Sailing a Crotch Island Pinky

The Crotch Island Pinky, a 26’ lapstrake, double-ended ketch rig boat, was designed and used on Crotch Island for the purpose of fishing and freight, during the 19th century on the coast of Maine. These boats were designed with “easy driven hulls” and sufficient sail area that made for safe travel around the rocky shores of Penobscot Bay and beyond. PETREL is a traditional-built, wooden lapstrake hull that was originally used in programs for the Chewonki Foundation, a non-profit school and camp in Wiscasset, Maine. It now sails with Rituals of the Sea, a local non-profit that provides access to experience in open wooden boats, and encourages handcraft traditions through preservation and practice of maritime folkways.

In this episode we meet with Capt. Annie Nixon and lead builder of PETREL, Lee Huston, and learn about the history of the boat and the advantages of owning and enjoying small sailing craft. Annie has spent years sailing PETREL on Maine waters with students of all ages and brings valuable insight into what constitutes good sea sense – the ability to tune in to a boat, the weather, and the crew, and apply good judgement so that all work together. Our viewers will see Annie and her crew in action on PETREL as they set sail and put the boat through assorted exercises while discussing sail theory, hull and rig balance, and helmsmanship.

This should be a very cool opportunity for the viewer to witness traditional sailing skills and good judgement on a traditional Maine, open rowing-sailing vessel.