Canal Schooner Lois McClure to Visit Fairport

Free Public Tours Sunday, Sept.5

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ALBANY, NY (09/01/2010)(readMedia)--

WHEN: Saturday, September 4, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, September 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Fairport Canal Harbor, 31 South Main St., Fairport, NY 14450

WHAT: The 1862 replica canal boat Lois McClure visits Fairport for the Labor Day weekend for free public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 5, at North Bank Pavilion, Box Factory. A VIP Captain's Reception is planned for Saturday, September 4, from 5-7 p.m. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10 per person, and include a wine and cheese tasting.

This expedition is made possible by a partnership between the New York State Canal Corporation, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, and the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.

WHY: The Lois McClure is on a 1,000-mile summer journey on the "Our Shared Heritage: World Canals Tour." She departed her home port on Lake Champlain on July 22 and will visit 20 historic ports-of-call along the Champlain and Erie Canals, two segments of the modern-day New York State Canal System.

The schooner will arrive at the World Canals Conference in Rochester this September before returning to her home port in the fall. The 2010 cruise is a follow up to the successful "Grand Canal Journey" of 2007 which attracted more than 30,000 to the boat. People from New York and worldwide climbed aboard and stepped back in time.

Constructed in Burlington, Vt., and launched in 2004, the Lois McClure is an exact replica of an 1862 canal schooner designed to sail from lake cities to canal ports using wind power. Upon reaching a canal, the masts were lowered and centerboards raised, transforming the vessel into a typical, shallow-draft canal boat.

Please see the attachments for a description of the Canal Partners for the "World Canals Tour" and for the full schedule of the schooner Lois McClure.

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