Great Lake Swimmers Music Video

Fair Jeanne is in the newest Great Lake Swimmers music video Palmistry that was shot earlier this fall. Check it out here:

Update from Fair Jeanne

Fair Jeanne was a few days late getting into Rimouski, Québec, so they just left yesterday.

Fair Jeanne called last night after getting underway from Rimouski around noon. The plan had been to leave around 0700hrs but there was terrible fog and it kept them them in port until the afternoon. Instead the trainees participated in a course setting competition and put their new skills to the test! Everyone on board has had a chance to work on their logbooks and are getting many items signed off.

The ship should be to Quebec City by noon today.
Stay tuned for more information. They cell phone reception has been poor but is getting clearer so blog updates will become more frequent!

Sail On!

Fair Jeanne in Halifax- Pictures

Fair Jeanne is now in Halifax!!

She is hosting deck tours and receptions for the next few days while the trainees and crew are involved in many activites that have been organized for them by Tall Ships Nova Scotia.

Here are some picture of the Fair Jeanne yesterday as she was coming in to dock near Bishop's Landing. You can click on them to enlarge.

Update: July 10, 2009

Update from the Fair Jeanne:

Fair Jeanne left Ramouski early this morning and they are now underway going towards Gaspé, QC. The weather is much more enjoyable now and this run will be about 23 hours. If the weather continues to hold-up they will continue through Gaspé onto another leg of their trip toward Halifax.

Also, Bytown Brigantine would like to congratulate the Great Lake Swimmers who played an open air concert aboard the Fair Jeanne last month for making the short list for the Polaris Music Prize to be awarded in September.

Update from Black Jack:

Last night the crew and trainees had their ship’s concert which was a great success. Today is the last day of camp and despite the weather everyone had a great time and will certainly miss each other.

Another final reminder that pick up will be at noon in Quyon. Check Back to the blog next week to see some pictures from the camp!

Fair Jeanne Voyage C

Ahoy,

Fair Jeanne finally got underway Saturday morning at 0600hrs. Good progress was made as they were able to go about 80 nautical miles until high winds forced the boat to dock at Coco Landing, near Montreal. Sunday was another early morning as the boat was underway again by 0500hrs. The weather still was poor was the crew was able to put 94 nautical miles behind them before spending the night near Trois Riviers.

Today the crew has been battling high winds and was not able to make their goal of Quebec City but have docked instead about twenty miles short of there at Port Ness. They will wait for the storm to pass.

Despite the poor weather the crew and trainees all seem to be in good spirits as they get to know each other and the vessel they are now calling home.

Follow us on twitter as well for quick updates at www.twitter.com/bytownbrig

Fair winds for now,

BBI Office.

Fair Jeanne Prescott Update

Fair Jeanne has been in Prescott for a week now and the masts have gone up. Things are really getting into shape now!

For those of you who don't know, the Fair Jeanne will be hosting an open air concert with the Great Lake Swimmers this Saturday (June 6) in Brockville The show starts at 2:30 and everyone is welcome! Bring your friends, family and colleagues along to see this great show. For info about the band, the Great Lake Swimmer, see their website at www.greatlakeswimmers.com

See you all there!

Fast and Furious on the Tall Ship Fair Jeanne

Today I spent the day between the Fair Jeanne and the Office.  A team from Fuller construction is working like crazy grinding areas of glass on the hull in need of repair.  We also have three people working on the inside painting the entire crew's quarters with fire retardant paint.  The ship right now is pretty clean considering the amount of work that's going on and below the rubbing strake on the outside of the hull is a huge tarp tent covering the entire ship.  The guys grinding the fiberglass look like a bunch of teletubbies from outer space, with white coveralls and masks that cover their entire face.  They don't have an easy job but most of them have done it before, and they are good at it.  

In the next few days I will be concentrating very hard on getting a Crew Orientation put together.  Our crew is excellent and I am excited for them to begin working on both Black Jack and the Fair Jeanne.  They have more than a few long days coming their way but I know they are up for it.  Our crew orientation will go over the objectives for the season and it will be a good time for them to get to know the new Captain.  Bytown Brigantine crew are held to a very high standard and they all have to work very hard as volunteers year-round to be considered for a position.  We hire them because they're good people, good teachers and excellent communicators, not just sailors. Are they the best?  You bet.