Nathan News & Stories

Our 2023 sailing season kicks off when crew and volunteers rig the Nathan Saturday morning March 25th. During April we will be reacquainting returning volunteers and starting to train new volunteers to sail the Nathan. Sail training is extensive. In each two-hour training session, we all learn to tie knots “the Nathan way”. Everyone learns teamwork to shake out the main sail and lace/unlace the jib. We learn how to raise and lower the main sail and jib, haul lines and trim the sheets. Working under command of one of our experienced captains, we practice maneuvers and learn to sail […]

  DORCHESTER SKIPJACK COMMITTE COVID PROTOCOL  3/24/2022 The Dorchester Skipjack Committee (known as the DSC), who owns and operates the skipjack Nathan of Dorchester, is committed to providing an environment as safe as possible for passengers and volunteers. The Nathan of Dorchester will operate within the COVID-19 guidelines of the CDC and the State of Maryland. Local levels of transmission and prevalence will be monitored and used to update best practices. All volunteers are encouraged to be up to date on vaccine recommendations for their personal conditions. They are also encouraged to be transparent regarding symptoms that could be related […]

NATHAN “SCAVENGER CHALLENGE” TO BE HELD IN DOWNTOWN CAMBRIDGE Unique prizes are destined for the winners of the “Nathan Scavenger Challenge” to be held Saturday, May 8 in Downtown Cambridge. The Scavenger Challenger is free to participants, but donations for the Nathan’s maintenance will be gratefully accepted. Sponsored by the Dorchester Skipjack Committee, the “challenge” for participants is to find numbered Nathan of Dorchester logo magnets at downtown businesses. The event will run from 3 to 6 p.m. Those wishing to enter may register on May 8 starting at 3 pm at the Nathan of Dorchester table in front of […]

We have been meeting via zoom every Wednesday evening during March rather than is a classroom setting. Several of our participants have asked for copies of the presentations. Here are the first 2 presentations in pdf format. The first handout is an overview and update to the Nathan of Dorchester and the Dorchester Skipjack Committee intro ppthandouts  The second link takes you to the presentation called all about skipjacks. about skipjacks handouts We will add training materials as they become available.   Bud

This winter the Nathan of Dorchester has been tied up at the Generation III boatyard as work continues to replace a section of the starboard lograil and Port knightshead. This picture shows the start of lograil work. The forward chain plate for the starboard shroud has been removed and you can see where rotten wood is being removed. This picture shows removal of even more of the  lograil wood from around the knightshead. Fortunately rot was confined to the pine lograil and did not affect the starboard oak knightshead. Here is another view of the starboard side, all opened up and […]

Listen to Pat’s recent radio interview about the Nathan of Dorchester

  Did you know that there were a number of battles fought over Dorchester County  oysters?   To learn more, click here:  Dorchester County Oyster war stories    

Thanks to everyone who contributed! You helped us buy a new suite of sails to help Nathan keep on sailing!