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Sail the Sultana: History on the Water

August 22-25, 2009

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Sailing aboard the 18th-century schooner Sultana, a group of incoming freshmen explored the rich history of the Chesapeake Bay, their home for the next four years. Organized by Washington College's C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, this new pre-orientation trip offered students with an interest in history or American studies an opportunity to live aboard an 18th-century vessel, meet a buccaneer from the Golden Age of Piracy, and canoe up the Chester River by moonlight. A Town Ball (18th century baseball) game and a climactic naval battle on Langford Creek rounded out the trip, leaving participants eager to jump into the exciting new world of college life (and very, very wet).

Click to enlarge photos.

Mike Mason '11
Mike Mason '11
Ellen Dalina '13
Ellen Dalina '13
Learning to coil rope
Learning to coil rope.
Morning on the Chester
Morning on the Chester.
Haul away...
Haul away...
Kathy Thornton '13 and Ellen Dalina '13
Kathy Thornton '13 and Ellen Dalina '13.
Sultana Education Director Leona Dalton '04 shows the group a Chester River jelly.
Sultana Education Director Leona Dalton '04 shows the group a Chester River jelly.
A blue crab
A blue crab.
Riggings
Riggings.
Tom Harrelson '13 and Kathy Thornton '13 raise the sail.
Tom Harrelson '13 and Kathy Thornton '13 raise the sail.
The group examines an 18th-century map of the Chesapeake Bay.
The group examines an 18th-century map of the Chesapeake Bay.
Sultana Captain Tanya Banks-Christiansen teaches Mike Mason '13, Brittany Krueger '13, Ellen Dalina '13, and John Macone '13 to use the tiller.
Sultana Captain Tanya Banks-Christiansen teaches Mike Mason '13, Brittany Krueger '13, Ellen Dalina '13, and John Macone '13 to use the tiller.
Tom Harrelson '13, Katie Johnson '11, Harry Coldwell '13, and Kathy Thornton '13 take the helm.
Tom Harrelson '13, Katie Johnson '11, Harry Coldwell '13, and Kathy Thornton '13 take the helm.
A quiet moment on deck
A quiet moment on deck.
Adam Goodheart, Hodson Trust-Griswold Director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience shares stories of the colonial Chesapeake.
Adam Goodheart, Hodson Trust-Griswold Director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience shares stories of the colonial Chesapeake.
Cliff Long regales participants with stories of the buccaneers who once ruled the seas.
Cliff Long regales participants with stories of the buccaneers who once ruled the seas.
Cliff Long
Cliff Long.
Cliff Long
Cliff Long.
Starr Center associate director Jill Ogline Titus tries out puppeteering.
Starr Center associate director Jill Ogline Titus tries out puppeteering.
Kat Bennett gives Kathy Thornton '13 a tattoo.
Kat Bennett gives Kathy Thornton '13 a tattoo.
Participants enjoyed a two-night stay at The Reward, of the Chester River's most beautiful historic properties
Participants enjoyed a two-night stay at The Reward, of the Chester River's most beautiful historic properties.
Associate Professor of History Clayton Black introduces students to a time-honored Washington College tradition: Townball.
Associate Professor of History Clayton Black introduces students to a time-honored Washington College tradition: Townball.
Mike Mason '11 and Katie Johnson '11 vie to be first at bat.
Mike Mason '11 and Katie Johnson '11 vie to be first at bat.
Is this far enough?
Is this far enough?
Adam Goodheart visualizes a home run.
Adam Goodheart visualizes a home run.
Katie Johnson '11 pitches to Alec Mog '13, while Tom Harrelson '13 acts as catcher.
Katie Johnson '11 pitches to Alec Mog '13, while Tom Harrelson '13 acts as catcher.
Dinner on deck.
Dinner on deck.
Tom Harrelson '13 and Katie Johnson '11
Tom Harrelson '13 and Katie Johnson '11
Professor Black
Professor Black.
Brittany Krueger '13, Ellen Dalina '13, Captain Tanya Banks-Christiansen, and Kathy Thornton '13
Brittany Krueger '13, Ellen Dalina '13, Captain Tanya Banks-Christiansen, and Kathy Thornton '13.
The group sets up camp.
The group sets up camp.
Trent Lesh '13 explores the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Trent Lesh '13 explores the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Kate Livie of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum explains the oystering industry.
Kate Livie of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum explains the oystering industry.
Harry Coldwell '13 tongs for oysters.
Harry Coldwell '13 tongs for oysters.
Alex Ferry '13
Alex Ferry '13.
The lighthouse
The lighthouse.
The "Royal Navy" prepares for action.
The "Royal Navy" prepares for action.
Mike Mason '11, captain of the "Buccaneers," rallies his troops for the naval battle.
Mike Mason '11, captain of the "Buccaneers," rallies his troops for the naval battle.
The Reward
The Reward
Mike Mason '11 and Alec Mog '13 take down the flag.
Mike Mason '11 and Alec Mog '13 take down the flag.
Waterlogged remnants of the battle.
Waterlogged remnants of the battle.
Brittany Krueger '13 writes in her journal.
Brittany Krueger '13 writes in her journal.
Back on dry land.
Back on dry land.
John Macone '13, Oliver Hegglin '13, Ellen Dalina '13, Brittany Krueger '13, and Mike Mason '11 write their own stories about the river.
John Macone '13, Oliver Hegglin '13, Ellen Dalina '13, Brittany Krueger '13, and Mike Mason '11 write their own stories about the river.
Ellen Dalina '13 and Brittany Krueger '13
Ellen Dalina '13 and Brittany Krueger '13.