{"id":1202,"date":"2026-08-21T14:28:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T18:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/charpentiers\/alexander-hamilton\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T07:48:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T11:48:31","slug":"alexander-hamilton","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/charpentiers\/alexander-hamilton\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Hamilton"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"485\" height=\"243\" src=\"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-1.jpg\" alt=\"La membrure de la go\u00e9lette Alexander Hamilton sur la plage de Gallows Bay\" class=\"wp-image-1183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-1.jpg 485w, https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-1-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-image__caption\">The frame of the Alexander Hamilton on the beach at Gallows Bay, Charlestown (Nevis). Photo: schooner-alexanderhamilton.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Boat type<\/strong> \u2014 wooden schooner, gaff rigged<\/li><li><strong>Project launched<\/strong> \u2014 in 1979<\/li><li><strong>Keel in place<\/strong> \u2014 in 1981, on Gallows Bay beach, in Charlestown, Nevis<\/li><li><strong>Built by<\/strong> \u2014 Ralph Harris, one of the last West Indian shipwrights of Nevis<\/li><li><strong>Materials<\/strong> \u2014 wood from the island, shaped with hand tools<\/li><li><strong>Title<\/strong> \u2014 the last wooden schooner built on the beach in Nevis<\/li><li><strong>In Saint-Barth\u00e9lemy<\/strong> \u2014 present at the very first West Indies Regatta in 2009, the only schooner among the eight boats that entered the port of Gustavia<\/li><li><strong>Home port<\/strong> \u2014 Nevis, Saint Kitts and Nevis<\/li><li><strong>Today<\/strong> \u2014 ashore in Nevis, undergoing structural renovation<\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A schooner built a few steps from the birthplace of its namesake<\/h2><p>Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was born in Charlestown, the small capital of Nevis. Two centuries later, a few meters from his house, on the sands of Gallows Bay, a shipyard opened. The project was launched in 1979; the keel was laid in 1981. The ship would bear the name of this native son.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ralph Harris, one of the last<\/h2><p>The shipwright&#039;s name was Ralph Harris. In Nevis, he was one of the last to know how to build a boat of that size in that way: using wood from the island, hand tools, no machinery, and a hull taking shape in the open air, at the water&#039;s edge, under the watchful eyes of Charlestown. No wooden schooner was built on a Nevis beach after this one.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2009: the only schooner to enter Gustavia<\/h2><p>On the weekend of May 1st, 2009, eight boats responded to the invitation of two friends, Aragorn Dick-Read and <a href=\"\/en\/alexis-andrews\/\">Alexis Andrews<\/a>. They enter the port of Gustavia for the very first West Indies Regatta. Six are Carriacou sloops \u2014 <a href=\"\/en\/charpentiers\/genesis\/\">Genesis<\/a>, Ocean Nomad, today <a href=\"\/en\/charpentiers\/navasana\/\">Navasana<\/a>, <a href=\"\/en\/charpentiers\/tradition\/\">Tradition<\/a>, <a href=\"\/en\/charpentiers\/sweetheart\/\">Sweetheart<\/a>, Good Expectations and <a href=\"\/en\/charpentiers\/summer-cloud\/\">Summer Cloud<\/a>. The seventh is a small cutter from Bequia, <a href=\"\/en\/charpentiers\/plumbelly\/\">Plumbelly<\/a>. The eighth is the Alexander Hamilton, the only schooner in the fleet and the only boat from Nevis.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2011: Water sail<\/h2><p>The Alexander Hamilton returns to race in Saint Barth\u00e9lemy. In 2011, the crew of the three-masted barque Picton Castle, from Nova Scotia, boarded the fleet&#039;s boats and recounted the regatta. One detail struck them: the Nevis schooner hoisted a water sail that day, that low, light sail rigged under the boom, which is now rarely seen.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Nevis sea excursions boat<\/h2><p>For years, the Alexander Hamilton has been taking visitors and residents of Saint Kitts and Nevis on voyages from Nevis and Chrishi Beach, under the command of Captain Brett. For many, it is the only opportunity to board a wooden boat built on the island.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"466\" src=\"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-2.jpg\" alt=\"Le pont de l\u2019Alexander Hamilton sous voiles\" class=\"wp-image-1184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-2-300x117.jpg 300w, https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-2-1024x398.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/hamilton-2-768x298.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-image__caption\">The deck of the Alexander Hamilton under sail. Photo: schooner-alexanderhamilton.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2019-2024: Construction projects follow one after another<\/h2><p>A forty-year-old wooden boat requires regular maintenance, and the Alexander Hamilton has seen a succession of such projects. In 2019, in Grenada, the masts, rigging, and coachroof were replaced. That same year, in Nevis, the interior fittings were removed and the lead ballast adjusted. In April 2024, after a morning of sailing, while lowering the mainsail, the foremast broke.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A foundation, a floating school<\/h2><p>The Alexander Hamilton Maritime Foundation has formed around the ship, its motto summed up in three words: learn, restore, own. The schooner is described as a living classroom, where shipbuilding, rigging, seamanship, and marine mechanics are taught, blending traditional and modern techniques. The shipyard itself serves as the training ground.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Today: undergoing renovation ashore in Nevis<\/h2><p>In 2025, the Alexander Hamilton was hauled out of the water in Nevis for a complete structural renovation. The schooner is currently ashore on its home island and is unavailable for charter for the duration of the work.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/schooner-alexanderhamilton.com\/her-history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-no-translation>Her History and Heritage Refits<\/a>, The official website of the schooner \u2014 the project launched in 1979, the keel laid in 1981 by Ralph Harris in Gallows Bay. An audio history is available to listen to there.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/schooner-alexanderhamilton.com\/projects-and-renovations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-no-translation>Projects and Renovations<\/a>, official website \u2014 the 2019 construction projects in Grenada and Nevis, the broken boom mast in April 2024, the 2025 launch.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allatsea.net\/west-indies-regatta-showcases-traditional-sailboats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-no-translation>West Indies Regatta Showcases Traditional Sailboats<\/a>, All At Sea, July 1, 2009 \u2014 the eight boats of the first edition, including the Nevis schooner.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/picton-castle.com\/2011\/06\/02\/the-west-indies-regatta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-no-translation>The West Indies Regatta<\/a>, the logbook of the three-masted barque Picton Castle, June 2, 2011 \u2014 the water sail sent by the schooner during the regatta.<\/li><li>TripAdvisor listings for Schooner Alexander Hamilton \u2014 sea trips departing from Nevis and Chrishi Beach, under the command of Captain Brett.<\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Site<\/strong> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/schooner-alexanderhamilton.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-no-translation>schooner-alexanderhamilton.com<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Facebook<\/strong> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/schooneralexanderhamilton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-no-translation>schooneralexanderhamilton<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Instagram<\/strong> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/schooner.alexanderhamilton\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-no-translation>@schooner.alexanderhamilton<\/a><\/li><li>Vous avez des photos de l\u2019Alexander Hamilton \u00e0 Gustavia en 2009 ou en 2011 ? <a href=\"\/en\/sinscrire\/\">\u00c9crivez-nous<\/a> \u2014 this form will be completed.<\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Type de bateau \u2014 go\u00e9lette en bois, gr\u00e9ement aurique Projet lanc\u00e9 \u2014 en 1979 Quille pos\u00e9e \u2014 en 1981, sur [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":942,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1202","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_hostinger_reach_plugin_has_subscription_block":false,"_hostinger_reach_plugin_is_elementor":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1202"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2008,"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1202\/revisions\/2008"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westindiesregatta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}