Friends Good Will
Encyclopedia
The Friends Good Will is a working American reproduction of the historical Friends Good Will (1811-1813), a merchant square topsail sloop that was overtaken by the events of the War of 1812
. Captured by a British ruse of war shortly after the capture of Fort Mackinac
, she was armed with a nine pound pivot gun and two six pound guns and renamed the . Recaptured during the Battle of Lake Erie
, she served in the US Navy before she was destroyed by enemy action in 1813.
The current vessel sails out of South Haven
, Michigan at the Michigan Maritime Museum, where she brings the area's history to life through educational tours, day sails, and school field trips. She can also be found visiting ports throughout the Great Lakes for maritime festivals and American Sail Training Association
races.
During Michigan winters, the Friends Good Will remains at the Michigan Maritime Museum. Her lines, spars, and sails are removed each October during the downrigging process, and inspected, repaired and/or replaced during ongoing winter maintenance by the volunteers of the Ship's Company. The following April, the Ship's Company removes the vessel's cover and performs her uprigging over the course of two weekends.
The , John Paul Jones' first command as a Captain, was a similar square topsail sloop.
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Captured by a British ruse of war shortly after the capture of Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is a former American military outpost garrisoned from the late 18th century to the late 19th century near Michilimackinac, Michigan, on Mackinac Island...
, she was armed with a nine pound pivot gun and two six pound guns and renamed the . Recaptured during the Battle of Lake Erie
Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes called the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was fought on 10 September 1813, in Lake Erie off the coast of Ohio during the War of 1812. Nine vessels of the United States Navy defeated and captured six vessels of Great Britain's Royal Navy...
, she served in the US Navy before she was destroyed by enemy action in 1813.
The current vessel sails out of South Haven
South Haven, Michigan
South Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city is in Van Buren County, although a small portion extends into Allegan County. The population was 5,021 at the 2000 census....
, Michigan at the Michigan Maritime Museum, where she brings the area's history to life through educational tours, day sails, and school field trips. She can also be found visiting ports throughout the Great Lakes for maritime festivals and American Sail Training Association
American Sail Training Association
Founded on April 3, 1973, by Barclay Harding Warburton III, the American Sail Training Association is currently the largest sail training association in the world and a founding member of Sail Training International....
races.
During Michigan winters, the Friends Good Will remains at the Michigan Maritime Museum. Her lines, spars, and sails are removed each October during the downrigging process, and inspected, repaired and/or replaced during ongoing winter maintenance by the volunteers of the Ship's Company. The following April, the Ship's Company removes the vessel's cover and performs her uprigging over the course of two weekends.
The , John Paul Jones' first command as a Captain, was a similar square topsail sloop.