Tall Ship Madeline sails again on West Grand Traverse Bay

By Sandra Serra Bradshaw

Sun contributor

It has been well over two years since the Traverse City icon and Good Will Ambassador, the Tall Ship Madeline,gracefully sailed over West Grand Traverse Bay’s waters and beyond. The 55-foot ship, with a sparred length of 92 feet, was built between 1985 and 1990 by more than 165 Maritime Heritage Alliance (MHA) volunteers who gave over 40,000 hours to build the schooner, a replica of an 1840s commercial vessel that once sailed our local waters.

Traverse City Mayor Richard Lewis recently presented the Madeline with a proclamation in recognition for her many years of service. “Representatives of MHA attended the Traverse City Commission meeting to receive a proclamation commending her on her 32 years of exceptional service,” noted MHA’s Executive Coordinator Heather Jankens. “The Mayor thanked her for sailing on West Grand Traverse Bay – and all over the Great Lakes – representing our community. He commended her for the many families that through her have been allowed to experience the history of Grand Traverse Bay while sailing aboard.”

A lot of other exciting things have happened to, and for, this special boat. In 2020, MHA was hoping to have a big bash celebrating the Madeline’s 30th birthday. “Due to COVID-19 that just did not happen,” said Jankens. “At that time, we were planning on remaking her foremast. We had almost completed the foremast when the pandemic hit. They were pretty much done in 2020 with both masts,” stated Jankens. “Then during 2021–2022, the decking was replaced. It was a HUGE job.”

This June, in readying her to again sail, both masts were stepped. This is the process of raising the mast, or in this case masts, of a boat. It may be a ceremonial occasion on a new boat, a necessary step, or simply routine, following seasonal maintenance on a sailboat. The stepping “ceremony” often involves placing one or more coins into the mast step of a ship, and is seen as an important ceremonial occasion in a ship’s construction, thought to bring “good luck.” When Madeline first had her masts stepped, there was a special ceremony, with a quarter coin was placed under one mast and an 1845 penny under the other. Interestingly, both coins are still under the massive pine masts.  Her masts were hauled to be placed on board by Attitude & Experience Inc., of Traverse City. Though there was no ceremony, it was still exciting to watch the masts being hauled onboard the Madeline.

“Ed Brown (1913-2012, MHA Founder and past president) mentioned the tradition of a coin beneath the mast and I, being a lifelong numismatist, offered a gold coin. Fortunately, I happened to have an American cent of the right year of 1885,” said MHA co-founder John McKinney of Traverse City.  “I’ve heard other stories of a gold coin under a second mast.” And sure enough, there is a gold 1845 coin under the other mast as was verified at the mast stepping ceremony. “It’s intriguing – a maritime tradition, mariners thought placing a coin under the mast was a good luck sign,” he added. McKinney who was once a commercial fisherman in Ireland.

“After we stepped the masts on Friday, Madeline’s fore topmasts went up by Tuesday.  We are still assembling the rig, but making great progress,” said Jankens. “Our volunteers have been working on her daily. It is possible that you will see her out on a shake down sail soon.”

A highlight will be Madeline’s 30th plus years “Birthday Bash.” It will be held next to the Madeline at Discovery Pier in Grellickville on June 25, starting at 1pm. There will be short presentation including speakers John Tanner, past Superintendent of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, and Matt McDonough, CEO of Discovery Pier & Collaborative, as well as a U.S. Coast Guard flyover. Music will be provided by Song of the Lakes, and after the music, an invitation to come aboard and tour the Madeline. The event is free, but donations are always appreciated.