Pro Crew

Able Bodied Seaman – David Goldman (Goldie)

Posted on April 20, 2009. Filed under: Chief Mate's Clipboard, Pro Crew | Tags: Brig Niagara, Flagship Niagara, Niagara, Sail Training, Tall Ship Sailor, US Brig Niagara |

When I was 3 years old I picked out what became the best friend a boy could ever have.  He was a Golden Retriever who was my closest friend and companion until I was in High School.  I named this dog Goldie(I was 3).  I tell all of you this only so you can know the standards that our Goldie had to live up to in order to be called a name that I hold in such high regard.  So far he has not let me down.

Goldie is from Rochester, NY and grew up on Lake Ontario.  By the age of 4 months he had sailed across Lake Ontario on his parents boat.  While growing up he spent many summer cruising Lake Ontario.  Goldie also spent time in England as a sailing instructor while he and his family were living in London.  While in the Boy Scouts Goldie reached the level of Eagle Scout with a Lake Ontario based final service project. 

In 2003 Goldie started his career in tall ships on the schooner Victory Chimes.  This is the largest of all the Maine Windjammers sailing in the Penobscot Bay fleet.  Goldie also spent time sailing with South Street Seaport on Lettie G. Howard and a couple years with Ocean Classroom on the their 3 vessels.  He holds a 100 ton Near Coastal Master’s USCG License and an AB Special MMD. 

Because of a prior commitment Goldie was not able to join the ship until the beginning of June.  We then very soon after left for Toronto which was one of our hardest passages of the summer.  We were already by then a very close knit crew but Goldie had no trouble at all fitting into the mix due to his positive attitude and his infectious laugh.  Goldie’s laugh will most likely be heard by most of the ship’s company and usually they will end up joining in whether or not they know what the joke was.  

Goldie’s positive attitude and selfless dedication to the ship and the crew have made him an extremely valueable member of this crew both during the sailing season and the winter.  Goldie’s presence this winter has been instrumental in keeping such a strong volunteer core.  Rob and I could not have done it without him.  Trainees will enjoy working with Goldie again this summer.

Boatswain – Rob Aspinwall

Posted on April 1, 2009. Filed under: Chief Mate's Clipboard, Pro Crew | Tags: Brig Niagara, Flagship Niagara, Niagara, Sail Training, Tall Ship Sailor, US Brig Niagara |

Rob started sailing on tall ships at Tabor Academy on the schooner SSV Tabor Boy.  This is also where he and I met while we both students at Tabor.  By the time Rob left the SSV Tabor Boy he had risen to the rank of XO which the equivalent of Chief Mate at the ripe old age of 17.  He also implemented a formal sail training program on the schooner as a senior project.  This sail training program is something I used later as a tool to help create my own sail training program at Maine Maritime Academy.  He spent his college years at Hobart College racing dinghies and getting a bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate in geology  but luckily for us he came back to tall ships after graduation.

Rob came to Niagara as an AB but as the Boatswain berth opened up he was the obvious candidate.  Rob will now be entering his first full season as Boatswain and second season on the ship.  His tireless work over this winter will be quite apparent to anyone who steps aboard.  The ship looks better now than I have seen it and that is in large part due to the work Rob has accomplished.

Rob’s teaching background and calm demeanor will give the trainees this summer comfort in learning the miriad of things they will need to know in a very short period of time.  Rob always has a smile on his face and anyone who gets the opportunity to sail with him will usually have that same smile as well.