Sandy Ford, a Woods Hole Spritsail Boat

The Sandy Ford is one of the most well-used sail boats available to the public at Mystic Seaport. Taken off lines from Explorer in the Watercraft Collection, this wonderfully simple cat-rig together with it's stable hull is great for a spur-of-the-moment day sail. John Gardner proved the best way to preserve traditional small craft was to get out on the water and use them.

The Boathouse at Mystic Seaport Museum has some of the other boats John Gardner built. There is a wonderful Whitehall and a sleek rowboat developed from one of L. Francis Herreshoff's designs. I think we need more boats like these. I can think of few other ways to lose the crowd and calm the tensions we build up than to go for a row or a sail in one of these.

Plans are available from the Ship's plans Library. Ask for accession no. 1960.196. My advise is to check first since access is limited to one Saturday per month. And, try it out the next time you visit Mystic!