THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 25, 1996 TAG: 9609250387
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 77 lines
A group of area entrepreneurs wants to resurrect the 118-foot Victorian schooner Virginia for use as a ``marketing flagship'' to travel to ports worldwide, promoting tourism, economic development and marine education on behalf of Hampton Roads.
Their vision is to bring hundreds of schoolchildren to regional berths for free hands-on classes in oceanography, marine science and other subjects. They plan to entertain visiting VIPs and business prospects onboard by sponsoring dockside receptions, moonlight dinner cruises and multimedia presentations. They also want to serve as a ``goodwill ambassador'' for Hampton Roads during festivals, public tours and other cultural events at ports around the world.
Not surprisingly, the biggest obstacle in realizing the dream is money.
The most costly item on the wish list of the Schooner Virginia Project is building a replica of the historic sailing ship, once used as a training and station vessel for the Virginia Pilots Association. The Virginia was sold to South American interests in the 1930s.
Project organizers plan to ``update'' the design of the ship, which originally was made of wood. Modifications call for the ``new'' Virginia to be built of steel and equipped with high-tech classrooms and navigational equipment.
Beyond constructing the ship, another $650,000 is needed to pay a full-time crew of five and finance trips, maintenance and other items in the ship's proposed annual operating budget.
But organizers contend it's money well spent. They estimate the project could channel more than $3 million back into the area economy within the ship's first five years of operation.
``This is going to be a Hampton Roads project, a symbol of the region,'' explained Rick Boesch, program director of the Hampton Roads Maritime Foundation. ``The idea is to bring dollars, people and companies to the region and to use the vessel as a way of achieving these goals. We see this as something shared by all the cities.''
The project is the brainchild of Boesch, a 37-year-old former Navy air traffic controller who now serves as the operations manager for Planet Music. Three years ago, after visiting Baltimore, Boesch became convinced that Hampton Roads needed a promotional sailing vessel similar to one homeported in Maryland. He gathered some friends and acquaintances - including a retired naval officer, marine biologist at Hampton University and others - to hatch ideas for building a vessel for this region.
``The Pride of Baltimore has been our model in putting this all together,'' Boesch explained. ``It's been very successful for that port. We believe that the same ingredients up there exist here. We have a major port, a major maritime infrastructure and the needs and desires to promote that to the outside world.''
Since then, the six organizers have canvassed area city officials, community groups and corporations, talking up the project and organizing ``the nuts and bolts of what we want to do,'' Boesch said.
They've also set up a makeshift office on Granby Street in downtown Norfolk.
So far, the foundation has generated $35,000, far short of its hefty price tag. But organizers, who say they only recently have begun to actively raise funds, are counting on money from state and federal grants - as well as a windfall from regional corporations, city governments and the public - to come through.
This summer, foundation organizers put together a proposed financial package and finalized architectural specifications for the vessel. The nonprofit group is now ready to ``aggressively fund-raise,'' Boesch said.
If all goes as expected, by 1998 the Schooner Virginia could set sail for the first time.
``It was a beautiful-looking vessel when she was up and running,'' Boesch said. ``Now that we're going to build a full-scale replica, the Virginia will be a perfect platform from which to promote Hampton Roads. I'm convinced this project will fly.'' MEMO: Anyone interested in getting involved with Schooner Virginia may
call 481-5952. ILLUSTRATION: Photo courtesy of the Mariner's Museum, Newport News.
Insert photo by the ASSOCIATED PRESS
Entrepreneurs behind the Schooner Virginia Project hope to build a
replica of the historic ship, left. The Pride of Galtimore, insert,
has been a model for the project. by CNB