Time & Tide

Evan Schwanfelder

Evan Schwanfelder, Manager of Maritime Education, vacationed on the island for many years before he moved to Nantucket full time after meeting his lovely wife who was born and raised on the Island. Evan is an avid fisherman and musician with a deep love for the ocean and the rich history that surrounds Nantucket. He is thrilled to share these passions with locals and visitors alike. Hosting, producing, and even composing the music that accompanies each episode, Time & Tide is Evan's vehicle to share the inspiring stories of Nantucket's shipwreck and lifesaving legacy beyond the walls of classrooms to reach lifelong learners and maritime enthusiastic around the globe.

Please click the links below to access episodes and follow along on Instagram as well!

Time & Tide - The Shellfish Series Episode 3: Rememberingthe Nantucket Shellfish Aquafarm

Time & Tide is back with another installment of The Shellfish Series. In this episode, we welcome Rob Garrison to the show. While researching and talking about the history of aquaculture on Nantucket, Rob's name kept coming up at the top of our list of guests who could shed some light on the early years. Rob and Martin Ceely were the founding partners of the first oyster farm on Nantucket in the 1980s. Rob was also integral in developing and constructing the first generation of the shellfish hatchery on Brant Point. We knew we needed to interview him, lucky for us, the stars aligned, and Rob was back on Island this summer and made time for an interview.

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Time & Tide - The Shellfish Series Episode 2: Sam Denette, Tara Riley & Matt Herr

We are excited to continue the Time and Tide Podcast collaboration between Egan Maritime Institute and the Nantucket Shellfish Association.

In this episode, we do a deep dive into several subjects related to what oyster farming on the Island looks like today, the operations at the shellfish hatchery on Brant Point, and the work of the Nantucket Shellfish Association. Listen along as we chat with Sam Denette, Executive Director of the Nantucket Shellfish Association, Tara Riley, Shellfish and Aquatic Resource Manager at the Shellfish Hatchery, and Matt Herr, local oyster farmer and owner of Grey Lady Oysters.

After listening to this episode, we promise you will crave a delicious Grey Lady Oyster.

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The Time & Tide - Shellfish Series

Listen now to the first episode of The Time & Tide Shellfish Series! This episode dives into the early days of the shellfish industry. Host Evan chats with the folks who started it all. You will hear about the infamous Seafest and how Martin Ceely and his rag-tag crew began propagating shellfish and oyster farming on Nantucket.

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South Shore Shipwreck Part 2: The Survey

Part Two of the South Shore Shipwreck Series. Since the release of part one, a significant new wreck fragment has been uncovered roughly 1,000 ft west of the original site. Based on new clues, yet to be discussed publicly, can we conclude, beyond a shadow of doubt, that these are the remains of the Warren Sawyer? Join host Evan Schwanfelder as he sits down and does a deep dive with Massachusetts Underwater Archeologist, David Robinson, who gives his expert analysis on the potential identity of these pieces and what both of them reveal from an archeological point of view.

Special thanks to David Robinson and the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archeological Resources.

Listen Here: Part 2

South Shore Shipwreck Part 1: The Find

"South Shore Shipwreck Part 1: The Find" is the first episode in a two-part series that documents the rediscovery of substantial shipwreck remains recently uncovered on Nantucket's South Shore in late November 2022. We go in-depth on the research and archeological process with first-hand accounts from the many generous and knowledgeable people who helped along the way. I hope you enjoy!

Special thanks to Mike Campbell, Michael Harrison & the Nantucket Historical Association, and Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archeological Resources

Listen Here: Part 1

Wrecked on the Feejees

The Experiences of William S. Cary, a Nantucket man. The sole survivor of the crew of the whaleship Oeno, who lived for nine years among cannibals of the South Pacific. "Cary's log of his experiences is a most graphic depiction of life among the Fiji Islanders. His capture and adoption by the king of the tribe, the life and customs of the natives, his escape and return home are all touched upon in detail, the whole story forming one of the most thrilling tales of the sea ever printed. And the best part of the story is that it is true."

LISTEN HERE - Part 1

Frozen In

In this episode we present a series of short vignettes and first person accounts of major freeze up events in 19th century Nantucket. These were the days before fast ferries and airplanes, when news of the day and word from loved ones travelled only by mail. Sailing ships and later, steamboats, were the only lifeline to the mainland carrying mail, fuel, supplies and people. During large freeze ups, lasting weeks to as long as a month, the island was completely cut off from the rest of the world.

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Survival Off Sankaty with Capt. Pete Kaizer

This story goes back to the early 1980's on Nantucket. Capt. Pete Kaizer was in his early years of fishing on the island when a local market for bluefish developed. Pete used gillnetting strategies he had learned while fishing the winter seasons in Florida, and applied them to Nantucket's inshore fishery. One August afternoon, Pete and his mate found a large school of fish just north of Sankaty Head, but not long after setting the net a hard line of severe thunderstorms came over them. Things went from bad to worse, and ultimately the two men had to abandon ship and swim for their lives.

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The Wreck of the Joseph Starbuck

The Joseph Starbuck, named after the wealthy whaling merchant who built her, was the last one built at the Brant Point shipyard, launched in 1838. She completed one successful voyage to the Pacific and was fitted out for her second in 1842. She was a beautiful and highly valued ship of live oak, and copper fastened. The vessel alone was insured for $24,000.
On Sunday, November 27, 1842, the ship left Nantucket with a favorable breeze, in tow of the steamer Telegraph, for Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, where she was to load and proceed on a whaling voyage. There were on board, in addition to the full complement of hands belonging to her, a number of ladies, who were intending to accompany their friends and husbands to Edgartown, before taking final leave of them. In total there were 35 souls aboard the ship.

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The Salvaging of the Sugar Bark Mentor

On a stormy morning in early spring, 1893, just after the sun's rays had lifted a foggy curtain from the sea, the strongly-built Norwegian bark Mentor emerged from the fog and found herself in the shoals off the east end of Nantucket. There was a high sea running and before she could extricate herself she struck heavily, and remained fast. It was Sunday morning, April 23rd, 1893. White water was breaking all around the vessel and the captain decided to abandon ship before the fog closed in on them again.

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The Wreck of the Mary Anna

During the winter of 1871, Nantucket Sound experienced once of the worst freeze-ups in history; the ice was so thick that it was incredibly challenging and nearly impossible to cut through. At this time there was no paid lifesaving service on the island. Rather, volunteer surfmen with the Massachusetts Humane Society risked life and limb to aid mariners and passengers in distress on the shoals around Nantucket.

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