The world's oldest wooden whaling vessel, the Charles W. Morgan, spent the weekend with whales for the first time in 100 years.
Once the nemesis of the ocean's largest mammals, this time, she came in peace. The Morgan, which is the pride of Mystic Seaport, crowned her 38th voyage by sailing with whales at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Cape Cod.
The Morgan even lowered one of her whaleboats to pursue a whale. Instead of harpoons, the boat carried a message of conservation and education, symbolizing our changed relationship with the ocean.
The Morgan was built in 1841, and made her last whaling voyage in 1921. In the last five years, she has undergone an extensive restoration to make her seaworthy once more.
During this historic 38th voyage, the Morgan has visited the former whaling ports of New London and New Bedford, where she was built, and sailed to Newport and to Martha's Vineyard, which several of her previous captains called home.
The ship is also scheduled to visit Boston, where she'll dock next to the U.S.S. Constitution.
