Schooner ERNESTINA Anniversary 25

The Schooner ERNESTINA was gifted upon the people of the United States in 1982 in an act of repatriation that brought

the trans-Atlantic packet back to the United States via a historic sail with a crew of Cape Verdeans and Americans.

The photos--from the 32nd Annual Cape Verdean Recognition & Indendence Parade held in New Bedford, MA, from Tall Ships Newport , and from Onset, MA, CV Festival--show the enthusiasm which kicked-off the Annivesary 25 summer.

The Anniversary on August 25th was a great success! Revisit this site for photos and video clips to be posted in the near future.

Maria Mendes and Laura Pires-Hester

granddaughter of packet ship owner and a leader of repatriation initiative

Thomas Lopes, publisher of CVN (Cape Verdean News)

former representative Tom Lopes secured homeport as New Bedford, MA in 1982

"The Government of Cape Verde offers the Ernestina as a gift to the United States of America as an expression of the high regard of the people of Cape Verde for the people of the United States and we deliver the vessel to the State of Massachusetts as a representative of the people of the United States."

Cape Verdean Recognition Parade, July 7, 2007

some of the friends of Ernestina pose before the Parade, July 7. 2007

The 32nd Annual Cape Verdean Recognition and Independence Parade, held in New Bedford, MA, reunited many friends of Ernestina.

the generations and colors of Cape Verde

Ahoy! artist Pat Regan scopes out the horizon

Pat earned, enroute, over $400 from shirts and bumper stickers

sea chantey singer Brownell rigging the replica

three beauties

Commissioner Celeste Bernardo in uniform

Fred Sterner (beard) and Mary Anne McQuillan (water) helped rig the replica!

young friends giving candy and juice to the crowd

Shelly rallied "her kids" to parade for ERNESTINA

Shelly Correia in New Bedford Historical Society regalia

Mark hauled replica from Essex to Newport to New B

Lee Blake of the N.B. Historical Society, Anna and Mark Trafton

replica at Fort Adams, Tall Ships Newport, '07

a Dept. of Conservation and Recreation activity

Heidi Baker teaching knots

We are celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the gifting throughout the summer. These are photos from the international Tall Ships Newport, R.I., and the 32nd Annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade. Since the ship is doing dockside programming awaiting funds which will certify Her to sail again, she is represented by a 16' seaworthy replica. The model was crafted by Fred Littleton, one of the "Bartlett Boys" who sailed during the Arctic, Morrissey years.

a Morrissey relative meets 2 from Mendes' clan

a Morrissey meets Joe and Louise Andrade

Captain Tom Grace and the A.C.C.E.S.S. Art truck hauling the replica in the Parade

singers Candida Rose and Sandra Bell

Tyler having fun

the Ortiz family enjoys the Parade

Sea Chantey Chuck (Smiler) gives Candida a twirl

dancing to the music !

We Enjoyed

the Anniversary 25 Celebration, August 25, 2007, dockside in New Bedford at State Pier--

multi-cultural music and food, display, commemorative ceremony, and more....from 11am-6pm....we shared connections to the ship's history and made new ones--

we will post clips as soon as possible!

email us your memories and we can add them to our site

the past, the "present", and the future