NEWBURYPORT --- When the Misty Isles sails next Tuesday's tall ship parade in Boston harbor, Ray Pike is hoping a number of young sailors from the Newburyport area will be aboard.

The 54-year-old native of Ring's Island in Salisbury bought the gaff-rigged ketch 10 years ago, but just brought it to Newburyport last year, after years in California, Key West and Virginia.

Pike says he's worked with young sailors for years and is looking for sailors between the ages of 15 and 26 to join a crew of about half a dozen adults for the parade and a tall ships race from Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia, from July 16 to 19.

These events are organized by the American Sail Training Organization. This Newport, R.I., non-profit group aims to get young people out sailing for character-building and educational experiences.

"Usually they come out with a better appreciation of working together with their fellow humans," said Steve Baker, race director for the organization.

Pike's small tall ship (the 85-year-old, wooden-hulled Misty Isles is only 50 feet long) will be tied up this week at Newburyport's central waterfront floats. He plans to sail it to Salem on Sunday, then on to Boston Monday.

Those who volunteer to sail on the vessel will get to go for free, but they will have to pitch in with getting the boat ready over the next week or two, and help change sails, stand watch and do chores once she is under way. Sailing experience is not necessary.

"The purpose is to get kids out on the water to teach them how to sail, to teach them discipline," said Chet Twombly. "It's a good thing. It's also a lot of work."

Twombly and his wife, Alice, the president of the Ring's Island Rowing Club, will be part of the adult crew. Twombly helped Pike sail the boat up from Key West to Norfolk, Va., and then from Norfolk to Newburyport last year.

Pike expects to spend a couple of days in Halifax after the race and then sail the boat back to Newburyport. He plans to keep the boat here as long as he can find people interested in sailing it, though he's still working down in Virginia managing computer systems for General Dynamics. He would like to make the boat available to youth groups and church groups if he can find adults who can sail it.

"I guess you could call it my ministry," Pike said. "'Serving Fishers of Men' is our motto."

Pike said religion is not required, but he has had the most success in attracting crews from church groups.

"A nice thing about a long sail is you get to talk to people and find out what's going on in their hearts," Pike said.

Pike said he's working with Ring's Island Rowing Club and has contacted the Greater Lawrence Sailing Club to see if they'd be interested in using the boat. If he can't generate enough interest around these parts, he plans to haul the boat out for restoration and then sail her south for the winter.

For more information about sailing on the Misty Isles visit her along the waterfront or call Pike. (Noted was previous VA contact information, soon obsolete.)