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After canceling programs due to COVID, founder of The Black Dog to donate Martha’s Vineyard ship Shenandoah in order to continue youth education at sea programs
The Shenandoah, a tall ship on Martha's Vineyard captained by Robert Douglas since 1964, is being donated to a non-profit to continue its mission of teaching children at sea. – Photo by Alison Shaw
Article in Masslive
By Noah R. Bombard | nbombard@masslive.com
Robert S. Douglas wanted three things after leaving the U.S. Air Force as a jet fighter pilot in 1958 -- to build a ship, to get a dog and to do it on Martha’s Vineyard.Fifty-seven years after building the schooner Shenandoah and launching an iconic brand that would become synonymous with Martha’s Vineyard, Douglas, the founder of The Black Dog -- a brand that would evolve to include both tall ships, a tavern and a sought-after logo emblazoned on everything from T-shirts to coffee mugs -- is giving up the ship. But he’s putting it in good hands.
The Douglas family announced this week their intention to donate the 152-foot Shenandoah to the Foundation for Underway Experiential Learning. FUEL is a nonprofit organization founded by two of Douglas’ protégés, Capt. Ian Ridgeway and Capt. Casey Blum, LCSW. But the ship is in need of repairs.
FUEL is launching a $1 million fundraising campaign to continue the ship’s legacy of providing educational programs for youth. The ship has brought more than 5,000 children on voyages over the years, according to a press release.
“Sailing Shenandoah is what I wanted to do with my life more than anything else,” Douglas said in the press release. “It’s been my major focus and time commitment since 1964. I know that the ship and program will be in qualified hands. Casey and Ian both came up through the hawsepipe, meaning they climbed the ranks aboard my ships. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Due to the coronavirus, The Black Dog had to cancel the Shenandoah’s 2020 season.
“We cannot responsibly ramp up for a season when there isn’t any indication that we’ll be able to support her operation with customers onboard,” the company posted on its website in June. “Our passengers sustain this ship and business, without them we cannot survive.”
FUEL is appealing to the Martha’s Vineyard community for contributions with $650,000 left to raise.
To make a tax-deductible gift to the Shenandoah Campaign, visit www.ShenandoahFund.org or contact Ian Ridgeway at ian@fuelprogram.org.
“It’s painful to imagine the Vineyard Haven waterfront without the Shenandoah at anchor. We are excited to see the FUEL team working to continue this long-time Island tradition,” said James Anthony, president of the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Foundation. “Children and young adults learning collaboration and self-reliance at sea are vital to understanding ourselves and our community; not to mention the importance of maintaining the Island’s maritime history and culture.”
Casey Blum, LCSW, FUEL co-founder; Robert S. Douglas, Black Dog founder and owner; and Ian Ridgeway, FUEL co-founder.