New season, New sails

This week JOLLY DOLPHIN had the opportunity to take students on spring field trips with the Eastport Yacht Club Foundation and the National Sailing Hall of Fame. In six short outings with the new sails we did not have enough wind to shake out the wrinkles. However, moving 16 tons under sail at 2 knots with less than 7 knots of air was remarkable.


Sailmaker Dave Bierig graciously included me in working on some of the hand sewing that makes these sails suit the time period of the JOLLY DOLPHIN. We completed them in late April in his loft on the Erie, PA waterfront. This side of the city, that I did not know existed when I visited my grandparents on summer trips 40 years ago, now has new meaning.

This is a photo of the jib first thing Monday morning, April 16th March 14, 2018-Dave Bierig

The sail loft, looking towards the bench at the windows that I occupied for a full workweek

Looking towards the loft building across Presque Isle Bay, tucked next to recent waterside condominiums