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The Gundalow Company is excited to announce that the gundalow PISCATAQUA will be sailing on the Merrimack River again! Come aboard for a sail during September 4-10, with trips open to the public each day. Sails start from the boardwalk behind Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport, and Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury. Tickets and schedule available at gundalow.org

PISCATAQUA is a re-creation of the gundalow river boats that were once a prevalent throughout our local waterways. Before roads and railroads, gundalows carried goods such as salt hay, bricks, and lumber from towns up the rivers, relying on the tides to travel. With a flat bottom, they could rest in shallow water during a low tide, then set out down the rivers carrying their cargo to the river mouth to be loaded onto other ships. Sails were later added for extra speed and maneuvering, and evolved to use the lateen rig, which can be lowered so the boats can pass under fixed bridges, especially important in the mid-1800s as railroads were developed.

The PISCATAQUA was built at Portsmouth’s Strawbery Banke Museum in 2011, and usually is seen sailing on the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth/Kittery, but makes the occasional visit to other docks along nearby rivers. The crew onboard tell stories, demonstrate hands-on arts of the sailor, and measure water qualities with our guests. While on the Merrimack River, we have several sail types including our popular Harbor Sails, Concert Cruises, and other specials. Each sail is 1.5 to 2 hours in length.

Tickets are available at  at gundalow.org or by phone at 603.433.9505. Tickets can also be purchased dockside, if available.

Wed Sept 4
1:00-2:00pm – Open Ship deck tours
2:30-4:00pm – Newburyport Harbor Sail

Thurs Sept 5
3:00-4:30pm – Newburyport Harbor Sail

Fri Sept 6
3:00-4:30pm – Newburyport Harbor Sail – Untapped History Sail and Sip

Sat Sept 7
12:00-1:30pm – Newburyport Harbor Sail
2:30-4:00pm – Newburyport Harbor Sail – Untapped History Sail and Sip
5:00-7:00pm – Newburyport Sunset Sail

Sun Sept 8
12:00-1:30pm – Newburyport Harbor Sail
2:30-4:30pm – Newburyport Concert Cruise – Penhallow
5:00-7:00pm – Newburyport Sunset Sail

Mon Sept 9
1:00-2:30pm – Available for charters
3:00-4:30pm – Lowell’s public sail
5:00-7:00pm – Lowell’s sunset sail – John Macone @ Merrimack watershed group

Tues Sept 10
3:00-4:30pm – Lowell’s public sail
5:00-7:00pm – Lowell’s sunset sail

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