NEW BEDFORD – The New Bedford Whaling Museum is bringing a series of lectures on the launch of modern day whale conservation back to the Whaling City this month.
The annual Sailors’ Series of lectures at the New Bedford Whaling Museum returns on Thursday, March 21 with “The Research Vessel Abel-J: Her Concept, Design, and Tales of Voyages Toward the Ends of the Earth,” a presentation by Captain Bob Wallace.
Launched in 1989, the Abel-J was specially outfitted to help researcher William Watkins study and record marine mammal sounds. These recordings helped launch the modern whale and marine mammal conservation movement.
Every year, the Sailors’ Series presents a wide variety of experiences and adventures by individuals with lifelong commitments to sailing, boats, and the sea. The 29th annual series is supported by Ruth and Hope Atkinson.
In 2019, four Sailors’ Series lectures will be spread through the spring and summer.
The opening presentation on March 21 will feature stories about the Abel-J, the research vessel that William Watkins journeyed on to gather his foundational recordings of marine mammal bioacoustics. Captain Bob Wallace, the vessel’s former captain, will talk about how the Abel-J was uniquely outfitted for research purposes to Watkins’ specifications, and will share stories of adventures at sea with researchers who are celebrated in the Museum’s newly expanded Whales Today exhibition.
A Sailors’ Series lecture on June 14 will focus on artist Norman Fortier, whose watercolors will be featured in a Whaling Museum exhibition opening on the same date.
A lecture on July 18 will be related to wind and coincides with the city-wide “Summer Winds” celebration as well as the Museum’s exhibition “De Wind is Op: Dutch Maritime Paintings of the Golden Age.” The final Sailors’ Series lecture on September 26 will focus on the craft of making Azorean whaleboats.
The Sailors’ Series lectures begin at 6:30 p.m. with a reception at 6:00 p.m.
Individual lecture tickets can be purchased for $15 for Whaling Museum members and $20 for non-members.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
