Morgan sails with whales

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After nearly 100 years since her last journey, the whaleship, Charles W. Morgan, returned to open water this weekend during a whale watching voyage at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The vessel, owned by Mystic Seaport in Connecticut, set sail out of Provincetown, Mass., encountering a number of humpback whales during its day-long tour of the sanctuary.

In a display of the ship’s historic purpose, Morgan, in company with NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) research vessel, Auk, lowered a whaleboat to pursue sighted whales — a gesture symbolizing humankind’s changing perceptions about whales and whaling.

“This was an amazing day of sailing,” said Capt. Kip Files, the 22nd master of Morgan. “To bring this historic vessel to this place, and to have her sail with humpback whales breaching right next to us, was really incredible. You can’t help but think about how much we as a people have changed. Where Morgan once hunted whales, now she watches them with a message of conservation.”

By Ocean Navigator