Captain Neal Parker
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Born in Brooklyn New York in 1956, Neal Evan Parker started sailing the waters of New England as a teenager. Encouraged by early mentors, Neal became devoted to traditional sailing craft. He spent many years building ship models as well as working on full sized sailing vessels.
Neal became a licensed captain by age 20. Since then he has skippered over a dozen schooners and traditional craft. In 1986 Captain Parker purchased and restored the 67-foot schooner Wendameen. Dedicating four years to her restoration, he placed the Wendameen into the Maine Windjammer business from 1990 to 2004.
After completion of the Wendameen, Captain Parker took up building and restoring ship models professionally for clients ranging from private collectors to galleries and museums.
Captain Parker is also a published author whose books range from children's and young adult stories to volumes on maritime history.
In April 2005 after a run of almost 20 years Capt Neal Parker sold his beloved schooner Wendameen. Besides continuing to sail in the summer he is devoting his time to ship model work, writing and being a full time father.
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Below is a list of just some of the vessels Captain Parker has been involved with over the years. Each one has a yarn all it's own described here in his own words. The photos, though not all great, are all from the time Parker was working aboard...
Neal became a licensed captain by age 20. Since then he has skippered over a dozen schooners and traditional craft. In 1986 Captain Parker purchased and restored the 67-foot schooner Wendameen. Dedicating four years to her restoration, he placed the Wendameen into the Maine Windjammer business from 1990 to 2004.
After completion of the Wendameen, Captain Parker took up building and restoring ship models professionally for clients ranging from private collectors to galleries and museums.
Captain Parker is also a published author whose books range from children's and young adult stories to volumes on maritime history.
In April 2005 after a run of almost 20 years Capt Neal Parker sold his beloved schooner Wendameen. Besides continuing to sail in the summer he is devoting his time to ship model work, writing and being a full time father.
***
Below is a list of just some of the vessels Captain Parker has been involved with over the years. Each one has a yarn all it's own described here in his own words. The photos, though not all great, are all from the time Parker was working aboard...
2007-2013
Purchased, rescued, refit and chartered the 34' Quoddy Pilot replica Prudence. She is sturdy, beautiful and fast and now in the hands of new owners who I know will take good care of her.
Purchased, rescued, refit and chartered the 34' Quoddy Pilot replica Prudence. She is sturdy, beautiful and fast and now in the hands of new owners who I know will take good care of her.
Spring 2005
Owned/restored the 38' Chesapeake Bay Skipjack Little Mamie. I started with a bare leaky hull. She turned out to be the most unstable craft I ever sailed.
I sold her and she is fast deteriorating near a barn not far from the field where I first found her going to pieces.
Owned/restored the 38' Chesapeake Bay Skipjack Little Mamie. I started with a bare leaky hull. She turned out to be the most unstable craft I ever sailed.
I sold her and she is fast deteriorating near a barn not far from the field where I first found her going to pieces.
1986-2004
Owned, restored and captained the schooner Wendameen.
She was the boat love of my life. I spent four years restoring her replacing 90% of the original vessel. The full story is told in Wendameen, Life of an American Schooner published by Down East Books.
Since the Wendy and I said goodbye she's broken loose and smashed into pier, been run aground twice and allowed to sink during the winter. With luck she will be in good hands again some day.
Owned, restored and captained the schooner Wendameen.
She was the boat love of my life. I spent four years restoring her replacing 90% of the original vessel. The full story is told in Wendameen, Life of an American Schooner published by Down East Books.
Since the Wendy and I said goodbye she's broken loose and smashed into pier, been run aground twice and allowed to sink during the winter. With luck she will be in good hands again some day.
1987 Summer
Captain of the 42' Friendship Sloop Irene, (built 1902) chartering on Penobscot Bay. One of the largest Friendships ever built. Her mains'l was so large we only took the reef out once... and that was a mistake because it wasn't long before the wind picked up. Things got pretty hairy for a while! Another great boat which fell into the wrong hands. Eventually the Irene was in such disrepair that sadly it was her fate to be dismantled.
Captain of the 42' Friendship Sloop Irene, (built 1902) chartering on Penobscot Bay. One of the largest Friendships ever built. Her mains'l was so large we only took the reef out once... and that was a mistake because it wasn't long before the wind picked up. Things got pretty hairy for a while! Another great boat which fell into the wrong hands. Eventually the Irene was in such disrepair that sadly it was her fate to be dismantled.
1987 Summer/Autumn
Captain of the 78' schooner Sylvina W. Beal, (built 1911) chartering from Portland, Maine.
A great old schooner. Subsequent owners did not give her the care she needed. As far as I know she is no longer sailing.
Captain of the 78' schooner Sylvina W. Beal, (built 1911) chartering from Portland, Maine.
A great old schooner. Subsequent owners did not give her the care she needed. As far as I know she is no longer sailing.
1985 - 1986
Owner/Captain of the 84' Thames River Sailing Barge Ethel, built in Harwich England in 1894. This magnificent vessel was haunted by the most malevolent spirit I ever sailed with.
Within a few years of my selling her she got her wish and died, but not before trying to destroy her subsequent owner as she had done to me. I am told some of her remains may still be in the mud on the Thames River, Connecticut.
Owner/Captain of the 84' Thames River Sailing Barge Ethel, built in Harwich England in 1894. This magnificent vessel was haunted by the most malevolent spirit I ever sailed with.
Within a few years of my selling her she got her wish and died, but not before trying to destroy her subsequent owner as she had done to me. I am told some of her remains may still be in the mud on the Thames River, Connecticut.
1983 - 1986
Owner/Captain of the 42' sloop Francy engaged in charters and sail training in New York Harbor. Built in 1946 in Deltaville Virginia, the Francy was one of the last sailing clam boats to work out of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. During the 1950's she was used to pirate copper wire from barges in New York Harbor. The wire, which had come from demolished buildings was burned in anchored barges to remove the insulation.
I have many fond memories of this, the first big boat I was to own. Sold to an inexperienced captain, the Francy was trucked to a lake in Ohio for charter service. I lost track of her for years but came to learn she went to the bottom while on charter with flags flying.
Owner/Captain of the 42' sloop Francy engaged in charters and sail training in New York Harbor. Built in 1946 in Deltaville Virginia, the Francy was one of the last sailing clam boats to work out of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. During the 1950's she was used to pirate copper wire from barges in New York Harbor. The wire, which had come from demolished buildings was burned in anchored barges to remove the insulation.
I have many fond memories of this, the first big boat I was to own. Sold to an inexperienced captain, the Francy was trucked to a lake in Ohio for charter service. I lost track of her for years but came to learn she went to the bottom while on charter with flags flying.
1984 Winter
Captain/business manager of the 84' former Delaware Bay oysterman turned charter schooner Charlotte Anne of Fort Myers, Florida. Years later this fine schooner was taken to the Great Lakes, never good for a wood boat. I am told she rotted beyond repair and is now but a memory.
Captain/business manager of the 84' former Delaware Bay oysterman turned charter schooner Charlotte Anne of Fort Myers, Florida. Years later this fine schooner was taken to the Great Lakes, never good for a wood boat. I am told she rotted beyond repair and is now but a memory.
1981 - 1983
Captain/business manager of the 56' skipjack Mamie A. Mister (built 1910) engaged in charters and sail training in New York Harbor. I grew up on this wonderful old girl. Her owner was like a second father to me. Before he passed away Carl wanted the Mamie return to oystering so he willed her to a fisherman down on the bay. That fellow didn't have the wherewithal to care for the boat. Her scant remains are in a barn in Maryland somewhere.
Captain/business manager of the 56' skipjack Mamie A. Mister (built 1910) engaged in charters and sail training in New York Harbor. I grew up on this wonderful old girl. Her owner was like a second father to me. Before he passed away Carl wanted the Mamie return to oystering so he willed her to a fisherman down on the bay. That fellow didn't have the wherewithal to care for the boat. Her scant remains are in a barn in Maryland somewhere.
1980
Captain of the 67' schooner Stephen Taber, (built 1871) on charters from Camden, Maine. She was a pleasure to sail. An example of a good schooner who has always been kind to her owners. That's the reason she always has been and always will be well cared for.
Captain of the 67' schooner Stephen Taber, (built 1871) on charters from Camden, Maine. She was a pleasure to sail. An example of a good schooner who has always been kind to her owners. That's the reason she always has been and always will be well cared for.
1979
Captain of the 45' schooner Mistress on charters from Camden, Maine. Built as a motorboat before being turned into a schooner, she sailed wonderfully... if it blew a gale and and you only went down wind. But it didn't matter. She was still a lot of fun.
That's a much younger me at the helm. The Mistress still sails from Camden.
Captain of the 45' schooner Mistress on charters from Camden, Maine. Built as a motorboat before being turned into a schooner, she sailed wonderfully... if it blew a gale and and you only went down wind. But it didn't matter. She was still a lot of fun.
That's a much younger me at the helm. The Mistress still sails from Camden.
1978
Captain/manager of the 60' schooner Richard Robbins Sr. Originally built 1902 as a Delaware Bay oyster dredger she was rebuilt for Windjamming from Rockland, Maine. I was hired to bring her to Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain to try and make a go of the business there. The schooner leaked so badly that she kept trying to sink. We pumped all the way on the delivery from Maine to New York and up the Hudson where the locks finally brought her to the lake. Despite the leaking, when the bilges were clear she was a delight to sail.
Captain/manager of the 60' schooner Richard Robbins Sr. Originally built 1902 as a Delaware Bay oyster dredger she was rebuilt for Windjamming from Rockland, Maine. I was hired to bring her to Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain to try and make a go of the business there. The schooner leaked so badly that she kept trying to sink. We pumped all the way on the delivery from Maine to New York and up the Hudson where the locks finally brought her to the lake. Despite the leaking, when the bilges were clear she was a delight to sail.
1977 Spring/Summer: First Mate on schooner Lewis R. French (built 1871).
1976 - 1977 Winter: Directed vessel restoration for the Down Jersey Historical Society of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
1976 Winter: Apprenticed at the North End Shipyard in Rockland, Maine.
Summer: First mate on the schooner Stephen Taber.
1973 and earlier: First Mate and deckhand aboard various historic craft, including the schooner Pioneer, sloop Clearwater, sloop Aka, skipjack Mamie A. Mister and brigantine Pathfinder.
1976 - 1977 Winter: Directed vessel restoration for the Down Jersey Historical Society of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
1976 Winter: Apprenticed at the North End Shipyard in Rockland, Maine.
Summer: First mate on the schooner Stephen Taber.
1973 and earlier: First Mate and deckhand aboard various historic craft, including the schooner Pioneer, sloop Clearwater, sloop Aka, skipjack Mamie A. Mister and brigantine Pathfinder.
1973
Deckhand on the Schooner Pioneer. Pay was $60 a week... but a large ice-cream was only a quarter.
Deckhand on the Schooner Pioneer. Pay was $60 a week... but a large ice-cream was only a quarter.
The schooner Pioneer at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn in 1973.
Right after I took this picture I went up the mast for the first time and sat in the main cross trees pictured here. Going up was easy, but I was like a cat in a tree and it took me four hours to come down.
Right after I took this picture I went up the mast for the first time and sat in the main cross trees pictured here. Going up was easy, but I was like a cat in a tree and it took me four hours to come down.