Vela is the August classroom for the Coastal Cruising Seamanship course at the WoodenBoat School this year.
She’s a 50-foot gaff-rigged sloop out of Sedgwick, Maine, that was launched in 1996.
She’s captained by Havilah (“Haddie”) Hawkins II, a fourth generation schoonerman. He designed Vela and is teaching the course.
The sloop is a broad (14-foot beam) vessel with an open deck that allows the helmsman a full view.
“Vela” means “Candle” in Spanish, although we’re not sure why the boat was christened with that name.
(Brooklin, Maine)