TSCA Warraskoyack Chapter Spring Newsletter 2025
SitRep from Kent and Audrey -
We hope everyone is enjoying the Spring, water temps are coming up. Audrey and I rolled and tipped a few strakes on the Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES after she got a TILEX bath...
This is hurricane rash from Hurricane Sally. We smoothed it out with some 60 grit.
Pettit EZPoxy Sea Foam Green with a dash of thinner is the flavor of the day, rolled on with Whizz 25003 4" Purple Velour 3/16" Nap Mini Roller 12-Pk from Kirby Paint, and tipped with Corona Orlando™ 9549 Series Angular Brushes.
Night time temps were dipping into the 40s so we evicted the Mustang and rolled ST. JACQUES in the garage with a little space heater, which kept the insulated garage temp above 60F and sped along the paiint cure.
This was back in February, bugs already...maybe they never went away...
...and now we are hoping two tires will magically swap themselves on our Day Sailer II trailer. Can you believe we had a bug find the paint back in February? Other exciting news...I forgot already...oh, I remember, we bought a new Type IV throwable PFD at Bass Pro Shop. It is red.
March came and went but I did find time to visit the
James City County Marina in Williamsburg. We had grand ideas of doing a raid on Jamestown Island but that idea was overcome by events, in this case a fun new job as Flight Safety Manager at Hampton University. Boats and Airplanes, which to choose?! But we at least got a chance to check out the landside of the James City operation on a nice day, and evaluate the locale potential for future ops.
There is a well stocked
Marina Store with very helpful employees.
Nice ramp with floating pier.
This is when you can tell that someone put some thought towards the customers.
Details say a lot about the way the facility is run.
Interesting Thule Hullavator Kayak loader that cantilevers up and down with very little effort.
Kayak and canoe storage area with secluded launch area...and I believe that there may be storage space rental for personal kayaks.
Steve B had no explanation for the SS BAUM at the Billburg Brew Pub. Nice spot to have a beverage and tell Sea Stories with indoor and outdoor seating.
Spotted a few ships on the way to the Jamestown-Surry ferry.
There's been mention of a canoe outing...
Sitrep from Steve B-
Not a lot to reported related to small boats... Over the last few months, continued to paddle the kayak, pedal the Hobie Adventure and go out on powerboats (specially, the one with the diesel heater). Several of the recent WX events, forced me to stay inside and do house projects and outboard overhauls. March is typically a buy month, as I get most major boat projects out of the way, so that I have more playtime out on the water.
On the work list is: to haul the cruiser OSPREY and clean and wax the exterior, I completed the engine maintenance in the fall; haul and repair fuel injection system on the open powerboat Skimmer, I had completed hull and other engine work in the fall; completed an overhaul on a small outboard for my grandson, to help with a skool project for the Brock Center, as he just completed fixing up a small Gheenoe and will be teaching people how to fly fish; open up the trimaran sailboat NiceTri, on boat stands, paint the bottom and clean and wax the exterior; playing on the Melonseed sailboat Shearwater as it need "no work at all". Photos of the projects. The outboard in the vice is for the school project.
SitRep from Eric S of Jamestown Ships-
Eric has been going back and forth from Jamestown to Mystic to keep an eye on the Susan Constant. He reports "The Susan Constant restoration is going well with the crew starting to hang the first new planks! Yes, Jamestown Settlement is planning to have Godspeed participate in Virginia 250th events in Norfolk and possibly another port."
For those not familiar, there will be OpSail events in the Summer of 2026 to coincide with the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. We have a couple of ships planned for Smithfield, the AJ Meerwald and Luna.
Steve E -
Steve and his Welsford Pathfinder SPARTINA are underway, cruising the Carolinas.
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| Image Credit: Steve Earley |
Their travels are logged at The Log of SPARTINA.
Random Musing -
Speaking of the 250th, it must have been quite a different site on our local waters back in 1775, with small boats everywhere trying to "trade and evade." Coastal trade schooners, square riggers going up the James River, British warships...
SitRep from Webb C -
Our friend Webb Chiles should be pushing off today from Skull Creek in Hilton Head, he is taking his Moore 24 named GANNET out for a few days to nowhere in particular. For those who don't know, Webb is a Serial Circumnavigator, with 6 Circles under his belt, one of which was mostly completed on a 19 foot Drascombe Lugger...well 2 Luggers actually....His most recent circumnavigation was on GANNETT.
Webb and GANNET's travels can be followed at Self Portrait in the Present Sea. Take a cup of coffee with you when you go to check out that journal...
Radio Check -
Check in and let us know what you're planning for the Summer! Jamestown Day just quietly slid by along with the Cedar Key Festival. This week there is a raid going on down near Pensacola, the Florida 120. We used to taunt that bunch and hope that they have a good week, and that we all have a great Spring!
Cheers,
"Clark" Kent and "Skipper" Audrey
(Eight50) 449-484One
Jamestown Settlement
Williamsburg, VA
Chesapeake Light Craft
Centreville, MD
June
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
St Michaels, MD
Mystic Seaport
Mystic, CT
July
Muskoka Wharf
Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada
Wooden Canoe Heritage Association
Adirondacks Park, Paul Smiths, NY
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17 May 24: TSCA Warraskoyack Chapter Scuttlebutt Update
Howdy from Smithfield,
1. Gregg sent a notice about a workshop at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, they're inviting folks to learn about taking lines off of an 18 foot Abaco Sailboat 13-14 July.
2. Eric, Captain of the Jamestown Replica Ship Fleet, has checked in to the Chapter and invites folks to drop by Jamestown to say hi and see the ships. The Jamestown ship GODSPEED will sail this Saturday May 18 (Edit - Rained Out) for Jamestown Day and again on Sunday. There will be a film crew and chase boat out on Saturday, so Sunday would be a better day to spectate from the water.
4. Audrey and I are caulking tiny seams on our 10 foot Bahamas Dinghy HENNING, and boxes of Kirby primer and paint are stacking up. Maybe we should host a Prime and Paint workshop? FWIW it is safe to drop by now, all of the old paint removal and rough sanding are finished up....well, except for the mast. Swing by if you are in the Smithfield area. Our blog has the latest on HENNING's progress:
https://smallboatrestoration.blogspot.com/p/bahamas-dinghy-henning.html
5. We like to launch at Tyler Beach, Rushmere, Isle Of Wight County. There is a decent beach for dolly launching and also a ramp that leads into a protected slip area. Tyler Beach is on the shoal corner of Burwell Bay and the water is shallow quite a ways out, a fun spot not visited by many powerboats. Be careful in the water though, there are cinder block remnants from an old shoreline structure, but the water is clear enough to see most of those.
Bennett's Creek in Suffolk is another good launch spot. 3 ramps that are part of a City Park complex. Good water with marsh, and Decoys waterfront restaurant is not too far away with docks and slips.
6. John is back from Walt Simmon's shop with his new 15' Lincolnville Wherry, hoping to splash it soon.
7. Holler back with your news and pictures to add.
Fair Winds,
Kent and Audrey
28 Feb 24: Warraskoyack Chapter March/April/May/June 2024 Newsletter
Scuttlebutt:
1. Our Warraskoyack Chapter of the TSCA is officially formed! Now what?
2. Kent and Skipper are working on a 1965 Alcort Catfish, 1964 Alcort Sunfish and 1930s Abaco Dinghy. Also on the list is to get the Suzuki 6 hung back on Skipper's Drascombe Lugger ONKAHYE and get ONKAHYE's keel wet soon, probably from the Clontz Park ramp in Smithfield. Maybe taunt the lunch crowd at Smithfield Station?
Our Penobscot 14 ST. JACQUES took a dip at Jones Creek so we could shoot photos of a push pole with duckbill attachment for the March issue of Small Boats Nation. No spoilers until after the article is published on Friday.
3. Steve and his beautiful Welsford Pathfinder SPARTINA are messing about down south, last seen visiting Webb Chiles in Hilton Head.
4. Mike M. has all the scoop on Deltaville and is working with the Mathews Maritime Foundation and Colonial Seaport Foundation, plus the Coast Guard Auxiliary. When not being pressed into service on other boats, he messes about in his 7' 7" Nutshell Pram. Maybe we need to set up a Nutshell Regatta :)
5. John Y. in Yorktown is getting a Lincolnville Salmon Wherry built by Walt Simmons, we can't wait to see that!
6. We'd like to set up a get together at one of our many great local maritime museums. Who's gonna be first? Deltaville...Reedville...Mariners'...Jamestown...Nauticus...Chesapeake Bay...?
Calendar:
March
Lake Dora, Tavares, FL
April
May
North Carolina Maritime Museum
Beaufort, NC
Jamestown Settlement
Williamsburg, VA
Chesapeake Light Craft
Centreville, MD
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, CT
Cedar Key, FL
June
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
St Michaels, MD
About:
The Warraskoyack Chapter retraces the water trails of the indigenous Powhatan tribes on the lower Chesapeake watershed and the upper Outer Banks.
Membership is free to any member of TSCA.
Chapter POC: Kent Lewis, (850) 449-4841, lewis.kent@gmail.com
Members:
Audrey L.
Kent L.
Mike M.
Steve E.
John Y.
Eric S.
Steve B.
Gregg S.
Old News:
28 Feb 24:
A little information on the indigenous Warraskoyack area:
"The Warraskoyack Indians, members of the Powhatan paramount chiefdom, lived near the mouth of the Pagan River and along its tributaries, near modern day Smithfield Virginia. Their town of Mokete likely stood in the vicinity of present-day Rescue, while Mathomouk town was probably situated along Burwell Bay close to Rushmere. The principal settlement of Warraskoyack was located farther inland, perhaps east of modern day Smithfield and west of Jones Creek.
The Warraskoyak were an Algonquian-speaking tribe in Tsenacommacah. The Warraskoyak werowance, Tackonekintaco, paid tribute to paramount chief Powhatan. The homeland of the Warraskoyak provided easy access to oysters and fish from the river. It had been occupied for at least 5,500 years. Sea level rise at the end of the last Ice Age drowned the mouth of the Pagan River, and the resulting wetlands were valued food sources for Native Americans long before the evolution of the Warraskoyak tribe.
Inland, across the watershed divide separating the James and Blackwater rivers, hunting and gathering opportunities were rich in what today are labeled Pettit and Belle Meadow pocosins and Pouches, Passenger, and Rattlesnake swamps. In those swamps and woods, the Warraskoyak must have encountered Iroquoian-speaking Nottaway hunters coming up the Blackwater River.
The Algonquian-speaking Quiyoughcohannock lived to their west, upstream on the James River beyond Hog Island. The powerful Algonquian-speaking Nansemond tribe, with 200 warriors according to John Smith, lived downstream on the Nansemond River with a "kings house" on Dumplin Island. The size of the Nansemond tribe would have deterred the Warraskoyak from conflict, if those neighbors chose to hunt near Mokete, Mathomauk, or the king's house of the Warraskoyak. From those three towns, the Warraskoyack found it easy to canoe out into the James (Powhatan Flu) River to trade with the English. They welcomed visitors from Jamestown, bypassing Powhatan with direct trade of food for metal tools and prestige goods. At John Smith's request, they hosted Samuel Collier, an English boy so he could learn the Algonquian language and facilitate trade and diplomacy.
In early 1608, the Warraskoyack allowed a Paspahegh guide to lead two Jamestown colonists into their territory to search for survivors of the "lost colony" on Roanoke Island. Later that year, they assisted another searcher, Michael Sicklemore, to journey towards the Chowan River on another futile expedition."
The Warraskoyack Chapter will explore our local rivers and creeks, retracing the water trails of the indigenous First People. We'll also venture out to other spots on the Chesapeake watershed, the upper Outer Banks and our many inland rivers.
Membership is free to any member of TSCA, and if we'll put out a quarterly newsletter.
For more information on our local waters, please visit our Smithfield Trading Town blog at https://smithfieldseaport.blogspot.com/
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