The Barque Europa is not only the first tall ship to dock at the newly renovated Jakobson Pier, but it is the first to be repaired while tied up there.

After the Oyster Festival, Oct. 13 and 14, the Europa had planned to sail up to Halifax, Nova Scotia, but because of the events happening as a result of the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, the schedule of the Europa is on hold. They are awaiting orders from The Netherlands, said First Mate Hank Mijnlieff.

In the autumn of 2001 Europa was scheduled to undertake sail training voyages along the Eastern Coast of the USA and Canada heading south in November to Bermuda and the Caribbean for her winter program.

"So it's a good time for maintenance," he said. "They welcomed us here so we are making a new spar." He pointed to the lower end of the long wooden pole lying on the pier and said "We didn't trust this repair." There was fiberglass wrapped around the lower part of the piece. At the top he showed a chewed out area. "We have no trust in it in a full gale," he said.

"They are doing the work at the Christeen workshop. They have all the materials needed, as well as the wood," said the first mate.

The Europa was tied to the Jakobson Pier at the Western Waterfront which itself is a work in progress, and on Tuesday, Oct. 16, two workers from Chesterfield Associates were involved in finishing the dock. "When I saw the job I thought I'll have to pull out a million nails, but I don't. The planks aren't nailed down, but 'float' in position. They are held down by the boards on the sides," said a worker.

Inside the Christeen's workshop on West End Avenue, Europa Captain Robert Vos was with the repair workers.

He was pleased that they had the wood needed as well as the planing machine. "This is the best place," said Captain Vos.

Bermuda, he said, is a luxury facility, and if it does any repairs at all it would be very expensive. The work at the Christeen workshop is being done, "on a friendly basis," he said. Money wasn't mentioned, he added.

"It's so exciting that they are staying here," said Rob Crafa, director of The Waterfront Center. "It's a full preview of what will be here when the project is complete."

Mr. Crafa was very pleased with the efforts of NYS Senator Carl Marcellino who made sure the Jakobson Pier was ready for the Oyster Festival.

The festival also debuted information about the Western Waterfront plans. Drawings by Cameron Associates, designers of the Western Waterfront plan, were placed into a standing kiosk on West End Avenue. "It shows they are keeping the rail line and refurbishing the turntable," said Mr. Crafa.

It will allow them to use a winch to pull a boat along the shipyard's railroad and turn it around there, in place for a ride to the water.

The drawing showed an area in Building "J" that is divided into three sections: one for a marine museum; a wooden boat restoration area and sailing school storage. "There is a balcony overlooking the wooden boat demonstration area," said Mr. Crafa.

The Barque Europa was built for the city of Hamburg in 1911 at the Stulckenn Shipyard. Between 1987 and 1994, she was rebuilt into a fine square-rigger by Harry Smit.

The ship represents the end of the famous clipper era and is one of the few ships in the world that carries a full set of studding sails. Below decks you will find a classic romantic interior lounge, bar and saloon. All cabins have their own shower, toilet and modern necessities for safety and comfort which are hidden by the historic appearance.

For part of the year, Europa is the official sail-training vessel of the Enkhuizen Nautical College, which educates officers and masters for commercial oceangoing sailing vessels.

The steel hulled Europa has 11,000 sq. ft. of sail area. It is on the Web at barkeuropa.com