Barkentine Gazela

10/20/2026

There are two more chances to get aboard Gazela this October! ⚓🍂

We’re nearing the end of our public season, but there are still two opportunities to visit:

🔹 Saturday, Oct. 24: Open Ship at Penn's Landing - Come aboard, explore the ship, and meet some of the crew. FREE and open to the public.

🔹 Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween Aboard Gazela - Costumes, hands-on activities, a treasure hunt, and daytime Halloween fun for kids and families. Best for ages 12 and under.

In November, our attention will turn to downrigging, winter maintenance, and getting Gazela tucked in for the colder months. But before then...

⚓ Which remaining event will we see you at?

Visit our website for more info. Link in bio.

10/19/2026

We’re grateful to have the support of companies like Unalam, which built Gazela’s new bowsprit and main mast this year - and joined us aboard to celebrate her 125th birthday earlier this month.
⚓ Thanks for being part of Gazela’s story!

10/19/2026

Imagine this commute - and workday...

During Gazela Primeiro’s years fishing the Grand Banks, Portuguese fishermen started their days around 4 AM and climbed into their dories - small wooden fishing boats, roughly 17 ft long - with bait, food, tools, and a compass.

They rowed clear of Gazela into the open waters of the North Atlantic, often set a small sail, and sometimes traveled as far as 20 miles from the ship in search of cod. Once they found a spot, they would lay up to a mile of fishing line, wait for the fish to bite, then haul back in the line by hand.

If the catch was good, they sailed back to Gazela, unloaded it, and might head right back out again.

🎣A good and lucky doryman could bring in up to 500 pounds of fish in a day!

For Gazela's fishermen, getting to and from work was a bit more taxing than many of our commutes today. It involved working in the cold North Atlantic in a tiny wooden boat alone, doing the hard work of fishing, then making the return trip to the "mother ship" Gazela - hopefully a couple hundred pounds heavier.

⚓ How does that compare to your commute? Could you have been a cod fisher aboard Gazela?

10/17/2026

What can woodworking students learn from a 125-year-old wooden ship? 🪚⚒️🧰

Last week, PSPG welcomed woodworking students from Tyler School of Art and Arch. aboard Gazela Primeiro for a closer look at the craft behind keeping our historic wooden vessel afloat.

PSPG member and expert shipwright Marcus Brandt guided the students through the ship, shared traditional woodworking techniques, and pointed out restoration projects completed by generations of volunteers.

Keeping Gazela going takes more than preserving old materials. It takes people learning essential skills, practicing them, and passing that knowledge on.

We loved having the next generation of woodworkers aboard to see some of that work up close.

⚓ Know a group that's curious to learn more about Gazela, ship preservation, and what our crew is working on? Reach out about scheduling a group visit - we'd love to connect with you!

10/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us aboard Gazela Primeiro on Saturday to celebrate 125 years! 🎉

It was amazing to mark this milestone with current and former crew, supporters, and new friends. We had a beautiful day and were so glad to catch up and share memories with so many of you.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped make the celebration possible, and to the generations of people who have cared for Gazela over the years.

Here’s to what comes next. 💙🥂⚓

🎂 Special thanks to and for helping us celebrate with such a delicious spread.

Couldn’t join us? Share your memories and well wishes for Gazela with us in the comments!

10/02/2026

A new school year brings new interns ready to learn the ropes. ⚓

Our Science Leadership Academy (Science Leadership Academy CC) interns are settling into their year with us and have started with the basics that make everything else possible.

So far, they’ve learned the importance of being a safe shipmate, practiced line flaking and line handling, and helped to "harbor furl" aboard our barge, Poplar in preparation for our Winter maintenance. They’ll be with us throughout the school year, building hands-on maritime and trades skills alongside our crew.

👉 Maritime folks: do you have any words of wisdom to pass along to our new shipmates?

And if you have more knowledge or experience to share with our interns, we’d love to connect with you! We’re building out their schedule and looking for PSPG community members to share a hands-on skill or talk about your career in the maritime trades. Interested? Send us a DM or email our Education Team at [email protected]. Thanks.

09/24/2026

Come aboard Gazela Primeiro this Saturday! ⚓

We’re opening the gangway from 10am - 4pm during the Delaware River Festival. Explore the deck, meet some of our awesome volunteer crew, and get a closer look at Philadelphia’s 125-year-old tall ship.

📅 Saturday, Sept. 26. 10am - 4pm
📍 Gazela Primeiro docked at Penn’s Landing, near the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink
🎟️ FREE. All ages welcome. Donations greatly appreciated.

Stick around and explore the rest of the Delaware River Festival activities happening on both sides of the river in Philly, PA and Camden, NJ. Hope to see you there!

🔗 Get more info at philashipguild.org

09/22/2026

How was your weekend? Ours looked like this. 👀⛵

Last weekend, Gazela Primeiro headed out on the Delaware for a training sail with our volunteer crew.

This view came from aloft, high up in the rigging, while crew prepared the sails.

Did you know that most of our crew comes to Gazela with zero previous tall ship sailing experience? Volunteers learn by showing up, working alongside experienced crew, and taking part in our free/low-cost training classes.

Interested in seeing where volunteering might take you? Join us at an upcoming event. Or come down dockside for our Saturday Work Day. We're ready to show you the ropes!

⚓ PSPG keeps Philadelphia’s historic ships active through hands-on preservation, training, and volunteer crew. Follow along or visit philashipguild.org/volunteer to learn how to get involved.

09/19/2026

good news, Philly! we know a place. ⛵

Nation Demands More Jobs Where You Steer Ship With Big Wooden Wheel https://theonion.com/nation-demands-more-jobs-where-you-steer-ship-with-big-1851177876/

09/18/2026

Ships like Gazela don’t last 125 years on their own. People keep them alive. ⛵

Gazela Primeiro turns 125 this year. And while that milestone belongs to the ship, it also belongs to the generations of people who have worked aboard her. 💪

Here in Philly, since 1971, countless hands have helped keep Gazela going. Scraping, painting, rigging, caulking, repairing, cooking, learning, fundraising, organizing, sailing... There is always work to be done, and people continue to show up for her.

As we build toward Gazela’s 125th Birthday Celebration, we want to hear from you — the people who have helped keep her going.

⚓ How have you helped keep Gazela going? ⚓

If you’ve put your time and skills (and maybe even some blood, sweat, and tears) into this ship over the years, tell us about it in the comments! Share a memory, a photo, or something you’re especially proud to have contributed.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll share more stories from Gazela’s past and present as we look ahead to what comes next.

🎉 Want to celebrate with us? Join us aboard Gazela Primeiro on October 10 for her 125th Birthday Celebration.

🎟️ Tickets + Details: https://www.philashipguild.org/event-details/gazela-primeiros-125th-birthday-celebration