Supporters see schooner Virginia as downtown draw

NORFOLK

The schooner Virginia would become a prominent downtown attraction as the centerpiece of a new youth sailing center under a plan in the works to save the financially troubled ship.

Supporters envision small-boat sailing instruction for local students based at Nauticus, Norfolk's maritime museum, that would include trips on the Virginia, perhaps starting this summer.

"Essentially, we want to generate activity at Nauticus, and the community sailing center would be like a youth sailing program similar to the Norfolk Yacht Club," said Christopher Burns, president of the Virginia's board of directors. "They'd have this big boat they could look at as the flagship."

The plan is designed to resurrect the ailing ship, which stopped sailing in late 2009 after running out of money. It seeks to address criticism that the ship was not in Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Bay enough, instead spending much of the summer sailing in New England and winter in the Caribbean.

"I think it will work," said Sarah Murphy, a ship volunteer leader. "We need to do something here in town to bring attention to her. Her being gone from here was detrimental in that people kind of lost sight about what she was about."

More than $5 million in public money helped build and operate the vessel, which was launched in 2004. About $1.6 million in construction debt continues to hamper the ship. The sleek 120-foot sailboat is modeled after the pilot ships that guided ocean vessels into local ports until the early 1900s.

Many details, such as what the sailing center would be like and how it would be paid for, remain to be worked out. The Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns the Virginia, is working with the Nauticus Foundation, the museum's board of directors, to develop the plan.

The ship is now docked behind Nauticus. Volunteers lead occasional tours. Port-related businesses have chipped in to help with routine maintenance. A lack of action has hurt the Virginia. For example, it sprang a leak last year and took on water before volunteers discovered the hole and fixed it.

The foundation boards seek donors to get the Virginia sailing again. The year ended with a flurry of small contributions totaling about $42,000, said Will King, executive director of the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation. He said a local bank is planning a $150,000 donation to be paid over three years.

The Virginia's budget had been about $1 million a year. Officials have said that will likely need to scaled back.

Officials at Nauticus and the city of Norfolk have been tight-lipped about all plans related to the schooner.

"The city has no new information at this time," city spokeswoman Terry Bishirjian said.

City officials signed off last month on a $250,000 federal grant application for the Virginia that, if received, would go toward its construction debt.

Burns said he hopes the new plan will get the Virginia sailing this summer.

"Every time we feel like we hit a brick wall, somebody comes through and helps us get this thing on track," he said. "It's a testament to our maritime community spirit and to the people who have been involved from day one, and it continues to grow despite our economic challenges and the climate we're in."

Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com