The Gazela: How I got started

The Gazela Primeiro (1883)

I will be sailing on The Gazela Primeiro, the 177ft tall ship, as she makes her way from Philadelphia to Alexandria, Virginia from Wednesday 17th –Wednesday 24th. The ship is sailing to Alexandria, Virginia to share this historic, Philadelphia ambassador with others. The Gazela was built in Setubal, Portugal. It carried 35-40 hand-line fisherman to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland every spring. After a long commercial career, Gazela made her last trip to the Banks as a fishing vessel in 1969. In 1971, Philadelphia became Gazela’s home port. The Gazela is docked at Penn’s Landing, open for historic tours and educational classes.

The Gazela is maintained and owned by the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild. The Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and operation of historic vessels. The Ship Preservation Guild was incorporated in 1985 when it took ownership of the Gazela Primeiro from the City of Philadelphia. The Gazela is supported by the active volunteers who assist with daily business as well as managing the sailing and educational classes to youths and adults about traditional sailing.

Starting Monday, June 15th, I will be living on The Gazela. Even though you all will only see my daily posts during THIS trip to Alexandria, Virgina, my journey with The Gazela started last summer.

My dad had a friend, Bob Sawyer, who was a crew member on The Gazela. During the summer of 2008, I went to see the ship for myself. As a journalism student, I interviewed Bob and the president of the ship's preservation guild, Eric Lorgus. I grew up sailing and being on the water, so it was exciting to revisit this love for sailing.

I visited The Gazela again when I began to look for an internship this summer. At Clarion University, where I study Communications with a concentration in Journalism, experience is key. After many e-mails between the guild and me, I convinced them to take me on as a Journalism intern. Scott Cointot, the captain for the Alexandria trip decided we will both benefit from this internship.

I began to visit the Gazela, at Pen's Landing in Philadelphia. I took pictures of the boat, talked with the crew members and even volunteered painting the deck. My goal was to surround myself with as much Gazela as possible.

So, in short, that is how I find myself getting ready to set sail for my first trip on the Gazela.

If you follow me during the next week and a half, you will be able to learn about the Gazela, the crew and what really goes on aboard The Gazela.

If you have any comments or questions along this trip, please don't hesitate to leave a comment. (I will do my best to make sure the font doesn't get cut-off by the pictures, but these sites are hard to use!)

-Abby Fazio