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Oliver Hazard Perry makes her first appearance at a TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(r) festival

My soul is full of longing
for the secret of the sea,
and the heart of the great ocean
sends a thrilling pulse through me
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The words of Maine’s own poet rang true last week during the Parade of Sail into Portland, Maine. I was on the parade command boat at the muster out in Casco Bay, making sure the ships fell into line and proceeded to their docking locations in an orderly and pretty-to-look at fashion.  For many of the ships, a Parade of Sail is something they do numerous times each season and the crew knows what the public wants to see – their ship under full sail. To the best of their ability – taking into account wind, weather, and safety on the water– the tall ships deliver. Since we were the parade command boat, we spent most of the time running up and down the line, keeping track of the timing of the parade (nothing worse than a parade that is over too soon!) and marveling at the amazing sight before us –

Sailing into Portland

News From the Road

“News from the Road” (Updates from the TALL SHIP CHALLENGE® Race Team)

Photo Credit: E. Short, Tall Ships America

July 4, 2015: Happy Fourth of July! We’re celebrating the holiday weekend with the tall ships in Greenport, NY. Front Street is overflowing with vendors and festival-goers, while bands play music in the park by Mitchell Marina. From ship tours to carousel rides, there’s plenty to do at Greenport TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® 2015!

July 5, 2015: The sun is shining on the north fork of Long Island today! The village of Greenport is bubbling with activity along the waterfront. More visitors crossed the decks during ship tours yesterday than there are people living in this town. But lines to board the tall ships are moving quickly, leaving festival-goers with plenty of time to explore the vendor booths and sample the local restaurants after they visit these unique vessels.

July 6, 2015: The quiet village of Greenport awoke early this morning to the sound of cannon fire, as l’Hermione made her grand entrance into the harbor. Now, thousands of locals and out-of-towners alike are lining up along the docks, eager to explore the tall ships. There’s vendor tents to visit throughout the day and dancing in the park tonight…for a small village on the North Fork, there sure is a lot of activity when the tall ships come to town!

July 7, 2015: We love being greeted every morning by the sight of ship masts towering above the village shops and restaurants. It’s the last day of TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Greenport 2015 so come on down to the waterfront and join the fun!

July 8, 2015: We had a wonderful week in Greenport with the tall ships! We’re headed home to Newport for a few days…but we’ll see you soon in Portland, Maine!

Photo Credit: Mark Warner, Tall Ships America

July 18, 2015: It’s a breezy morning in Portland, Maine. The tall ships are just out of sight as eager visitors search for spots to sit along the waterfront. The Parade of Sail is due to start at 1345 and we can’t wait! The Race Team is dispersed along the docks, ready to catch dock lines and welcome the sailors to Iberdrola USA Tall Ships® Portland 2015.

July 19, 2015: Sunday morning is hidden behind the dense fog of Portland’s summer but that hasn’t stopped the crowds from coming to visit the tall ships. Maine Wharf, Maine State Wharf, Port Ocean Terminal, Compass Park, and Ocean Gateway Center are lined with vessels, music, entertainment, and vendors – no matter the weather today, Old Port is the place to be!

July 20, 2015: Last night’s intense thunderstorms have tempered into a gray, foggy blanket over the city. The towering masts and traditional rigging of the tall ships appear and disappear as thick patches of fog roll across the waterfront. But the excitement in the air is nearly as tangible as the fog – the tall ships are in town for Iberdrola USA Tall Ships® Portland and there’s so much to do!

July 21, 2015: It’s late on Tuesday morning and the festival season has come to an abrupt close. Already, most of the ships have set sail for their next destinations. We’ve sent them on their way with lots of hugs for the sailors and wishes for fair winds. We hope to see you all next year for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2016 Race Series!

Photo Credit: E. Braunstein, Tall Ships America

For more updates from the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Race Team, subscribe to our blog and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

It’s Tall Ships® Tuesday! Learn about Adirondack II.

IT’S TALL SHIPS® TUESDAY AND TODAY’S FEATURED TALL SHIP IS ADIRONDACK II!

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HER:
Narragansett Bay

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
The schooner Adirondack II was launched in August of 1999. The near-sister ship of the Adirondack joins the fleet of schooners known for their performance-oriented design/construction, combined with classic traditional aesthetics. With her wide-open cockpit, Adirondack II can comfortably accommodate groups of up to 65 trainees/passengers. While dockside, spacious cockpit doghouses double as serving space for food and beverages or classroom navigation paperwork. Adirondack II affirms that modern wood composite construction and 19th century elegance blend seamlessly to the benefit of all.

GET INVOLVED:
Who sails? Private charters, families, and individuals of all ages
Program type: Sail training with paying trainees, passenger daysails

CONTACT INFO:
Sailing Excursions, Inc., Bowens Wharf, PO Box 1155, Newport, RI 02840 USA
Phone: 401-862-8441; 401-847-0000; Fax: 518-463-3403
Email: info@Sail-Newport.com
Website: http://www.Sail-Newport.com

Join us every Tuesday to learn more about Tall Ships America’s Member Vessels!

It’s Tall Ships® Tuesday! Meet Oliver Hazard Perry.

IT’S TALL SHIPS® TUESDAY AND TODAY’S FEATURED TALL SHIP IS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY!

Oliver Hazard Perry in Portsmouth, RI (Credit: Nonni Sansoucy, Courtesy of OHPRI)

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HER:
AT IBERDROLA USA TALL SHIPS® PORTLAND 2015 (JULY 18 – 20)

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Oliver Hazard Perry is the first ocean-going full-rigged ship to be built in the US in 110 years and is named for the young Rhode Island hero of the Battle of Lake Erie who on September 10, 1813 wrote, “We have met the enemy and they are ours…” The ship’s business is conducted from offices in Perry’s restored former home in Newport, RI. OHP is a platform for a wide range of sail training and educational programs. Schools and colleges craft their own custom programs of varying duration on the ship. Adult programs are offered directly through the ship’s office and with our partners at Ocean Navigator/Professional Mariner Magazines. The ship has been designed to serve both the able and disabled. Sail training participants aboard OHP live and work alongside the professional crew as integral members of the ship’s company, becoming part of the team that sets and trims the sails, guides her voyage and animates her spirit. No prior experience is necessary and no extraordinary fitness is required.

SHIP FACTS:
Vessel Type: Full Rigged Ship
Flag: USA
Homeport: Newport, RI
Sparred length: 200’
Rig height: 130’
Sail area: 14,000 square feet
Power: Twin Caterpillar diesel
Hull: steel

Join us every Tuesday for more profiles of the ships participating in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Atlantic Coast 2015 Race Series.

It’s Tall Ships® Tuesday! Meet Bowdoin.

IT’S TALL SHIPS® TUESDAY AND TODAY’S FEATURED TALL SHIP IS BOWDOIN!

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HER:
IN THE PARADE OF SAIL AT IBERDROLA USA TALL SHIPS® PORTLAND 2015 (JULY 18)

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
The 100’ schooner BOWDOIN is the flagship of the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) sail training fleet and the official sailing vessel of the state of Maine. Built in 1921 for exploring Arctic waters, she is one of the strongest wooden vessels ever constructed. Between 1921 and 1954, she made 26 voyages above the Arctic Circle under the command of explorer Donald B. MacMillan. Today, Bowdoin serves the students of MMA, the state of Maine, and New England, sailing in the waters of New England, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Greenland. Since being purchased by MMA in 1988, Bowdoin has returned to the Arctic three times with MMA students, continuing the tradition of Admiral MacMillan in carrying young people to the northern latitudes.

SHIP FACTS:
Vessel Type: Schooner
Flag: USA
Homeport: Castine, ME
Sparred length: 100’
Rig height: 70’
Sail area: 2,000 square feet
Power: 190 HP diesel
Hull: wood

Join us every Tuesday for more profiles of the ships participating in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Atlantic Coast 2015 Race Series.

Professional Development Cruise Aboard USCG Barque EAGLE

CAPTAIN MEILSTRUP IS OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPERIENCED TALL SHIP SAILORS FROM THE TALL SHIPS AMERICA FLEET
TO SAIL ON THE USCG BARQUE EAGLE
ON A VOYAGE FROM NEW LONDON, CT TO BALTIMORE, MD
FROM AUGUST 16 TO AUGUST 29 2015

APPLY TO: ERIN SHORT AT TALL SHIPS AMERICA
APPLICATION DEADLINE: THURSDAY, JULY 30
MORE DETAILS: CLICK HERE

USCGC Eagle. Photo Credit: Thad Koza

Enjoy a unique opportunity for Tall Ships America Members to advance their professional training, qualifications, skills, and credentials in a sail training program aboard America’s Tall Ship.

Experienced tall ships sailors are invited to join Captain Meilstrup and Coast Guard Officer Candidates on a voyage from New London, CT to Baltimore, MD between August 16th and August 29th, 2015. Restrictions apply.

For more details, read Barque EAGLE invites Tall Ships America Members to sail aboard.

Dancing in the Park

Monday night, crew from Sagres, Picton Castle, AJ Meerwald, Kalmar Nyckel, Lynx and Hermione gathered at Mitchell Park for the crew party. Because Greenport is a small village (population 2,200) and the size of the crew was so large (almost 450), we struggled to find a place big enough to hold the crew party. Parking lot? Too impersonal. High school? Too far away. One of the organizers suggested that we incorporate the crew party into Greenport’s weekly outdoor music program, Dances in the Park. Brilliant.

A View From Above

While I work on the race awards post for later today, please enjoy this wonderful video taken by local drone pilot Andrew LePre of LePre Media for The Suffolk Times, a sponsor of the Greenport TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® festival. The video was shot early on Monday morning and you can see the arrival of Hermione from a truly unique  vantage point. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the red shirted Race Team on the dock.  Here is a link to the original article.

Crew Games

Crew Games
By Anna Sprague

Image Credit: http://sabisathletics.net

Crew from L’Hermione, A.J. Meerwald, Kalmar Nyckel, and Picton Castle all showed up Tuesday morning ready to play soccer despite there being 90% humidity. Once at the fields, we warmed up and divided into teams. The teams were people in dark shirts versus people in light shirts. There was a small cheering squad in the stands from L’Hermione. The score was not kept but I’m fairly sure light shirt team scored more. After about 45 minutes, we decided it was time for a water break.

After the water break we decided to try “Swedish handball.” It’s a game combining soccer and handball. If it hits the ground you play soccer rules but you can kick it up to a teammate and, if they catch it, the game now is played by the rules of handball. It’s a fast-paced, exciting game that everyone enjoyed. Once again, the score was not kept but it was decided that dark shirts won as they scored the last goal.

It was a successful event all around. Running is not something sailors get to do often on a ship and it was nice to bring several crews together to enjoy these games.

It’s Tall Ships® Tuesday! Meet Picton Castle.

IT’S TALL SHIPS® TUESDAY AND TODAY’S FEATURED TALL SHIP IS PICTON CASTLE!

Courtesy of Picton Castle

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HER:
AT TALL SHIPS® AT CAPE CHARLES 2015 (JUNE 13 – 14)
AT TALL SHIPS® PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN 2015 (JUNE 25 – 28)
AT GREENPORT TALL SHIPS® 2015 (JULY 4 – 7)
AT IBERDROLA USA TALL SHIPS® PORTLAND 2015 (JULY 18 – 20)

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
The 179’ barque Picton Castle is a traditionally rigged and operated sail training ship based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada, but best known for her voyages around the world. The tall ship has just returned from her sixth circumnavigation of the globe and her crew looks forward to sharing stories and mementos from their travels. Picton Castle is a training ship, meaning all those on board work, stand watch, and learn the ways of a square-rigged sailing ship. Onboard workshops are conducted in rigging, sail making, boat handling, navigation and practical seamanship.

SHIP FACTS:
Vessel Type: Barque
Flag: Cook Islands
Homeport: Avatiu, Cook Islands (North American Homeport: Lunenburg, NS)
Sparred length: 179’
Rig height: 97’
Sail area: 12,450 square feet
Power: 690 HP diesel
Hull: steel

Join us every Tuesday for more profiles of the ships participating in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Atlantic Coast 2015 Race Series.