Numerous maritime youth organizations, such as Hapoel, Maccabi, Elizur etc. began conducting seamanship training for young people in the early 1920’s. Prominent among them was the Zevulun Seafaring Society, which prepared its members to sail on merchant marine vessels. Jeremiah Helpern, who was among the founders of the Beitar youth movement’s maritime department, understood early on the immense significance of training youths to be seamen. At his initiative, a nautical school for Jewish students was established in Civitavecchia, Italy in 1934. Graduates were granted certificates allowing them to immigrate to Eretz Israel. Students visited Haifa Port aboard the school’s vessel SARAH A in 1936. This event increased Yishuv youths’ interest in maritime training. The Jewish Agency established a nautical school as part of the Technion’s vocational school in Haifa. In time, graduates of both schools came to serve in senior positions in the Israeli navy and merchant marine. The sailing vessel depicted on the stamp is the SARA A. The tab shows rowing lessons for cadets.
Built as a wooden auxiliary 3mast fore-and-aft schooner in 1898 by Hall Bross. Port Blakeley, Washington USA for Port Blakely Mill Co. (Geo E. Billings), San Francisco.
Launched as ERIC.
Tonnage 498 gross, dim. 174 x 37.6 x 12.8ft.
Auxiliary engine: one 8-cyl oil engine manufactured by Fairbanks Morse & Co., Beloit, Washington, 155 nhp.
Homeport San Francisco.
For photo see: http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/ ... OX=1&REC=2
Hall Bross was famed for his building of schooners used in the lumber trade on the west coast of America, the ERIC was used in the same trade, where she carried a deck cargo of logs. Her maiden voyage was under command of Captain Chas Roos.
1925 She came under British registry and became FOUR WINDS and thereafter the yacht CRUSADER A, then FOUR WINDS again before she was sold in 1935 to Ferd Menconi, Viareggio, Italia and renamed QUATTRO VENTI.
Lloyds Register 1936-37 gives her then again under the name ERIC and owned by Sir Guy Gaunt, British registry.
1937 Sold to Soc. Anon Italiana (Sara Kirschner), Rome, Italy and renamed SARA PRIMO as given in Lloyds Registry (the stamp gives SARA A with the year 1935). And used as a training vessel.
She was owned by Salomon Grégoire from 1937 until 1945 and under French registry. From 1945 in Lloyds Registry, but not more in 1954/55. Fate unknown.
Wikipedia gives on the vessel given as the SARAH I:
The generosity of a wealthy Belgian supporter [Mr Kirschner] allowed the Academy to procure a training ship, the Italian QUATTRO VENTI which was renamed the SARAH I, after the donor's wife.
In January 1938 the SARAH I sailed around the Mediterranean. In Tunisia there were clashes between the cadets and local Arabs. The Revisionists blamed the Arabs but according to the communist publication L'Italiano di Tunisi Mussolini's regime was responsible for sponsoring a group of fascist Zionists who were traveling around the world under Fusco's leadership to spread the message of the new fascist Zionism.[
In September 1937 the SARAH visited HAIFA where the "first Jewish Training Ship in modern history" attracted a great deal of attention. The Palestine Post reported that visitors from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the settlements visited the ship to greet the "Jewish seagoing pioneers". The Mayor of Tel Aviv, Israel Rokah, gave a reception in honour of the officers and crew of the SARAH 1 at which Jeremiah Halpern spoke to the assembled notables.
Israel 2012 300s sg?, scott?
Source: Mysticseaport museum. Lloyds Register. Sail Training Cadet Ships by Harold A Underhill. Wopa. Wikipedia.
Information from Capt A Palmhof