For the Adventuress! - Paddy Lay Back

On February 1, 2013, while 150 or more friends gathered at the Schooner Adventuress' stern at Haven Boatworks with the crew and the team of Sound Experience in Port Townsend, to participate in the "World's first Flash Shanty", in celebration of the Schooner Adventuress' 100 years of life... heartily singing the sea shanty "Paddy Lay Back"... "and wishing the Adventuress a happy historic "splash" day"... four members of the Sing Shanties Song Circle, Mike and Val James, Lee Erickson and Mark Olson led the members of the Sage Club in singing shanties, starting off with "Paddy Lay Back". Mark Olson, retired port captain, explains what a sea shanty is and why rhythm is so important to the task at hand. Happy Birthday, Adventuress!

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Mike, Val and Mark

Mike, Val, Lee and Mark

World's First Flash Shanty

In Celebration of the Adventuress' 100th year of Life, folks gathered at her stern to sing "Paddy Lay Back".

"World's first Flash Shanty a huge success! Thank you to the more than 150 friends who showed up to sing heartily and wish Adventuress a happy historic "splash" day. Thank you to Wabenjerry for serving up sundaes to all who attended. A delicious and festive treat for a special lady on her special day." — at Haven Boatworks, LLC. - Sound Experience aboard the Schooner Adventuress

"Flash Shanty" - Celebrating the Launch of the Adventuress 100 Years Ago

"At 12:30 p.m., on Friday, February 1, be among the 100+ people to sing "Paddy Lay Back" to celebrate the 100 years of Adventuress' life!  

In a unique twist on the flash mob phenomenon, Sound Experience will recognize the exact day a century ago that the historic schooner Adventuress “splashed” in E. Boothbay, Maine with the world’s first-ever Flash Shanty. It will take place at exactly 12:30PM on Friday, February 1st in Port Townsend, Washington. 

All who wish to participate are asked to gather at that time at Adventuress’ stern where she is on-the-hard at Haven Boatworks in Boat Haven Marina. Together, the public will sing several verses of "Paddy Lay Back" (click here for lyrics), a shanty that a century ago would likely have been sung aboard. The event will be recorded and posted on YouTube.

“We hope to get at least 100 people joining us,” said Catherine Collins, Executive Director of the nonprofit Sound Experience which owns and operates Adventuress. “We can’t wait to honor the day our beloved schooner hit the water for the first time with a fun event that everyone can take part in.” 

Those who cannot attend in person are encouraged to record Paddy Lay Back wherever they are on February 1 and post it on Facebook at “Sound Experience aboard the schooner Adventuress.” To learn "Paddy Lay Back" and how to participate in the world’s first Flash Shanty, visit Sound Experience’s website www.soundexp.org to see a brief instructional video and the shanty’s lyrics.

Adventuress is National Historic Landmark ship with a mission to educate, inspire and empower an inclusive community to make a difference for the future of our marine environment. For more information on how to sail aboard in 2013, visit www.soundexp.org or call the office at (360) 379-0438. 

Also, Ben & Jerry’s (who support our effort to test Puget Sound waters for microplastics) will be on hand with Phishfood Sundaes for all participants."

Catherine Collins, Executive Director
Sound Experience aboard the historic schooner Adventuress
P.O. Box 1390
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 379-0438 Main Office
www.soundexp.org