Hard Times for the Amistad

[Soundbounder]

A dozen years ago the recreation of the Amistad was launched at Mystic Seaport to great fanfare.
The schooner, which tells an inspiring story of freedom and interracial cooperation, made its official debut at OpSail 2000 in New York Harbor and then began annual tours of ports across the country, attracting large crowds wherever it went.
In the spring of 2010, its parent organization, New Haven-based Amistad America, took the schooner to Cuba, where the story of the original ship began in 1839.
Since then, it's been rough sailing.
During its transit back to Connecticut, the hardware attached to the bowsprit was damaged, requiring an estimated $100,000 in repairs. The damage caused the ship to lose its Coast Guard license to carry passengers and forced the cancellation of a lucrative fundraising trip to the Great Lakes. This came at a time when interest in the ship, coming off the Cuba visit, was at an all-time high.
Since then, the ship, which has received more than $6.4 million in state funding, has remained at Mystic Seaport, where it was built.
There were no trips last year as Amistad America tried to find the money to do the repairs and then restructured its $280,000 debt with TD Bank, which had filed a lien against the nonprofit organization.
"There were times last year when I was deeply concerned if we could get through the next two months," admitted Amistad America CEO Greg Belanger in an interview last week.

Amistad Replica Sailing Rough Waters | BoatingLocal.com

[Soundbounder]

Amistad in Cuba

The Amistad arrives in Cuba 2010! - YouTube

[Soundbounder]

Freedom Schooner Amistad May Sail this Spring

It hasn’t sailed in more than a year and a half. It no longer has a paid crew. Its finances, such as they are, flutter like a loose topsail in a full-on gale.

But a rebirth is coming, say the folks at Amistad America, the nonprofit group that has operated the reproduction 19th century schooner since its launch from Mystic Seaport in 2000. Shipboard repairs are set to begin in the next few weeks and, with any luck, Amistad will be sailing again this spring.

Freedom Schooner Amistad May Sail this Spring | BoatingLocal.com

[Blue Stocking]

I was at Mystic last june. She looked pretty sad at that time.
When was she damaged ?-she was alongside in Hamilton Harbour Bermuda early summer IIRC.

[Soundbounder]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

I was at Mystic last june. She looked pretty sad at that time.
When was she damaged ?-she was alongside in Hamilton Harbour Bermuda early summer IIRC.

I can't figure out what exactly the damage was

[SmartMove]

We saw the Amistad come into Ensenada Honda in Culebra under sail last night, a pretty spectacular sight!

We cruised by her this morning while she was at anchor. She was looking pretty good, maybe her fortunes have changed.