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Specifications

Homeport of godspeed.

• Rig: Barque
• Sparred Length: 88′
• LOA: 74′
• LOD: 65′
• LWL: 56′
• Draft: 7′
• Beam: 17′
• Rig Height: 72′
• Freeboard: 7′ 6
• Sail Area: 2420 square feet

Organization: Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

The original  Godspeed , along with the  Susan Constant  and  Discovery , set sail from London on December 20, 1606, bound for Virginia. The ships carried 105 passengers and 39 crew members on the four-month transatlantic voyage. A 17th-century source noted that a total of 52 people were aboard the  Godspeed . The expedition was sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, a business venture that had been organized to form a colony in Virginia. The fleet reached the Virginia coast in late April and, after two weeks of inland waterway exploration, arrived at the selected settlement site on May 13, 1607. The origins of the  Godspeed  and  Discovery  are uncertain. The  Susan Constant  and  Godspeed  returned to England in June 1607, while the  Discovery  remained in Virginia and was used for Chesapeake Bay and coastal exploration.

Today, these ships have been re-created at Jamestown Settlement, a museum of 17th-century Virginia. Visitors can board one of the three ships moored along the James River to learn about the four-and-a-half-month voyage from England and take part in periodic demonstrations.

With a crew of staff and volunteers, the Godspeed periodically sails to other ports in the Chesapeake Bay region to participate in commemorative and community events and host educational programs. A volunteer sail training program is offered to individuals of all ages.

The Jamestown Settlement ship re-creations have been designated “the official fleet of the Commonwealth” by the Virginia General Assembly.

• USCG Certification: Passenger Vessel (Subchapter T), Attraction Vessel (ATTCOI)
• Who Sails: Other: crew consisting of Jamestown Settlement staff and volunteers ages 18+
• Program Type: Other
• Normal Cruising Waters – Winter: Chesapeake Bay, US East Coast
• Sailing Season: Year-round
• Year Launched: 2006
• Number of Crew: 12
• Name of Contact: Captain Eric Speth
• Website: http://jyfmuseums.org

Photos: Tall Ship Godspeed Visits Alexandria

Replica of a 1607 tall ship that traveled from England to Jamestown with 52 aboard is docked in Old Town.

by Alexandria Living Magazine Staff

Oct. 12, 2018

Photo by Chris Militzer

Alexandria welcomed a tall ship to its waterfront this weekend as part of the Portside in Old Town Festival. 

This replica of Godspeed, which brought 52 men — 39 settlers and 13 crew members — to Virginia in 1607, will be at the waterfront through Tuesday.

Public tours were open 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The ship will be docked Monday and Tuesday at the waterfront but only open for school group tours as part of an educational initiative. Tours are on a first-come, first-served basis.

The original ship took 144 days to cross the Atlantic from England to Virginia, including several days navigating the Thames River out of London, delays for weather, six stops in the West Indies and a few weeks exploring the Virginia coastline before ultimately landing in Jamestown. Godspeed traveled with Susan Constant and Discovery, two other ships bringing settlers and supplies to America. 

Godspeed sailed under the Captain Bartholomew Gosnold and was owned by the Virginia Company of London. After spending a few weeks in Jamestown, Godspeed and Susan Constant both returned to England, and Discovery stayed behind to help settlers explore the area.

The replica was built in 2006 in Maine. It is a fully operational modern boat with twin diesel engines, but when the ship is in "museum mode" at its home in Jamestown, it's impossible to see that, as all modern elements are removed or hidden. The tour of Godspeed includes an anchor, rigging, early 17th century navigational tools, games and more. 

Godspeed's visit in part of the larger Portside in Old Town Festival, which ran Friday through Sunday along the Alexandria waterfront.  The festival includeed a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Co., a pop-up Pizzeria Paradiso, art, activities and more. 

Alexandria will be getting its own permanent tall ship next summer when Providence arrives. See: A Tall Ship for the Port City here.

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Anniversary of 1985 voyage of Godspeed,…

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Virginia Gazette

Anniversary of 1985 voyage of godspeed, re-creating 1606 trip, was educational experience for 14-person crew.

In 1985, the Godspeed, a reproduction of a 17th century 68-foot square rigger, sailed across the Atlantic on a passage designed to re-create the 1606-07 voyage from England that brought colonists to Jamestown to establish the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

The Godspeed was one of the three ships, with the Susan Constant and Discovery, that eventually landed at Jamestown Island May 14, 1607.

April 30 was the 35th anniversary of the ship’s send-off from London. However, it took five and a half months, two crews, numerous tows and thousands of dollars before the vessel finally returned to Jamestown Oct. 22, 1985.

Recalling the send-off day, a crowd of more than 1,000, including local school children who had the day off because of the appearance of Prince Philip, gathered at the Island Gardens on the Isle of Dogs to view the ceremony. Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II and a former British naval officer, participate in the event.

The Godspeed was anchored beside a pontoon platform in the Thames across from the Royal Naval College at Greenwich downriver from St. Katherine’s Dock, where it had been moored for about a week. After getting to the floating platform, Prince Philip and Virginia Gov. Charles S. Robb and wife, Lynda, stood with other dignitaries to wave goodbye.

Prior to the departure, Prince Philip talked with Robb about the event. “The prince was absorbed in details,” the governor explained to reporters later. “He wanted to know about everything.” Robb and the prince went onboard the Godspeed briefly and met every crew member and asked about their various tasks on the voyage.

Prince Philip in a lighthearted gesture asked Godspeed Capt. George Sally to send him a telegram after the ship arrived in Jamestown, scheduled for July 20.

Since it had no motor, only sails, the ship was towed down the river by Thames watermen in rowboats as it began the 6,300 mile homeward journey. Cannons boomed from Greenwich and the onshore crowd waved and cheered “hip, hip, hooray,” and received a “hip, hip, hooray” from the ships’ crew standing on deck and on the yardarms.

The Godspeed was not without an appropriate escort. About a dozen other vessels, including launches and tugs joined the ship as she sailed away — down the Thames, eventually into the English Channel and on toward the Isle of Wight.

Fourteen crewmen were selected for the voyage, one more than the original 1607 crew. The crew that sailed from London were (with 1985 hometowns): Capt. George C. Salley of Gloucester Point; E.B. Peter Meekins, assistant captain, Newport News; John D. Broadwater, mate, Williamsburg; Steven C. Wann, navigator, Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia; Robert Wollard, assistant navigator, Surry; Wayne A. West, boatswain, Richmond; Jack T. Greer, cook, Yorktown; R. Neil Tanner, radio operator, Virginia Beach; James E. Barton, ship’s doctor, Williamsburg, Joe C. Gowdey, safety officer, Gloucester; Michael E. Brookman, seaman, Hampton; Maurice Duke, photojournalist, Richmond; Jim Cox, seaman, Richmond; and Charles Morgan, seaman, Chesterfield.

“The overall warmth of our reception in England was amazing,” recalled Morgan, 70, in a telephone interview earlier this week. “They got you anything you needed. You couldn’t buy a beer; someone was always there to give you one. It was really heartwarming. The Brits looked at us as heroes.”

Barton was bothered by the hero image he said in another telephone exchange. “There were festivities, gatherings and dinners (in England) and it seemed we were getting rewarded for something we hadn’t done yet. … We had dukes, earls and mayors come up and talk. One said, ‘I would give anything to do what you are about to do.’ “

On the other hand, one “little lady came by the ship at St. Katherine’s Dock (in London) and said to us, ‘You’re very brave or very daft!'” said Barton, 72, who is a staff physician at the College of William & Mary.

In order to make the voyage home, the Godspeed was shipped to Felixstowe, England, in a specially-built wood and metal cradle on the deck of a Hapag-Lloyd container ship. The global container shipping line had agreed to transport the boat without charge. The Godspeed arrived in England March 12, but then had to be put back together.

Crew members Meekins, Greer and Tanner arrived in England ahead of the ship and organized the effort with some English volunteers to reassemble the vessel, masts, rigging and sails and arrange provisions for the trip. A number of sail tests were performed in the waters around Felixstowe before the Godspeed was tested in the North Sea off Suffolk, England. The vessel stayed a few days in Ipswich on the River Orwell at its dock before moving to London April 19. There its berth was at St. Katherine’s Docks, the home of the British historic ships collection and within sight of the Tower Bridge.

Godspeed to Jamestown

The Godspeed adventure started in 1983 when construction was well underway for a new reproduction of the Godspeed; it was a replacement for one of the three ship built for the 1957 celebration of the 350th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. The ship was designed by Duncan Stewart and constructed of longleaf yellow heart pine by Carl Pedersen and his crew in a cove off the James River at Jamestown Festival Park (now Jamestown Settlement). Its cost was estimated at $600,000.

The idea of the voyage came from officials at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, a state agency that operated the Festival Park and Yorktown Victory Center. Gov. Robb quickly bought into the concept and, in fact, announced it to a group of New York area travel writers in early November 1983.

By then an outline of the voyage had been prepared and a British “Godspeed to Jamestown” committee was formed, chaired by Timothy, Lord Tottemache, deputy lieutenant of Suffolk County and a descendant of Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold, who was captain of the Godspeed in 1607. The vice chairman was Swedish-born John G. Mosesson, owner of Otley Hall, Gosnold’s ancestral home.

A similar advisory committee was created to handle the program and events on this side of the Atlantic and included Virginia politicians, governmental officials and sailing enthusiasts. The Virginia coordinator was Ross L. Weeks Jr., executive director, of Jamestown Festival Park, now Jamestown Settlement.

When the Godspeed was commissioned Nov. 18, 1984, 12 of the 14 crew had been selected. A day earlier the crew was onboard, climbing all over and manning the rigging and sails on its first full-scale voyage, if just a few miles down the James River. It was, however, enough time for the ship to demonstrate its ability.

Everyone was pleased — the captain, the crew and the builders.

‘A big learning curve’

After leaving London, the Godspeed took an inordinate time reaching its first stop at Tenerife in the Canary Island. “We labored trying to get out of the English Channel,” explained Tanner. “It was a big learning curve for us. How do you sail a 17th century ship? We saw the Isle of Wight and the coast of France many times. We would gain a few miles going west one day and lose them the next. We didn’t know how to play the tides.”

The crew later learned that the ship should have anchored after the outgoing tide to wait for the next and thus be able to move forward, rather than flowing with the tide.

At Tenerife, two crew members got off; West injured his back and Duke had a serious case of seasickness. Doug Steele, who became the new voyage photographer, flew over and joined the crew.

Barton said one crew member — Jack Greer — stood out for him. In the U.S. Navy much of his life, Greer, as cook “was the second most important person onboard. I also was impressed with how professional he was and how serious he took his job. I didn’t know anything about the sea … I looked to Jack at rough times. I knew if he was worried, I should be worried.”

Greer called Barton “sea pup,” at first. However, Barton distinguished himself climbing out and clutching the bow spit to untangle a sheet in the rigging. “I was hugging on for dear life,” Barton explained. “When I came back Jack was sitting there will a little grin and a bowl of food, a treat. That was important for me and he never called me ‘sea pup’ again.”

For Tanner the crew member who stood out was Meekins, the assistant captain. “I admired him for his knowledge and ability,” Tanner said. “I don’t think he had ever been on a vessel like the Godspeed before, but his background of sailing was knowledge. He was the type of guy you could trust to make the right decision.”

What did the voyage accomplish?

“Hopefully, it was a coup for the state of Virginia and got people interested in Jamestown, the voyage and the colony,” Morgan said.

“Just doing it was important,” Tanner explained. “For me, if the voyage had been 10 years later, I wouldn’t have been part of the crew. I handled the amateur radio for communications between crew and families. I helped provide a morale boost. Later they would have had a satellite phone.”

Barton said the voyage “accomplished different things for different people. I didn’t have a lot of expectations. I wanted to add to my own life experiences and come back healthy and alive.”

The Godspeed returned to her Jamestown berth Oct. 22, instead of July 20, as set in the original timetable. Problems arose in the Caribbean when the ship arrived in Charlotte Amalie in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Atlantic hurricane season was becoming a threat and the voyage was suspended upon Capt. Salley’s recommendation. The Godspeed was then physically moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for its layover, which was from July 18 through Sept. 18.

Ultimately, the ship resumed its voyage with a different crew with the exception of Tanner, Barton and Wollard from the original team. The last leg of 1,700 miles included weathering a major storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, when the U.S. Coast Guard came to the rescue.

In the years following, the original crew has gotten together almost annually for a reunion. This year’s reunion has held April 26 through a Zoom conference call online, according to Morgan. The first reunion in 1986 was the last time all the crew members were together. Five of the crew have since died. Tanner explained, “Now that we’re getting older it just seems everybody wants to get together.”

Would he do the voyage again?

Tanner, 63, replied without hesitation, “in a heartbeat!”

Wilford Kale covered the story of the Godspeed over a three year period (1983-1986) for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He was in London in April 1985 for the send-off.

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Tall Ship Godspeed Arrives In Alexandria (Photos)

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Tall ship Godspeed has arrived in Alexandria a day earlier than anticipated to avoid poor sailing weather. Godspeed, a recreation of one of the ships that brought colonists to Jamestown, sailed in Wednesday evening past George Washington's Mount Vernon and docked at at the City of Alexandria Marina near the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

The tall ship arrival is part of the Portside in Old Town series from Friday, Oct. 12-Sunday, Oct. 14. The ship will be open to the public for free tours 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Tours are first come, first served.

Tours of tall ship Godspeed are accompanied by special exhibits highlighting Jamestown's history as well as Virginia's 1619 American Evolution commemoration. The ship last visited Alexandria in 2006 as part of the celebration of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, as well as in 2008 and 2011.

The Portside in Old Town festival will also offer a waterfront beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, a pop-up Pizzeria Paradiso, live music, art, fitness and more. The event will happen at Waterfront Park (1A Prince Street) and the Alexandria City Marina (0 Cameron Street).

Godspeed came to Alexandria from Baltimore's Inner Harbor, where it was docked for Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore on Oct. 3-7. The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, which runs tall ship Godspeed and its home of the Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown , will also hold an American Evolution commemoration in 2019 to mark the 400th anniversary of key historical events from 1619.

See images and video from Godspeed's journey up the Potomac River below.

Welcome to Alexandria, tall ship Godspeed! Come aboard for free public tours, October 12-14. More info: https://t.co/BgOjhyb5JE . pic.twitter.com/UXlyg75gps — Visit Alexandria VA (@AlexandriaVA) October 10, 2018

Image courtesy Jamestown Settlement/American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

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Making the Godspeed Shipshape & Seaworthy

by Chris Jones

May 18, 2020

The Godspeed sailing on the high seas.

Replica ships of the original vessels that brought English settlers in 1607 to Virginia.

Jamestown Settlement opened as Jamestown Festival Park in 1957, and it built three replica ships in honor of the original vessels that brought English settlers in 1607 to Virginia—Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery.

In 2006, a new replica of Godspeed based on the latest scholarly research was built as an operational ship capable of taking ocean voyages. 

“We designed and built the ship as accurately as we could according to 17th century design and construction practices,” said Eric Speth, Maritime Program Manager, Museum Operations and Education at Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

After its 2006 commissioning, Godspeed took a six-city tour to promote the 400th anniversary of the founding of Virginia and the United States. 

“We sailed to Alexandria, Virginia; Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City; Boston, Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode Island. It was about 90 days,” said Speth.

Today, its 13-member crew sails along the Chesapeake Bay stopping at ports of call, and this year’s ports include: Richmond in October and the Urbanna Oyster Festival in November.

“At each one of those port stops Godspeed is an educational outreach vessel representing the Jamestown Settlement Museum,” Speth said. “We’re open to the public and do special tours where people can learn about life aboard ships and early Virginia history.”

Every other year, the Foundation dry docks Godspeed for repair. In 2019, they chose Tiffany Yachts in Burgess, Virginia, to maintain the ship.

“Tiffany Yachts is a very experienced, full-service boatyard. Godspeed had an excellent experience with the dry dock contract with Tiffany Yachts,” said Speth. 

Dry docking removes a ship from the water to perform maintenance on the hull. This process ensures that Godspeed is shipshape and seaworthy for the next 24 months. 

“Tiffany Yachts had a building where we could move Godspeed inside for ­caulking, painting and other maintenance. We removed the rigging and repainted part of the mast as well. We carefully inspected all the joints between the planks (seams) and recaulked the seams to make sure the vessel doesn’t leak,” said Speth.

After five weeks and a successful dry dock at Tiffany Yachts, Godspeed made her way back to Jamestown Settlement.

“I found the staff there to be very experienced in all aspects of marine maintenance. They were completely capable of accomplishing all we needed for Godspeed at a high level of quality,” said Speth.

© 2024 The Local Accent, LLC. All rights reserved.

Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia Humanities

Godspeed, Discovery, and Susan Constant

Modern replicas of the Godspeed , the  Discovery , and the  Susan Constant , the three ships that carried English colonists to Virginia in 1607, are docked on the James River at Jamestown Settlement. The living history park, south of Williamsburg, is operated by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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A new replica of one of the three ships that carried Jamestown’s founders will set sail May 22 for a tour of six East Coast ports to begin commemorating the 400th anniversary of America’s first permanent English settlement. The Godspeed is to depart from its home berth at the Jamestown Settlement outdoor living history museum and head to Alexandria, Va.; Baltimore; Philadelphia; New York; Boston; and Newport, R.I. Each port will have a free “Landing Party Festival” featuring live music, family entertainment and historical and cultural displays about Jamestown. “The Godspeed Sail presents Americans with the unique opportunity to reconnect with the foundations of our nation and our shared heritage,” retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, honorary chairwoman of “America’s 400th Anniversary,” said in a statement announcing schedule details. “As the launch event for America’s 400th Anniversary, the Godspeed Sail offers insight into the legacies of representative government, free enterprise and cultural diversity that first took root on our shores at Jamestown and continue to shape our lives today,” O’Connor said. During each port stop, costumed interpreters will give visitors a taste of shipboard life. Visitors also can take a “virtual” voyage using an onshore simulator and use their handprints to design panels for a huge American flag that will serve as a backdrop during the anniversary weekend. The Godspeed Sail is one of 10 “signature” Jamestown anniversary events. The premier event, “America’s Anniversary Weekend,” will take place a year after the sailings, on May 11-13, 2007, a national observance of Jamestown’s founding in 1607.

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Tall ship godspeed arrives in alexandria (photos), there will be free tours open to the public in the next few days..

Emily Leayman , Patch Staff

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Tall ship Godspeed has arrived in Alexandria a day earlier than anticipated to avoid poor sailing weather. Godspeed, a recreation of one of the ships that brought colonists to Jamestown, sailed in Wednesday evening past George Washington's Mount Vernon and docked at at the City of Alexandria Marina near the Torpedo Factory Art Center.

The tall ship arrival is part of the Portside in Old Town series from Friday, Oct. 12-Sunday, Oct. 14. The ship will be open to the public for free tours 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Tours are first come, first served.

Tours of tall ship Godspeed are accompanied by special exhibits highlighting Jamestown's history as well as Virginia's 1619 American Evolution commemoration. The ship last visited Alexandria in 2006 as part of the celebration of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, as well as in 2008 and 2011.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandria with free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Portside in Old Town festival will also offer a waterfront beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, a pop-up Pizzeria Paradiso, live music, art, fitness and more. The event will happen at Waterfront Park (1A Prince Street) and the Alexandria City Marina (0 Cameron Street).

Godspeed came to Alexandria from Baltimore's Inner Harbor, where it was docked for Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore on Oct. 3-7. The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, which runs tall ship Godspeed and its home of the Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown , will also hold an American Evolution commemoration in 2019 to mark the 400th anniversary of key historical events from 1619.

See images and video from Godspeed's journey up the Potomac River below.

Welcome to Alexandria, tall ship Godspeed! Come aboard for free public tours, October 12-14. More info: https://t.co/BgOjhyb5JE . pic.twitter.com/UXlyg75gps — Visit Alexandria VA (@AlexandriaVA) October 10, 2018

Image courtesy Jamestown Settlement/American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

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• Spring 2024

The re-created 17th century Jamestown ship Godspeed

Research, design, and construction, june 21, 2023 - 7pm to 8pm, capt. eric speth.

Three small wooden ships, Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery sailed from London in December 1606 arriving at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay almost four and one-half months later.  They explored the lower Bay for about two weeks before establishing a colony that would become the first permanent English settlement in the New World – Jamestown, Virginia.

In 2007, a third re-creation of Godspeed . This time the vessel would benefit from new research and durable construction materials. The best possible historical sources were used to design the ship as an accurate, fully operable museum ship capable of voyaging to ports of call carrying Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s educational and promotional programs. Detailed drawings and specifications were prepared for the ship including modern equipment such as a twin-diesel engine installation, generator, electrical systems, electronics, galley, head and shower. 

Rockport Marine in Rockport, Maine was awarded a 2.3-million-dollar construction contract to build the new Godspeed. The vessel met or exceeded all expectations. 

Capt. Eric Speth is the Director of Maritime Operations a the Jamestown Settlement Museum. Capt. Speth, who holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master’s license for 1600-ton Ocean Auxiliary Sail vessels, has valuable experience in positions aboard several sailing vessels including Captain on the Charlotte Ann, a restored 19 th century schooner, Chief Carpenter for the restoration of the 1877 era Elissa , a 200’ iron barque, and Chief Mate on the Pride of Baltimore , a 137’ replica topsail schooner representing the State of Maryland as a goodwill ambassador. 

Capt. Speth has been responsible for many projects at Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.   He served as project manager for the construction of Susan Constant in the early 1990’s, Godspeed in 2006 and Discovery in 2007, managed replacement of Jamestown Settlement’s waterfront facility, ships channel dredging and major ship repair and maintenance projects. He planned and managed all sailing operations for the 2006 Godspeed Sail to six east coast cities.  Captain Speth serves as master of Susan Constant , Godspeed and Discovery . 

This is the third in a series of 8 in the 2023 Summer Lecture Series . This year the lectures will be held on Wednesday evenings. The lectures will be held at the Bath Freight Shed (27 Commercial St, Bath Maine) and via Zoom.

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Godspeed replica to tour east coast to start jamestown commemoration.

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Jamestown 400 Years Later: Godspeed Tour

Ever since I was a small child, I was fascinated with the story of the Jamestown Settlers, and how they risked everything in 1607 to come to the New World. Most did not survive the transition. The ones that survived pioneered the freedom and democracy we all enjoy today by instituting the House of Burgesses and adopting English Common Law. As part of the 400 year National Celebration, the Godspeed , one of the first ships to sail to our shores, will tour the East Coast. The ship will be in Alexandria, VA Old Town Waterfront from May 27-June 3, and I will definitely be going to see them.

From the AP Here:

Godspeed Replica to Tour East Coast WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – A new replica of one of the three ships that carried Jamestown’s founders will set sail May 22 for a tour of six East Coast ports to begin commemorating the 400th anniversary of America’s first permanent English settlement. The Godspeed is to depart from its home berth at the Jamestown Settlement outdoor living history museum and head to Alexandria, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Newport, R.I. Each port will have a free “Landing Party Festival” featuring live music, family entertainment and historical and cultural displays about Jamestown. During each port stop, costumed interpreters will give visitors a taste of shipboard life. Visitors also can take a “virtual” voyage using an onshore simulator and use their handprints to design panels for a huge American flag that will serve as a backdrop during the anniversary weekend. The Godspeed Sail is one of 10 “signature” Jamestown anniversary events. The premier event “America’s Anniversary Weekend,” will take place a year after the sailings, on May 11-13, 2007, a national observance of Jamestown’s founding in 1607.

If you have never had the opportunity to visit the Jamestown settlement, you should.? When you do, try to imagine what it must have been like to tame the surrounding mosquito-infested swamps, eke out a living, survive the harsh weather and find a bride, and try to stay on good terms with the Native Powhattan Indians.

The brave men and women that were able to survive those early days are heroes.

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Godspeed You! Black Emperor is currently touring across 8 countries and has 15 upcoming concerts.

Their next tour date is at Orpheum in Graz, after that they'll be at Kino Šiška (Centre for Urban Culture) in Ljubljana.

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Serial soundscapes featuring crescendos, cacophony, turbulence, and storms. First piece was one hour and ten minutes long; they played four pieces altogether totaling two hours. The subtleties in the wall of sound could only be discerned in the high pitch of violin, the low rumble of two bass guitars, and occasional jittery cries from one of the three electric guitars. The band’s expression is utterly abstract and sensible only because they are steeped in their unique musical language. Surrender or go home.

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This is a band at the height of their powers - this is the second time we've seen them and it was even better than the first.

Working through Luciferian Towers, with extra 'live only' reworkings, GSYBE delivered a tour de force performance with amps set to maximum and a video wall deepening the context of the music.

As usual, the band gently appear on stage at the beginning and leave singly at the end. There are no encores to a GSYBE gig. But, after the best part of 2 hours straight through, it's almost a relief to stumble back into the night and be reminded that, in fact, the bomb hasn't dropped and you're not at a fin-de-siecle spectacular.

Go and see them live. Just don't expect to see the world in the same way afterwards.

An absolutely stunning performance; Powerful, evocative, energising, brilliant. The fact that this is the second time they have managed to produce such a performance in Ireland tahg I've seen is a testament to Godspeed's consummate talent and ability to sell an emotional idea and carry you through the motions of that idea through the song. They also played Blaise Bailey Finnegan III, which still, live, is just so impressive. A magnificent performance, and enjoyed by everyone I have talked to about it. 5 stars.

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Godspeed (ship) facts for kids

Godspeed , under Captain Bartholomew Gosnold , was one of the three ships (along with Susan Constant and Discovery ) on the 1606–1607 voyage to the New World for the English Virginia Company of London. The journey resulted in the founding of Jamestown in the new Colony of Virginia .

The 40-ton Godspeed was a fully pooprigged ship estimated to have been 68 feet (21 m) in length.

She is Thy Ruler of the seas, with her mightyfulle velocitie moure veloce than the wynd, and mightyer than the rocke, she is, my Deare Godspeed —this

As part of the original fleet to Virginia, leaving on December 20, 1606, she carried 39 passengers, all male, and 13 sailors. The route included a stop in the Canary Islands and Puerto Rico and, with better wind, would have taken about two months to traverse; instead, the voyage lasted 144 days. On June 22, 1607, Newport sailed back for London with Susan Constant and Godspeed carrying a load of supposedly precious minerals, leaving behind the 104 colonists and Discovery (to be used in exploring the area).

In 1985, a replica of Godspeed (rigged as a barque, only 48 feet on deck) sailed from London back to Virginia. She had a crew of 14 and stopped at many places that the original Godspeed visited, including the Canary Islands and various places in the Windward Islands , before sailing to Jamestown.

The most recent replica was built at Rockport Marine in Rockport , Maine , and completed in early 2006. Its length overall is 88 feet (27 m), with the deck 65.5 feet (20.0 m) long, and the main mast 71.5 feet (21.8 m) tall, carrying 2,420 square feet (225 m 2 ) of sail. Replicas of Godspeed and her sisters in the 1607 voyage, the larger Susan Constant and the smaller Discovery , are docked in the James River at Jamestown Settlement (formerly Jamestown Festival Park), adjacent to the Jamestown National Historic Site .

Modern depictions

In May 2007, the United States Postal Service issued the first 41 cent denomination first class stamp. The stamp had an image of Susan Constant , Godspeed , and Discovery . Godspeed was also depicted on Virginia's coin of the 50 State Quarters , in celebration of the quadricentennial of Jamestown.

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