Windjammer Heritage Revival: Adapting Maritime History for Experiential Tourism

Key Quotes

"when i was a teenager i started reading a lot of books about sailing and sailing history i read the books devoured them and then when i was 17 i got my first job on a boat i remember the first moment that i stepped on board and i wrote down in my journal that night like i'm on a ship i'm on a ship i can't believe i'm on a ship"

Becky Sigwright describes her early fascination with sailing, highlighting the profound impact of her first experience on a boat. This quote demonstrates her immediate connection to maritime life and foreshadows her future career as a captain. Sigwright's journal entry reveals a deep personal resonance with being on a ship.

"the lewis r french is 65 feet long with six huge sails by the way that is a lot bigger than your normal sailboat a large wheel like a classic pirate ship wheel steers the boat and because it's a windjammer there's no inboard motor becky guides this thing to where the wind takes her"

Sigwright explains the physical characteristics and operational method of the Lewis R. French. She emphasizes its size, sail configuration, and the absence of an engine, underscoring its reliance solely on wind power. Sigwright's description clarifies that she navigates the vessel by harnessing natural wind currents.

"boats have been a huge part of maine's economy for a long time back in the day there was a big lumber industry in maine and a ton of that lumber was used to build ships which could then be sent all over the world plus for centuries of course fishing and lobstering by boat have been a major part of the economy in maine"

The narrator details the historical significance of boats in Maine's economy. They connect shipbuilding, fueled by the lumber industry, and maritime activities like fishing and lobstering to the state's economic development. The narrator illustrates how boats have been central to Maine's commerce for centuries.

"boats like this aren't really around they're in museums behind glass the oldest windjammer is a pretty neat distinction because she's not part of a museum you know you're the people that come on board can touch things can be a part of things"

Sigwright discusses the rarity of active, historic windjammers like the Lewis R. French. She contrasts the boat's living status with vessels preserved in museums, emphasizing the interactive experience it offers to passengers. Sigwright highlights that visitors can physically engage with the historic ship.

"it's important to do hard things and it's important to like be out in the rough weather and all of that but it's just as important to have a comfortable dry warm place to be when it's done so you're all warm and dry and cozy on the boat but then you get to get off the boat and see places along hundreds of miles of maine's coast that many people just don't get to see"

Sigwright articulates a philosophy balancing challenging experiences with essential comfort. She explains that while enduring harsh weather is valuable, having a warm, dry refuge is equally crucial. Sigwright connects this balance to the unique opportunity her boat provides for exploring inaccessible parts of the Maine coast.

"boats absolutely have souls um i don't know if it's a product of the people that have been on the boat and have kind of left a piece of themselves in it or if it's just something that the boat starts with um but either way the french 100 has a soul she has yeah she has opinions"

Sigwright expresses a deep, almost spiritual connection to the Lewis R. French. She attributes the boat's "soul" and "opinions" to either the cumulative experiences of those who have sailed on her or an inherent quality of the vessel itself. Sigwright conveys a profound sense of the ship's personality and history.