For three days in October, Brandaris,
the 1938 Dutch Canal Boat that hails from Wickford, anchored in the
Greene River and served as a floating classroom for grades 4 through 12.
Monday, grades 4 and 5 toured
the boat, learned its history and experienced the glory of autumn from the
school's waterfront.
Tuesday,
the middle school students hoisted the sails, dropped the lee boards and
moved off anchor.
Wednesday, the upper school sailed
Brandaris in upper Narragansett Bay and experienced the life of Dutch sailors
who hauled cargo in the canals of Europe.
Brandaris
is riveted iron construction with no keel. The boat draws two feet with
the lee boards raised. When sailing, she drops her leward board and sails
on the wind. She was used in the evacuation of Dunkirk and then sailed
across the Atlantic to New England. She now hails from Wickford and is
available for charter.
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