblehead Light, Hospital Point in Beverly, and some of the loveliest waterfront properties north of Boston!

The sail can be as interactive or relaxing as you want.  My kids raised the main sail, and I spent a considerable portion of our cruise at the tiller.  Two of our fellow passengers were graduates of the Schooner Fame Schooner Camp, which runs throughout the summer for children age 10-14, and they truly loved the camp experience.  

Passing the Salem Ferry

Schooner Fame sails out of Pickering Wharf, adjacent to Victoria Station, at 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 6:00 PM daily.  They have beverages (Coke, Diet Coke, Water, Beer and Wine) for sale on board, as well as a selection of snacks.

Things Dad might love

Here are a few Father's Day shopping ideas from The Picklepot on Pickering Wharf:

- Hand painted silk ties for Ellen Hardy
- Wine glasses for Jack Walsh @ Dancing Sands ... The new Salem logo, the Friendship.
- Coasters with the logos of all his favorite Boston Sports teams
- Birdhouses made from drift wood collected on the North Shore
- photos from his favorite places

Rockafellas will be holding their annual "Golfafellas" event on Sunday - featuring indoor golf, prizes, food and ample drink.  

Schooner Fame sails at 2, 4, and 6 PM on Sunday.  The forecast looks perfect for a Schooner sail with dad.  I recommend making reservations! 

Get your Schooner Fame tickets on the Salem App!

The Schooner Fame is now selling tickets on the Salem Guide iPhone App! The Schooner Fame joins other iPhone App ticket sellers: Salem Trolley and the Phillips House. Buying your tickets on the App is easy and paperless... definitely worth checking out!

While you're on the App, make sure to check out the great deals - there are some notable dining deals for the Regatta in the Salem Waterfront Hotel, and Nathaniel's at the Hawthorne Hotel.

How We See Salem: Captain Mike

Schooner Fame opens for the 2010 season on Saturday, May 29. To celebrate the launch of the new season, we are sharing Captain Mike's favorite things to do in Salem.

Schooner Fame is a replica of a successful privateer (of the same name) of the War of 1812. Fame was built at Burnham's Boat Yard in Essex, Massachusetts, and has been sailing out of Pickering Wharf since 2003.

When you sail aboard Fame, you will learn about the fishermen, pirates, privateers, traders, and men of war who shaped the North Shore. The captain and crew share stories of Essex County's early fishing trade, the East India Trade that made Salem rich, and the privateers of the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

Here's a bit about Captain Mike and his haunts in Salem...


Captain Mike Rutstein
Schooner Fame

Where are you from originally?
Massachusetts

How long have you worked in Salem?
8 years

What is your favorite thing about Salem?
The history, and the waterfront.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Salem?
Victoria Station, Derby Deli, Finz

What’s your favorite place to shop in Salem?
Nautical Traders

What is the first thing you do with guests from out of town?
Take them sailing!

* * *

If you want to shop, dine, and explore like Captain Mike, here are links to the places he recommends:

• Victoria Station
• Derby Deli, 245 Derby Street
• Finz
• Nautical Traders, 77 Bridge Street

Learn more about the Schooner Fame at SchoonerFame.com.

Yarrr! It's Pirate Day!

Hoist the Jolly Roger and talk like a pirate aboard the Schooner Fame!

September 19 is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, so break out the pirate regalia and set sail aboard Salem's favorite privateer. Grog and hardtack will be available, along with more traditional refreshments. Regular ticket prices apply: $25 adults/$20 seniors/$15 children. http://schoonerfame.com

Landlubbers will enjoy stepping into the Pirate's lair at the New England Pirate Museum. Your pirate guides will take you through Salem's soggy past, into pirate caves and along a replica wharf.

After all the pirate research, you'll certainly need to stop in at a watering hole for a swig of somethin' with a kick. Plenty of watering holes to choose from in Salem, and many will serve the rum you may be seeking. Yo-ho-ho!

Sailing, swimming, exploring aboard an 1812 privateer!

It's time to start thinking about summer camp - and Schooner Fame offers a great camp program that can enhance your summer visit to Salem, whether you are thinking about your vacation or staycation for 2009.

There will be three sessions of Schooner Camp this year: July 20-24, August 3-7 and August 17-21. Our August 17-21 session is for ages 10-14. All three sessions run from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM daily, rain or shine.

New for 09, Schooner Fame is offering a three-day, two-night overnight, August 11-12-13, which is separate from any of the other sessions. The overnight session begins at 9 AM Tuesday morning and runs through 3:30 PM Thursday afternoon. There is room for eight campers ages 10-14. The cost is $395.

For more information on our camp programs, visit our website at SchoonerFame.com or call us at 978.729.7600.If your family has other camp plans this year, we do hope you can come aboard for one of our regular cruises.

Whatever your summer plans may be, the captain and crew of FAME wish you…Smooth sailing!

Schooner Fame Events

LIVE MUSIC WITH THE JOLLY ROGUES!

Join the crew of Fame this Friday, August 22, at 6 PM for an evening sail with the Jolly Rogues!

The Jolly Rogues are an “auditory flashback” to the music of the 18th and 19th centuries. They go from one great sea shanty to another, with tunes that makes you sway and join in the singing. Members of The Guild of Historic Interpreters, they present a great selection of seafaring songs, all of which are light-hearted and pleasant. Join us for a wonderful evening of good-mood music!

Regular ticket prices apply for this special sunset cruise. Beer, wine and grog available!


MARITIME LECTURE SERIES

On Wednesday, September 10th the Fame and Salem Maritime National Historic Site will be co-hosting a lecture by David Hodgdon, who has written a book about the adventures of his ancestor, whose Salem schooner was captured by the British during the War of 1812.

These lectures, sponsored jointly by Fame and Friendship, take place at 7 PM at St. Joseph Hall, 160 Derby St., Salem. They are free, and the Hall is handicapped accessible. For more information, call 978-729-7600 or 978-740-1660.