Portland, Maine – Sailing Ships Maine announces the appointment of Matt Glenn as Captain of SSV Harvey Gamage for the duration of an eight-week voyage hosting Proctor Academy’s Winter Ocean Classroom Program.
Captain Matt Glenn first learned to sail through free programs for Boston youth on the Charles River and Boston Harbor. He was introduced to tall ships by a college history program taught at sea aboard the square-rigged ship, HMS Rose. After graduation from college, he sailed Bounty from the Great Lakes to the Caribbean. He received his first license in 2005, and currently holds a 500 ton Ocean Master’s license. Most of his career has been aboard vessels with a strong educational focus, including the Sea Education Association brigantines Corwith Cramer and Robert C Seamans, the Delaware Bay oyster schooner A.J. Meerwald, and most recently the Gundalow Company’s Piscataqua based in Portsmouth NH.
“We are excited to have Captain Matt Glenn leading the winter program. In addition to bringing his sailing experience, Matt is a national leader in maritime experiential education at The Gundalow Company in Portsmouth, NH. The Gundalow Company is sharing their senior captain with us in recognition of the fact that Captains like Matt are needed to keep ships like SSV Harvey Gamage going in youth sail training. The Gundalow’s dual mission of historic and environmental preservation is perfectly aligned with Gamage’s and we hope there will be many more program connections ahead,” said Agnew.
“Harvey Gamage is a great vessel and I want to be part of its 50 year sail training history and to help keep sail training going,” said Captain Glenn about why he and Gundalow Company agreed to spring him free for the 72 days required to lead the voyage.
Sailing Ships Maine has a close working relationship with Sail Portsmouth as well. “This relationship works for all of us,” said Phil Von Hemert, Board Chair of Sail Portsmouth. “We have been working with both of these organizations for many years and hope to continue getting more and more kids out on the water. “
Schooner Harvey Gamage has been offering high school educational programming for most of its nearly fifty-year history and was part of the previous Ocean Classroom Foundation Fleet that served Proctor students for many years. The current crew are expert mariner-educators, led by Shore Captain Pamela Coughlin, the non-profit Sailing Ships Maine staff, and their Educational Director Captain Jon Radtke of Falmouth, Maine. By adding Schooner Harvey Gamage as a second ship, the Winter Ocean Classroom program will enable 14 additional Proctor Academy students–along with nine students from the MET School of Rhode Island in Providence–to enjoy the thrill and adventure of going to sea.
