Sail on the Gundalow in Newburyport and Amesbury, through Sept 13th, 2022
Public sails started Thursday Sept 8 in Newburyport, and will include a few days in Amesbury, with the last trip on Tuesday Sept 13th before we return to Portsmouth.
Merrimack River Basin
Before the arrival of automobiles and trucks, Merrimack gundalows provided vital transportation links in the region’s economy. In his book “The Piscataqua Gundalow: Workhorse for a Tidal Basin Empire”, Richard E. Winslow stated that the Merrimack River basin of Massachusetts ranked perhaps second to the Piscataqua in volume of gundalow traffic. In the stretch between Haverhill and Newburyport gundalows were once a familiar sight on the river and nearby salt marshes.
In their prime, gundalows were employed to load and unload vessels in Newburyport harbor. Also, they were essential for farmers of the lower Merrimack River Valley to bring in hay for their cattle and to ferry their products to Market.
Ironically, the gundalows hastened their own demise by assisting in the construction of wharves, roads and bridges, including the Eastern Railroad bridge built across the Merrimack in 1840.
Join us for a sail during our visit!
2:30-4:00pm Harbor Sail
Saturday September 10th
12:00-1:30pm Harbor Sail – ideal for families & kids
2:30-4:00pm Harbor Sail
5:00-7:00pm Sunset Sail
2:00-4:00pm Concert Cruise – Penhallow
5:00-7:00pm Sunset Sail
Monday September 12
