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Barkentine Gazela

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United States
Philadelphia, PA
Barkentine Gazela

One of the oldest, wooden square-rigged vessels still actively sailing in North America. Owned and operated by the Phila Ship Preservation Guild.

The ship herself docks at various locations along Penn's Landing between Market Street and Spruce Street.

05/29/2026

When it comes down to it, the PSPG is all about cherishing the past to bolster a better future. We’re excited to make our mark in history and propel this organization for years to come.

We still have just $4,527.00 left of our matchable donation amount. Now’s the time to double your gift, however big or small! Below are some concrete ways your contribution will directly impact the guild’s future:

The Coast Guard haul-out inspection in Norfolk is an incredibly important milestone required to keep Gazela sailing. Check out these photos of prior haul-outs for perspective on how this effort fits into our larger history.

Our Pre-Apprenticeship program, slated for its next cohort this coming fall, is another future-facing area where your gift will foster success. The Guild’s work towards educating burgeoning professionals in Maritime trades is yet another way we look to move forward, supporting entryways into family-sustaining wages amidst a turbulent economic landscape.

See the link in our bio to donate today. No amount is too small to make a difference!

05/28/2026

Ready for a career that takes you somewhere unexpected? The PSPG is hosting TWO Educational events in the coming days!

This Saturday May 30 at 10:00am, we’re hosting a free career panel on Maritime Welding with a focus on professional pathways aboard Barge Poplar.

Then on Monday June 1, join us aboard Gazela between 12:30 and 2:30pm with your K-12 students for an Educational Drop-in Visit Day, featuring learning stations like Knot Tying, Navigation, and Deck Tours!

Saturday’s FREE session will be an open-door conversation about a field most people never think about, but should: Maritime Welding. Join us aboard the Barge Poplar at the North end of Penn's Landing on May 30th from 10AM–12PM, where expert welder Leslie Weitz will share her own story, field your questions, and walk you through what life in maritime trades actually looks like — with real examples from the decks of Gazela Primeiro, our 125-year-old tall ship. Students, young professionals & career-changers welcome!

Monday’s Educational Drop-in Visit day comes at a discount for groups of 10 students or more. RSVP is not necessary unless bringing a group of 10 or more. This occasion is designed especially with homeschools, co-ops and small groups in mind. Purchase your tickets on our Events page ahead of time, or upon arrival.

At the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild, part of our mission is to open doors for the next generation by connecting young people and career-changers to trades that are actively hiring, genuinely skilled, and deeply meaningful. This is the mission of our Pre-Apprenticeship program, which we'll be launching our second round of next fall for aspiring Maritime professionals!

Save your spot — link in bio to register, or just show up and bring a friend who needs to hear this. Come curious. Leave inspired.

05/20/2026

Huge credit to our incredible team of riggers!

All of Gazela’s masts have been successfully stepped, and the top masts have now been added, marking a major milestone in the work to get the ship ready for the Chesapeake. This kind of progress does not happen without skill, grit, patience, and a whole lot of teamwork. Thank you to every crew member and volunteer who helped make it happen. And the work continues. This weekend, the crew is aiming to get the t’gallant mast up, bringing us one step closer to sailing south.

There is still plenty of work ahead, but today, we celebrate a very big step forward.

05/11/2026

Sailing a historic ship from Philadelphia to the Chesapeake takes more than wind in the sails. It takes the support of a community that believes this work matters. From the pieces that keep Gazela moving, to education programs, to the bonds built on board, every gift helps carry the Guild’s mission forward.

Right now, every donation is being matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. That means your support goes twice as far.

This is what community-powered preservation looks like. Donate via the link in bio.

05/08/2026

Small coins, big traditions! Did you know that sailors of many tall ships would place coins under the mast during construction as part of a tradition known as the "mast-stepping" ceremony?

As Gazela’s masts were stepped last weekend, crew members placed newly minted coins beneath them, honoring a centuries-old maritime tradition believed to bring vessels good luck and safe voyages.

This is a centuries old practice and is intended to ensure good luck, safe passage, and prosperous voyages. It's said to have originated as payment for Charon, the ferryman of the River Styx, to guarantee the souls of the crew could pass to the afterlife in the event the ship sank.

It’s a small gesture with a big meaning, connecting today’s crew to generations of sailors before them, and sending Gazela into her next chapter with care, hope and history beneath her masts.

Help us keep the momentum going as we continue the final push to get Gazela ready for the Chesapeake. Every hand makes a difference - whether volunteering your hands on board, or helping fund the effort! Donation Link in Bio!

05/06/2026

We did it!!!! 🎉

Thanks to a Herculean effort from our dedicated crew and massive assistance from Commerce Construction, Gazela has officially been re-barkentined. A huge thank-you to every crew member who helped make it happen, and to Captain Scott for leading the way.

This is a major milestone, but it also marks the start of our final sprint. The lower masts and bowsprit are in place, but the upper spars are still on deck and need to be sent aloft. There is also plenty of woodworking, painting and prep work still ahead.

We have exactly one month before Gazela is due to leave for the Chesapeake, and we need all hands on deck to get her ready. If you have time to spare, come down and pitch in. Work will be ongoing almost every day, and climbers will be especially important as we move into the next stage of rigging.

We can’t do this without you. ⚓️

05/01/2026

It’s a big weekend for Gazela! This afternoon, she’ll be heading down to Chester for the reunion with her refreshed spars tomorrow, so we need all hands on deck for this extremely important milestone.

If you plan to help move Gazela down the river today, please be ready for a muster at 1500 (3:00pm). Crew will be released by 1900 (7:00pm) in Chester to either stay aboard or be shuttled back to Philadelphia.

Tomorrow morning, we muster by 0800 in Chester at 800 West Front Street for the exciting work of stepping the spars (i.e. putting the masts and bowsprit back in place). By 1630 (4:30pm) Gazela will depart Chester to return back to Penns Landing for a 2000 (8:00pm) release time. Lunch and dinner will be served - bring your $5 for each meal if you plan to have a taste.

If you’re planning to drive to Chester today, you’re welcome to come early and help with final coatings. And if you can make it Saturday, please join us. Every extra set of hands will make a difference as we get Gazela ready for what’s next.

Questions? Email [email protected] or check your Weekly Update email for links to details.

04/24/2026

Call for hands in Chester this weekend to finalize the spars for Gazela's arrival on May 1.

The main focus is in Chester, where volunteers will prep spars, move standing rigging, lift and carry rigging, and help assemble the lower masts.

Free lunch alert: Mark is providing po-boys on homemade hoagie rolls for everyone helping in Chester. Please RSVP so we know how much food to bring.

Can’t make it to Chester? We’ll still be working at Penn’s Landing, painting Gazela’s hull and preparing for next weekend’s voyage down the Delaware.

Every hour helps. Come be part of getting Gazela ready for what’s next!

04/21/2026

Volunteers needed for Saturday, April 25!

Crew will be in Chester on Saturday, April 25, prepping spars, and we need all the help we can get. The day will likely include moving standing rigging and may also involve installing a wire seizing. There’s plenty to do, and every extra set of hands will help.

This is the last weekend to get everything prepped in Chester before the masts are stepped next weekend, so it’s a very important day for keeping the project on schedule.

There will be free po-boy sandwiches on homemade hoagie rolls for those who come to Chester! Be sure to RSVP via the form on the details page of the event (in the 'Upcoming Events' section of our webpage for April 25) so we know how many to prepare.

And if you can't make it down to Chester, we'll of course still be working on Gazela at Penn's Landing. If you’re available, please come out and lend a hand!

https://www.philashipguild.org/event-details/work-day-emphasis-on-chester-2026-04-25-09-00

04/17/2026

Our people really showed up last weekend. Let's keep it going - these next few weekends are the final push to get the spars ready and reunited with Gazela! Details below. Be sure to subscribe to the Weekly Update for the latest information and direct links to signup forms. (Click 'subscribe to newsletter' button on our website's landing page)

Special thanks to those who went above and beyond to get our new main mast blank down to Chester. As this update is being written the blank is being shaped from a long square stick into a mast shaped object.

And thank you everyone for the exceptional turnout to remove the winter cover last Saturday. Many hands make light (and apparently quick) work!

April 18
Sail Training Class Cancelled
Work in Chester - Getting spars and rig ready to get staged next weekend.
Onboard Gazela - Finishing up on deck projects. Painting.

April 24
Moving Gazela to Chester pushed to May 1-2

Saturday April 25
Work focus in Chester - prepping spars. This will likely include moving around a bunch of standing rigging. We need many hands to lift and carry rigging as well as help assemble the lower masts.

*free lunch alert!!* Po-boys on home-made hoagie rolls provided by Mark for all who come out to help at Chester!* be sure to RSVP so we know how much food to bring.
Gazela - painting the hull

Cook still needed on Gazela - if interested in trying your hand at cooking, email [email protected] for details!

May 1-2 Chester transit: NO WORK AT PENN'S LANDING

May 1 (Friday)
Moving Gazela from Penn's Landing to Chester:
1500 muster on Gazela at Penn's Landing for a 1600 departure
1900 crew released in Chester to either stay aboard or be driven home (refer to signup sheet if you'd like to be part of the fleet that transports folks back to Philly from Chester)

*Staying overnight onboard is an option!* Visit our Upcoming Events page for details and links to signups/resources.

May 2 (Saturday): Class Cancelled
Helping put the masts in
800am Muster on Gazela at 800 West Front Street, Chester PA
1630 leave Chester for Penn's Landing
2000 crew released at Penn's Landing
Lunch and dinner will be served - bring your $5 for each meal as usual!

Address

301 S Christopher Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA
19106

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm
Sunday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

(215) 238-0280

Website

http://philashipguild.org/, https://linktr.ee/PhilaShipGuild, https://www.philashipguild.org/post/sailing-toward-2026-pr

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