There is almost nothing as beautiful as a schooner on the horizon of a setting sun. For the last thirty years, the Mary E has been doing daily trips out of Greenport under the ownership of Captain Ted Charles.

The 75-ft schooner, built in Maine in 1906 has a new owner now. In January 2007, Matt Culen who lives in Pelham Manor, New York with his wife Bea, and sons Michael, Matt, and Robert, purchased the Mary E fulfilling a boyhood dream of his own. Born in Bratislava, Slovakia Matt entered the United States in 1965 at the age of 12. After college and some time in the United States Navy where he attained the rank of Lieutenant, Matt worked as a diver, engineer and contractor, mostly working for his own firm Hudson Marine.

Besides the newly acquired Mary E, Matt owns three commercial vessels.

Culen is an avid tennis player, skier and champion ping-pong player. He plans on continuing the business that Captain Ted Charles built up over the last thirty years. He will keep on Mary E skipper, Captain Eric Vandormolen of Northport. Now Eric will be an employee of the new venture, Halyard Enterprises, which was created to own and operate the Mary E. Eric will serve Halyard as both a Captain and its General Manager.

In a talk with Captain Eric Vandormolen, the talk of Mary E’s past was fascinating. The schooner, over the years had been used to bring the U.S. mail to Block Island. Ted Charles literally saved this historic vessel from being scuttled by doing much of the necessary work to keep it afloat. At a lunch in Greenport during the sale negotiations, Capt Charles admitted in the end, he had developed a relationship with the Mary E and knew every plank, line and rigging. Over 80 years old himself, he knew he had to sell it eventually and seemed glad to have found a worthy owner like Matt Culen. He said he was, “selling a piece of history.”

The new business plan is to continue the day sails right off the pier at Preston’s in Greenport but to also try and create some new ambitious charter situations by eventually incorporating proximity to the South Fork. However, its importance to the everyday realities of the activity at the wharf in Greenport will not be ignored or overlooked. The bulk of the planned activity for the Mary E will continue to be the day trips. Helping people experience a bit of the past is still important to the new owner.

Matt envisions spending some quality time with his three teenage sons on the Mary E, kicking back and enjoying his new venture. Mr. Culen also takes pride that he has chosen the task of keeping the Mary E seaworthy and being a Naval Officer he will have high standards. During the inspection of the vessel, Matt himself, in late December put on his wet suit and examined the bottom of the schooner while it was in the water. Then he climbed up both masts to inspect the various riggings. It was 36 degrees and raining.

When spring and summer do arrive back in Greenport, the two masts of the veteran schooner, Mary E, will once again be visible, as well as the sounds of the excitement of those boarding it for a wonderful day sail out to Block Island Sound. At night, whether at Claudio’s Dock or sipping wine on Shelter Island, the beautiful peaceful silhouette of the Mary E will be there out on the water, in the dimming light of the setting sun, bringing back the day trippers. It’s a view one never tires of seeing and is a reminder of the great past that Greenport has with sea going vessels. As its sails come down and it eases into its dock space, it will be home, tied up and secured on the

Schooner Will Stay In Greenport