What a day on the waterfront!

How to put into words the events of August 7th?
It's probably far easier to show you some of the pictures and video taken in the Dory Shop Boatyard as our team here at Dawson Moreland & Associates launched the first of our twin schooners, the beautiful Martha Seabury, yesterday.
Between 300 and 400 people turned out for this truly joyful occasion, joining company president Capt. Daniel Moreland, vessel owner, the incomparable Billy 'Ollie' Campbell, his shipmates from the Barque Picton Castle (her spars showing clearly in the photo above), local dignitaries and of course, our talented building gang (shown with Ollie below).

The vessel was christened shortly after the noon hour by Maggie Ostler, a friend and former shipmate of Ollie's, with a bottle of Jack Iron rum.

Then it was time to send her down the ways - a two-part affair as it turned out. But fetching up midway just added to the excitement as the call went out for all hands (and the fishing/tour vessel Eastern Points) to assist in pulling the Seabury the rest of the way.

Our sincerest thanks to all those who helped make this occasion possible whether with their talents or moral support. It had been 30 years since the last schooner was built on this waterfront when we laid the keels of the Seabury and her twin sister, as yet unnamed, in December 2009. Here's to many more launch celebrations, many more Lunenburg Schooners in the years to come! 

And now, on to the rigging...

For additional images and video, please visit The Dory Shop's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/dory.shop.1 or check out some of the media coverage at http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/hundreds-gather-for-launch-of-schooner-on-lunenburg-waterfront-1.906753 and http://ckbwnews.blogspot.ca/2012/08/video-martha-seabury-launches-in.html