Joining the Parade of Sail and the dedication of the newly renovated Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor on July 4, 1986 was a particularly appropriate voyage for the Ernestina because of her history as a Cape Verdean packet. OpSail 86 honored the millions of immigrants who have come to America. The ship sailed as the only one in the procession that actually carried immigrants to this country.

A Schooner Ernestina Campaign Committee formed under the leadership of Thomas N. Bucar, WHALE president. The members of the committee were: Richard S. Aldrich, Robert Alves, Benjamin Baker, John Bullard (Mayor of New Bedford), Charleton Burr, Joseph Cardozo, Robert MacGregor, Senator William Q. MacLean, Dan Moreland, Robert Saltmarsh, Chris Scott, and Therese Kelly (WHALE Director).

"The Ernestina to Cape Verde is special," said City Councilor Viola Pina, also of Cape Verdean heritage. "This schooner carried the hopes and dreams of the Cape Verdean people." "Today," Ms. Pina said, " the ship carries the hopes and dreams of the City of New Bedford."

The Ernestina’s departure was the culmination of several months of intense work to restore the vessel for the New York trip. WHALE agreed to coordinate the fund raising campaign to restore the ship. But it was only by the initiative and commitment of several individuals who pieced together the complex financial arrangements which ensured cash flow for the restoration to make the trip possible.

Charles Dana guaranteed an initial $50,000 loan to WHALE from David Westgate, Executive Vice-President at the Bank of New England. Later, on the strength of a Commonwealth of Massachusetts budget allocation of $250,000 supported by Senator William Q. MacLean and Representatives Denis Lawrence and Joseph McIntyre, the Bank of New England extended an additional $50,000 loan, unsecured, to WHALE.

Fourth Chapter, the newsletter of the Friends of Ernestina/Morrissey, Inc. in Bridgeport, CT described the active nature of the group from that area in an article CT Friends Contribute Over $25,000 to Schooner Ernestina in Month of July, in Fall 1986 issue:

On July 4th, twenty-two members of the CT Friends of Ernestina/Morrissey were onboard the schooner Ernestina for Operation Sail ‘86 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.

Participating were: Dr. & Mrs. Sherman A. Wengerd of New Mexico, Dr. & Mrs. Dan Turner of Michigan; members from New York included Tom Bird, Mr. & Mrs. Warner Kent, Mr. & Mrs. Plante, Elizabeth & Minerva Currier, and Bradford Cornell; members from Connecticut were Austen & Bruce Colgate, Joy Cardozo, Joseph L. Paul, Margie Betts, John T. Colbert, Cynthia Saunders, J.P. McCann, Paul Brown and Joe Cardozo.

A special thank you is made to Austen Colgate of Connecticut, who acted as our liaison with the Operation Sail office in New York. His untiring efforts of keeping in contact with the OpSail office, by visiting each week, secured a $10,000 anonymous gift from California. In addition, thank yous are in order to the Olin Corporation for a contribution of two 25mm Alert Locate kits, Lone Star Industries for sponsoring President Cynthia Saunders, Connecticut Bank & Trust for sponsoring board member Joseph Paul, Johnson & Johnson Products for a packet of first aid supplies, and all the participants who contributed $500 towards the 2nd phase of restoration.

With the support of many, Connecticut Friends contributed over $19,000 to the Schooner Ernestina for the Operation Sail ‘86 event.

Furthermore, the Ocean Classroom contributed $4,000 to the Schooner Ernestina for her participation as part of Bridgeport’s Harborfest ‘86. Thank yous go out to Jim Schine of Cilco Terminal, Cynthia Saunders, Kaye Williams of Captain’s Cove Seaport, Todd Haines of the New Parsell’s Marina, Jim & Maura O’Donnell, Dick & Cathy Lomberg, Eileen Manning, Joe Cardozo, Bob Cowell, and J.P. McCann who taxied and helped the crew to showers, grocery shopping, hardware supplies, etc.