Schooner Utopia Runs Aground
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The following is taken from the Ogdensburg, Advance News, October 11th, 1959 article about Utopia’s three year long trip around the globe running aground after a 3 year trip around the world.
Schooner Grounds in Span Water!
Ogdensburg, Advance News, October 11th, 1959.
Schooner Grounds in Span Water!
The Utopia went aground just west of Ogdensburg International Bridge about 10 p.m. Monday while on the last leg of her trip around the world. The Auxiliary Schooner, sailing under the command of Captain Fred J. Peterson, left Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on November 17th, 1956 for a trip around the world. The 65-foot ship is on her way home with seven people aboard.
According to Robert Peterson, the son of the captain, the ship went aground just west of the New Bridge. Captain John Atherton, skipper of the Coast Guard Cutter White Lupine, went to the Schooner’s aid in the morning. The small powerboat off the Lupine, carried the anchor from the Utopia and the small ship came off under her own power.
On the ship besides the captain were his son and daughter-in-law, who just went aboard 10 days ago. Mr. Peterson Jr. has been operating his father's ship building yard at Sturgeon Bay. He flew to Montreal to meet his father on his homecoming voyage.
Others on the ship include Damayan Dunuwille from Ceylon, Wong Chin Chong, a 23-year-old from Malaya, who speaks seven different languages, Stephen Busaz, a Hungarian who went aboard at Sydney Nova Scotia, and Joseph Swafford, 25, from Silver Springs, Maryland, who was touring Europe on his own and joined the group at Barcelona, Spain.
Before the visitors could come aboard at Ogdensburg, they had to be examined by a local doctor.
The Utopia was built in 1946 at Captain Peterson's shipyard. In 1947, he spent 11 months cruising the Mediterranean. The world cruisers crossed the Atlantic on the way home in 13 days and six hours.
According to Mr. Peterson, the ship will be laid up at Sturgeon Bay for the winter and repaired. The ship has a steel bottom but it is wood from the water level up.
Household appliances of all sorts can be used on the ship. The freezer will hold a ton of frozen meat.
The ship is equipped with radar and had two auxiliary engines for power. Under power, the ship will travel about eight knots. Under sail, with a good wind, it will sail along at an 11-knot clip.
Ogdensburg, Advance News, October 11th, 1959