❖ PILOT SCHOONER TO PRIVATE YACHT ❖ GRACIE S.

Schooner GRACIE S. 
Sailing Lake Washington, 17 April 1949.
Click to enlarge.
Original photo by Ken Ollar from the archives
of the Saltwater People HIstorical Society©

"Seattle acquired another picturesque pleasure craft in the GRACIE S, a 96-ft power schooner, built in 1893 for the San Francisco Pilots Association. For 40 years she was in that service, standing about 15 miles off Golden Gate and contacting incoming and outgoing ships. Six pilots made their headquarters on her. The vessel owned at this time (1949) by Edison Kennell Jr was rebuilt and re-rigged. Beginning 20 June 1949 she cruised between Seattle and the north end of Vancouver Island carrying a crew of 12 boys who were taught the seafaring art." 
Source of text: The Seattle Times, April 1949.

Schooner GRACIE S
Looking aft from the starboard bow,
with master rigger and sailmaker,
 Rupert Broom, at work on deck.
 The schooner carried 3,900 sq ft of new canvas.
Dated 17 April 1949.
Click to enlarge.
Original photo by Ken Ollar from the archives
of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

Schooner GRACIE S.
Out on Lake Washington, with all hands
 heaving on the main throat halyard.
 The vessel is built of teak and Douglas fir
and was the largest privately owned craft
of her type in the PNW. 
in 1949. Kennell brought the boat
to Seattle under her own power and 
has been reconditioning her,
guided by the old original blueprints.
Click to enlarge. 
Also dated 17 April 1949.
Original photo by Ken Ollar from the archives
 of the Saltwater People Historical Society©

GRACIE S. has another chapter under the name of WANDERER with another owner––for another day.

❖ Kennell Quote ❖

Mariner, San Juan Archipelago

"Encourage all people to get on the water regardless of what size or type of boat. If you like boats, you like them all."
Ed Kennell

❖ "Privateers" on the Schooner GRACIE S ❖ 1949

Pilot Schooner GRACIE S 

O.N. 86275

New home port, Seattle, WA.

Also known to flirt with mariners in the San Juan Islands.

Dated 1949 photo by Kenneth G. Ollar©
Original photo from the archives of the S. P. H. S.

"Wanted––able lads between the ages of 14 and 18––to sail on schooner GRACIE S––leaving 20 June for unknown ports to westward."
      Find a lad whose heart wouldn't be captured by such an advertisement appearing in this day and age. However, that's no imaginary ad. That very sign appears in the window today of the downtown business establishment of E. Edison Kennell, Jr.
      And, 20 June, the 97-ft schooner GRACIE S. will shove off from the Seattle Yacht Club with a crew of teenage lads. There will be no timetable. For two weeks they just go where the wind blows.
      Only a few years ago the most venturesome lads found their big thrill in running off to sea on a sailing ship. Such storied vessels have all but disappeared from the high seas, yet this thrilling adventure is to be born again, here in Seattle.
      Kennell recently purchased GRACIE S, for 50 years a pilot schooner off San Francisco Bay, and refitted her as a sea-going school for lads 14 to 18 years of age.

GRACIE S
Courtesy of John Kennell©

      It's an adventure that Kennell will thrill in as much as will the boys, for GRACIE S is a perfect replica of the old traders. She is one of the most seaworthy vessels afloat, and though everything aboard her has been kept old fashioned for atmosphere, she has all the modern conveniences––a big Diesel engine, steam heat throughout, showers, an electric galley, and complete radio equipment, consisting of a transmitter and receiver and radio-direction finder, bringing a lad as close to his parents as the nearest telephone.

Privateer Ted Rogers, age 14,
at the helm of the famous Schooner GRACIE S.

 William Donley, aft, the nav instructor.

Strait of Juan de Fuca, 1949.

Photo by Kennell-Ellis©

Original photo from the archives of the S. P. H. S.

      The ship's company will consist of Kennell, the skipper; Mrs. Kennell, who will take care of the menu, as well as sew on the occasional button; James (Doctor) Tuohy, the cook; William Donley, navigation instructor; Dave McCrea, engineering officer; Amos Levitt, Jr., mate, and 14 "Privateers", as the lads will be known.
      Any boy between the permitted ages, who can swim and has a love for the sea, is eligible to take part in one or more of the five two-week cruises scheduled for this summer. The only cost is sharing the expenses of food, fuel, and the cook's wages.
      Monday, 20 June, GRACIE S. will leave for her first cruise––to Princess Louisa Inlet. Every other Monday another two-week trip will be leaving, visiting Barkley Sound and Hot Springs Cove, Butte Inlet, a trip around Vancouver Island and a visit to Knight's Inlet, all in British Columbia waters.
      Drills and schooling will occupy the first few days of each cruise. Then the "Privateers" will sail into the ocean, then back to the coast, and the particular destination of that trip. Almost every night the hook will be dropped and the lads will go ashore and beach comb and fish and visit many coastal BC communities.
Above text by Bob Sutton for the Seattle Times, 17 April 1949.

July 1949:

Ed Kennell, Jr. and the privateers on GRACIE S stopped off at the Lopez Yacht Club on their two-week cruise through the islands en route to Princess Louisa Inlet, BC.
Orcas Islander Newspaper, 7 July 1949

November 1964: 

Fate: 
Sadly, WANDERER (ex-GRACIE S.) wrecked when she struck a reef off Rangiroa Island, 200 miles northeast of Tahiti in November 1964. She was en route to Panama. All hands were rescued. Her last owners were Omer Darr and Joe Price of Bartlesville, OK.