Save the 1919 Trumpy Grand Lady Update

Mr. Herman Schieis, the man who protected Grand Lady for more than two decades, has passed away.

Mr. Schieis bought her at an auction in Baltimore in 1983. While he didn't have the funds to restore her, he did the next best thing: He protected her for more than two decades.

He built his Grand Lady a beautiful boathouse to keep her under cover while he lived in a modest mobile home next to her.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of this great yachtsman.

Schooner Summerwind Wins Newport Bucket

We let out a collective whoop when we heard Summerwind, a 1929 John G. Alden, won the Les Grand Dames class in her first outing, at the July 17-19, 2009 Newport Bucket.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. J. Don Williamson.

The guys were stoked when they heard the news on Monday. They thought of it as their win, too. They built her strong and fast. It was an amazing, two-year project to rebuild Summerwind from the keel up and we couldn't be happier or prouder.

She's a beauty and now we know that she flies and so does everyone else.

Save the 1919 Trumpy Grand Lady

I have one story left. It is not part of my monthly newsletter and it only is being sent to those people who might be able to help.

In the last few months I have been looking into helping to save some of the smaller Trumpy yachts that were constructed after WWI. I have seen Tramp and August Cotton, both from 1919. Then there is Grand Lady. All three are from the same era.

When I was up I Beaufort I received a call from a captain in Key West. “They are going to crush a Trumpy tomorrow!” It turned out to be August Moon. She had been neglected for many years and after a long legal battle over non-payment she was crushed.

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July 2009

Dear friends,

It is early in the morning before everyone else shows up at the shop. I thought this is a good time to write. A few weeks back, I drove down from Beaufort, N.C. to Charleston on Route 17. It meanders through small towns and I like that. It was around lunch time and I was really hungry. I saw a sign for the Buckshot Restaurant. The name alone was intriguing. Maybe the cook personally hunted the daily meals. I figured at least there was a story behind the name and I love stories. When I entered the restaurant, I found a soul food restaurant to beat all. The food was Southern cooking at its finest. Fresh collards, fried okra, catfish, Southern style fried chicken and chicken fried steak, which for you Yankees out there does not in any way involve poultry. I had a little of everything, a real belt-busting lunch. I think it was the best soul food I’ve ever eaten.

When I went to pay, my curiosity got the best of me as I asked the cashier the origin of the restaurant’s name. The elderly lady said, “Sit awhile and I’ll tell you.” I did. There’s no use trying to rush a Southern story teller. “Back in the day, there was a hunting camp here and those men that hunted, my Daddy would cook their ducks and whatever else they shot. Daddy was a good cook but not too good at getting the buck shots out all the time. So we made a sign, ‘Beware of Buckshots.’
A hurricane destroyed the old place and the restaurant moved up the road to Route 17.

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May 2009

Dear friends,

April was a good month. The Florida shop refit has been completed and got its first project in the building, a varnished Chris Craft runabout. We are in the process of remodeling our Florida ship’s store as well. Everyone who has seen it has raved. I, however, am in North Carolina and have not seen it yet. Stephanie hasn’t even sent me any pictures. She wants me to be surprised.

I came up to Beaufort to be a judge at the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s Wooden Boat Show and have stayed on to hold down the fort. Nathan Smith, my partner and brother-in-law, and Renee just welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Mason James Smith, 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Nathan is taking some much needed time off to help out. Mason is as handsome as can be.

I recently took a trip down to Wilmington, N.C. to spend the day with naval architect Bruce Marek. Bruce has worked on a few projects with us, from dealing with U.S. Coast Guard certified yachts such as Innisfail to the schooner project in Florida. We have been working on the launch construction drawings, line plans and profile. This all started with a half model I made a while ago. We have come a long way.

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February 2009

Dear friends,

I know it has been a while. I think the last time I wrote was in November. I have sat down and written three letters but somehow with my world the way it has been this winter, they were not sent out.

We have launched Summerwind, the 1929 Alden schooner. It has been a race to the end. On launch day, the boat yard was crowded with people. Those who worked on her, friends, the press and three busloads of students from the Riviera Beach Maritime Academy. Everyone was taking photos.

Our son James skipped a half day of school for the occasion. He went through this project just as much as his parents. The mast had just been set the day before. As I said, it was truly a race. There were a few well-chosen words said but the yacht spoke for herself. Mrs. J. Don Williamson raised a bottle of fine French champagne and smashed the stainless steel dolphin striker. It exploded to the booms of cannon fire and cheers from the crowd. What a launching!

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