FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6th, 2005

The Longboats are Coming!

On August 7th, the two 18thcentury replica longboats Tenacité and Vitalité will depart from Discovery Harbour on Georgian Bay for a two week expedition through the Trent Severn Waterway with 22 young participants aboard.

The boats are similar to the Captain's gigs used two centuries ago by the navies of France, Britain, Sweden, Russia, Spain, and the USA. This gig, more correctly called an "Admirals' Barge", is extremely elegant in design, 38 feet in length, 7 ft. on the beam, and draws 14 in. of water. They carry 10 oars and have a three masted dipping lug rig. The boats are exact replicas of an original longboat designed by the French Navy in the late 1700’s, which was captured in Bantry Bay, Ireland, on Christmas Eve in 1796. Currently it is a central exhibit in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland and remains the oldest surviving vessel from the French Navy.

The longboats and crew are planning overnight stops at the locks in the following communities, Big Chute, Lock 42, The Leacock Museum, Kirkfield, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon, Buckhorn, Burleigh Falls, Lakefield, Peterborough, and Rice Lake. Daily updates and arrival information will be available at (705) or (705) 327-4179 after the expedition begins.

Atlantic Challenge is an international youth experiential education organization operating in twelve nations. Its programs practice, share, and encourage the rise of the skills of the sea including boat building, sailing, rowing, and seamanship. Its activities bring youth together with the intent of fostering cultural and global understanding, personal development through challenge, and education about our rich maritime heritage. AC Canada is based from Discovery Harbour on Georgian Bay. Canadian youth have participated in the International Atlantic Challenge programs in France, Ireland, Denmark, United States, United Kingdom and also here in Canada. Next summer one of these longboats and a crew of 18 youth from across Canada will attend the next international program in Italy. Interested youth wishing to participate in Atlantic Challenge programs should visit our web site at http://www.atlanticchallenge.ca

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Visit us on the WEB at http://www.atlanticchallenge.ca
The Historic Marine Association of Canada is a federally incorporated not for profit organization dedicated to educational marine heritage programs. It is a registered Canadian charity which operates under the name of Atlantic Challenge Canada.

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