By Donna Beth Weilenman Martinez News-Gazette Special to the Herald The Matthew Turner, the first wooden tall ship of its size being built in the San Francisco Bay Area in 100 years finally got its lower masts. The “stepping of the masts” – putting each of the 5,000-pound lower masts in place – began at […]
After years under construction, ‘Matthew Turner’ hits the water
First wooden tall ship built in San Francisco Bay Area in 100 years By Donna Beth Weilenman Martinez News Gazette Special to the Benicia Herald As bands played an estimated 1,000 people watched on land and on watercraft in Richardson Bay, the Matthew Turner finally touched water, leaving the shores of Sausalito Saturday afternoon. The […]
‘Matthew Turner’ ship launching Saturday
By Donna Beth Weilenman Martinez News Gazette A labor of love that began nearly four years ago with the laying of a brigantine’s keel will take an important step forward Saturday when the “Matthew Turner” is launched in Sausalito. Named for the famous shipbuilder who constructed record-setting vessels in Benicia, the Matthew Turner is patterned […]
Ship named after Matthew Turner under construction
By Donna Beth Weilenman Martinez News Gazette During the California Gold Rush, wooden sailing vessels arrived in San Francisco to the point that from the docks, bay waters looked like a forest of leafless trees had risen up above the waves. Many were abandoned, and others were dismantled and recycled. After gold rush mania subsided, […]