Topsfield Titan

Topsfield Public Schools

Updates:

1st Voyage

The Topsfield School’s miniboat was named in November 2022 after a poll taken at a local Trunk or Treat event. It was named “TOPSFIELD TITAN” to acknowledge that “Topsfield is a strong and great community and the mini boat will represent our strength.”

Follow along with progress on the Topsfield Titan‘s Twitter account @TopsfieldTitan!

2022-2023 School Year Miniboat Preparations

June 1, 2023 – Christening Video

The TOPSFIELD TITAN miniboat was christened by all the students from the Miniboat Club at Topsfield Public Schools:

June 15, 2023 – WCVB5 Wake Up Call from Topsfield Elementary students

  • June 2023: Launched from the F/V Rachel Leah

    June 16, 2023: Miniboat delivered to the docks

    Dr. Thompson, her daughter Tara, and a few miniboat friends (Sheila Adams and Cassie Stymiest) met at the docks of Little Bay Lobster on June 16 to make final preparations for the Topsfield Titan. 

    Tara stepped the mast:

    And the Topsfield Titan was ready to go! Here’s the crew at Little Bay Lobster Co during the handoff:

    Special thanks to Todd Ellis, Captain John Thomas, and all at LBL for supporting another miniboat launch from the F/V Rachel Leah. This is the third miniboat launch from the LBL team this year (Wildcat Wave and Clipper Ripper were also launched earlier this year).

    June 21, 2023

    We received a text that confirmed launch was today at 18:00, just east of Nygren Canyon.

  • June 29, 2023 - A quick trip to Maine and Recovered on July 1

    After only 8 days at sea, the Topsfield Titan found her way to Maine! During this week, a few miniboats strayed from the Gulf Stream as well, including the Gryphon Cruiser, which made a quick trip up to Nantucket.

    We quickly reached out to friends and colleagues in the area who are working on a recovery mission, but because of the fog conditions, were not able to reach the island right away.

    On July 1, 2023, we heard good news that the Topsfield Titan had been recovered! Thanks to Carl Wilson and family who reported that the minib oat was, “In the fog, in the rain, near Fog Island on White Ledge… exactly where it was supposed to be.”

The Topsfield Titan miniboat project is funded by a grant from Cell Signalling Technologies, a life science company headquartered in Danvers, MA. The boat was assembled by students in the two Topsfield Elementary Schools, Proctor and Steward. 

Topsfield is located in the North Shore of Massachusetts. It was first called Shenewemedy, translated into “The Pleasant Place By The Flowing Waters”, by the Agawam people. It was later called New Meadows by early settlers, then finally Topsfield in 1648. It is known for the longest running agricultural fair in the U.S, The Topsfield Fair, first celebrated in 1818, when it was for farmers only. In the late summer, early fall there is a tomato festival and in the spring there is a strawberry festival. Topsfield belongs to the Tri-Town School Union and Masconomet Regional Middle-High School with Boxford and Middleton.

The Steward School is for students in pre-kindergarten through third grade. It was built in 1963, the school mascot is Steward Star, and the colors are red and white. The principal is Mrs. Willa.

The Proctor School is for students from grades four through six. It was built in 1932 by James Proctor. The principal is Mrs. O’Leary.