If it's January, it must be time for the annual schooner Madeline crew training to begin.
Despite the winter weather, Maritime Heritage Alliance volunteer trainers have their minds firmly planted in the summer, preparing and training future crew for the ship, which travels the Great Lakes during the summer for education and outreach.
The five-session classroom training began Thursday at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. Maritime Heritage Alliance volunteers shepherded 30 attendees through the basics, with a little hands-on time tying knots and learning about the schooner's gaff-rigged square sails added at the end. Other training commitments include maintenance sessions, onboard training and a 24-hour sail. Many skills learned during these classes can also be used as crew members on the Alliance's sloop Welcome, which is also sailed by volunteers.
The evening began with a showing a film about the Madeline's creation, which consumed five years and was completed by Maritime Heritage Alliance volunteers in 1990. The date of the replica's launch was 145 years after the launch of the original wooden schooner that plied the Great Lakes during the mid-1800s.
Later, attendees mastered some of the knots used in sailing and mooring the ship, working step-by-step with a volunteer to learn moves that by summer must be second nature.
After watching every move closely, Linda Enger grabbed the rope (termed a line onboard a ship) and tried to form a knot mimicking her trainer's. Time after time, she struggled to have one hand oriented just so while fingers of the other wove the rope around and through. After a few more demonstrations and attempts, she finally got the knot down — mostly.
"They look easy but then when you start to tie them everybody's got their own twist,” said Enger.
Enger is already a veteran of two sails on the Madeline last summer after a friend who is a crew member extended an invitation. She found the experiences of soaring over the waves on the Grand Traverse Bay both thrilling and calming — the combination luring her to the training so she can sail more this summer.
"I had so much fun and they were telling me, 'You've got to be here in January,'” she said.
One of the crew's main jobs is to pick up and deliver the Madeline to a dock during the summer touring season. Crew members also serve as historical guides, describing the various aspects of the ship's history and current operation to visitors. This education comprises the heart of the Maritime Heritage Alliance's mission.
"Tour guiding is an eight-hour day and an individual does two four-hour shifts,” said Pete Van Berlo, a mate on the ship.
A theme of safety and teamwork runs throughout the training. Experienced crew members emphasized that the Madeline way of doing things must be followed so that in a dicey situation everyone can react appropriately. Even seasoned sailors, who might have their own methods and tricks, must learn and apply the Madeline ways.
"This is not on land, being on the water is different,” warned Van Berlo. "There's a lot of boats on the bottom.”
Beyond simply teaching the methods, the crew training was also about imparting the culture of the schooner, which is based in rich maritime traditions.
"We teach people maritime traditions because the way we do things is unique,” said Laura Quackenbush.
Volunteers are still welcome to join the crew training and the next session is scheduled for Thursday, January 24, at 7 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center. For more information or to register, contact the Maritime Heritage Alliance at 946-9647.