“I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by…” – John Masefield, Sea Fever
Today on the Women Offshore Podcast, explore what it is like to sail on a tall ship in modern times. Hear from Ger Tysk, a mate on the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, the largest civilian sailing school vessel in the United States.
Launched in 2015, Oliver Hazard Perry is the first ocean-going full-rigged ship to be built in the U.S. in over 100 years. The ship is named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, native son of Rhode Island and the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. The Oliver Hazard Perry can accommodate up to 49 people overnight and up to 75 during the day. She is a US Documented vessel, inspected and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard. As a sailing school vessel, she carries no passengers; all aboard her are considered crew and are required to fully participate in the operation of the vessel.
On this episode, Ger shares why she started working on tall ships and how she found out about it, along with a memorable sea story. She also explains why tall ships seem to be a female-dominated industry. If you’re interested in joining a crew of a tall ship, Ger gives advice at the end to get you started.
There are opportunities to work on tall ships through Tall Ships America, a non-profit educational organization focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America. Founded in 1973, Tall Ships America is commended by Congress as the national sail training organization representing the United States. They support and promote the ships, people, and programs of sail training through scholarships for youth, professional services and advocacy, the Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships, the annual TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® series of races and events, and the biannual publication of Sail Tall Ships!, the world’s definitive directory of sail training. To learn more, visit www.tallshipsamerica.org/
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:23 — 43.1MB)
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The Women Offshore Foundation is an online organization and resource center for a diverse workforce on the water. Its mission is to propel women into meaningful careers through access to a worldwide community and professional development resources, while raising awareness amongst industry leaders and decision makers about issues affecting women on the water. Contact Women Offshore today: hello@womenoffshore.org.
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