The “Northern Run” of the 2010 Black Dog Tall Ship Tour
August 20th, 2010Vineyard Haven, MA - In a little over one week the Black Dog Tall Ship Tour will get back into action when the Alabama makes visits to the ports of Newburyport, Gloucester and Provincetown beginning on September 1st. This will continue the Alabama’s traditional presence in some awesome specialty events like the traditional schooner regattas in Gloucester and Provincetown and include public open house events in each of these three ports. We now refer to this as the Alabama’s “Northern Run”…
Newburyport, MA - September 1st & 2nd: In the late winter of 2009 the Black Dog’s Newburyport General Store a stone’s throw from the Merrimac River. Sometimes not the friendliest body of water for deep draft vessels, the Alabama crossed the bar and the entrance to the River on a beautiful afternoon last August 30th and made her first visit to the historic town of Newburyport. I remember it as the most well-attended of all 2009’s events as the Alabama hosted local schools, was opened to the public and was involved in an evening dockside fundraiser for the Newburyport Art Association.
Gloucester, MA - September 4th & 5th: Again, the schooner Alabama returns to Gloucester, “America’s Oldest Seaport” as well as a port responsible for her ever constructed. As you may know, the Alabama was launched in Pensacola, FL in 1926 but her designer Thomas MacManus is a fixture in the fishing history of this port. Its been said that over 300 of his designs fished and sailed from Gloucester… So with the Alabama’s return to Gloucester in 2010, we continue to pay a tribute to the history and heritage that the Gloucester Schooner Festival represents. The Alabama will be wharved at the Cruiseport Pier on the waterfront and will be offering a full day of dockside tours on Saturday the 4th and will be competing in the “Mayor’s Cup” race on Sunday. Each year we have offered space to our customers to join us for the exciting race and will be doing the same again this time. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Black Dog Tall Ships office at 508-693-1699.
Provincetown, MA - September 9th - 11th: The passage from Cape Ann to Provincetown will be the Alabama’s chance to defend her Class “A” title in the Sperry Topsider Fisherman’s Cup race from Gloucester to Provincetown on Tuesday, September 7th. Once in harbor and tied up at the Whydah Museum Pier, the Alabama will be open to the public for dockside tours on Friday the 10th and will again be selling space to passengers who wish to sail onboard the Alabama during the Great Provincetown Schooner Regatta on Saturday. Another great event, this gathering in Provincetown has become an annual stop for the Alabama since we hoisted the champion’s Rose Dorothea Cup in 2006 and again in ‘07. Home to a proud sailing history, Provincetown and this regatta has been supported by the Black Dog Tall Ships as it continues to build towards becoming a signature sailing event aimed at bringing more attention to the ships, sailing opportunities and history all found in this part of New England. Again, to purchase space for the race day in “P-Town” please call the Black Dog Tall Ships office at 508-693-1699.
Hope to see you during the “Northern Run”…
Captain Morgan Douglas
The Black Dog Tall Ships


















