Hawaiian Chieftain
Encyclopedia
Hawaiian Chieftain is the name of a sailing vessel briefly known as the Spirit of Larinda. Built in 1988 in Lahaina on the island of Maui
, the Hawaiian Chieftain is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional design. She is unique with the rig
of an 19th century trading vessel and a modern triple keel
, shallow draft
hull
. Drawing only 5.5 feet (1.7 m), she is highly maneuverable in shallow waters.
The Hawaiian Chieftain was commissioned by Laurence H. Dorcy, Jr., designed by nautical architect Ray Richards, and built by Morgan Davies for project manager Gsylord Drake Thomas on the island of Maui; under its paint, her bowsprit bears the inscription "Lahaina Welding Co." She was based in Sausalito, CA for many years, sailing up and down the coast with the Lady Washington
on Voyages of ReDiscovery, providing hands-on history programs teaching 4th and 5th graders about the exploration and trade along the West Coast in the 1790s.
In the winter of 2004, she was sold to a Cape Cod
sailing program and renamed the Spirit of Larinda; however, due to the suicide of her owner, she remained inactive. In October 2005, the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority
, owner of Lady Washington, purchased her to add to its fleet. Returning to her original identity as the Hawaiian Chieftain, she joined up with the Lady Washington on February 25, 2006 and is now providing joint education and sail training up and down the west coast of the United States.
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, the Hawaiian Chieftain is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional design. She is unique with the rig
Rigging
Rigging is the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel sailboats and sailing ships forward. This includes masts, yards, sails, and cordage.-Terms and classifications:...
of an 19th century trading vessel and a modern triple keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
, shallow draft
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
. Drawing only 5.5 feet (1.7 m), she is highly maneuverable in shallow waters.
The Hawaiian Chieftain was commissioned by Laurence H. Dorcy, Jr., designed by nautical architect Ray Richards, and built by Morgan Davies for project manager Gsylord Drake Thomas on the island of Maui; under its paint, her bowsprit bears the inscription "Lahaina Welding Co." She was based in Sausalito, CA for many years, sailing up and down the coast with the Lady Washington
Lady Washington
Lady Washington is a ship name that is shared by at least 4 different small wooden merchant sailing vessels during two different time periods. They should not be confused with USS Lady Washington. The original sailed for about 10 years in the 18th century. A somewhat updated modern replica was...
on Voyages of ReDiscovery, providing hands-on history programs teaching 4th and 5th graders about the exploration and trade along the West Coast in the 1790s.
In the winter of 2004, she was sold to a Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
sailing program and renamed the Spirit of Larinda; however, due to the suicide of her owner, she remained inactive. In October 2005, the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority is a government authority created in 1986 by the city of Aberdeen, Washington as a 501 corporation. It was created to commemorate Washington's centennial of statehood.-Fleet:...
, owner of Lady Washington, purchased her to add to its fleet. Returning to her original identity as the Hawaiian Chieftain, she joined up with the Lady Washington on February 25, 2006 and is now providing joint education and sail training up and down the west coast of the United States.
External links
- The American Sail Training Association
- Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority
- Maritime Heritage Network, an online directory of maritime history resources in the Pacific NorthwestPacific NorthwestThe Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
region of the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. - http://www.historicalseaport.org/hawaiian-chieftain