If you’ve ever dreamed of what it would have been like to navigate the Great Lakes in the age of sail, the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven has the perfect opportunity for you! Registration is now open for the Museum’s 2023 Basic Seamanship Training, taking place over the weekends of April 22-23 and May 20-21 in South Haven. The training is free with Museum membership and participants who complete both weekends are eligible to join the crew of tall ship Friends Good Will.
Whether a seasoned sailor or a complete novice, the Basic Seamanship Training will prepare you for sailing aboard a replica Great Lakes tall ship. The training consists of both classroom and on-water instruction aboard the Museum’s own ship Friends Good Will. Friends Good Will is a replica of a square topsail sloop built in 1811 for a Detroit merchant, which was captured by both British and American forces during the War of 1812. Volunteers can choose to sail how often they’d like from the end of May through September – you don’t need to own a boat to get out on the water as often as you’d like!
If you’ve ever watched Friends Good Will sail down the Black River in South Haven and wondered how you could experience the freedom and adventure that comes with sailing a tall ship, this is the experience for you! “The skill-building, the camaraderie – it’s a total package that lets our volunteers learn something new while having a great time,” said Captain Bob Harnish, Commander of the Fleet. “It’s amazing how many people we have had over the years that never dreamed they would be doing this and love it!” A limited number of staff crew positions are also available; completion of the Basic Seamanship Training course is required for those positions as well.
Basic Seamanship Training is free to participants but Museum membership is required and space is limited. To register, please contact Captain Bob Harnish at captain@mimaritime.org or call (269) 637-8078, ext. 105. For more information about Friends
Good Will, please visit michiganmaritimemuseum.org/explore/our-fleet/friends-good-will.
