Scupperpunk is an ongoing documentary series and multimedia art project, documenting the radical culture of modern day tall ship sailors. Scupperpunk also slang for a particular kind of modern sailor: skilled, artistic, and violently anti-fascist.

(It should be noted that this term is not at all in common usage and we apologize for killing it.)

Scupperpunk was created by Annaliese Dempsey (she/her), a tall ship sailor and nautical archaeologist, with the creative savvy of her filmmaker sidekick and semi-professional adventurer, Donny Knowles (they/them). Annaliese and Donny first met in the Bahamas, where Donny is from, working on the Highbourne Cay Shipwreck excavation. Fast friends, Annaliese gave Donny their first marlin spike, engraved with the initials “LW”. Following the excavation, Annaliese signed Donny up (without telling them) for a summer sailing with her on the world famous sister ships, Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington.

In exchange for a spot in the Two Weeks Before The Mast training program, Donny agreed to serve as a photographer for the vessel’s owners, Grays Harbor Historic Seaport. Ushered in under the wing of Annaliese, Donny quickly noticed they were documenting the coolest thing they had ever done in their life—something they never knew was even an option. Scupperpunk is our effort to show what tall ship culture can be like: a life-changing adventure that you can choose to live.