And like that, they were gone

L to R – Larinda,HMS Bounty,Pride of Baltimore II

Walking the Halifax waterfront after the ships had left Monday, there was something different (besides the obvious). Dar was the first to figure it out, it was quiet. For the past five days, we had been surrounded by music – buskers with their guitars, little old ladies with their spoons, raucously loud bands playing rock and roll, Irish music in the bars, and bagpipers on every corner.  Now, with the crowds dispersing and the ships headed to the outports, it was another quiet Monday afternoon along the waterfront.

Monday morning was spent packing up our office and saying goodbye to friends. Most of the ships we will see next year in the Great Lakes and there will be many familiar faces among the crew. Others, we see throughout the year, at our various meetings and our annual conference (details to be announced soon!). But still, the end of our summer series always seems so final.

Down on the Boardwalk

We had a crew parade this morning along the waterfront and our intrepid photographer, Darlene, was on hand to document it –

In a little place called Halifax, Nova Scotia

Six ship cooks faced off against each other yesterday afternoon. In an Iron Chef-type competition, they were given 40 minutes to create a meal from the surprise contents of the little blue blox. Celebrity chef Chuck Hughes was on hand to judge the plates and Taste of Nova Scotia generously donated the ingredients and prizes. There were three teams of two – Nick (Eagle) and Kori (Unicorn), Kari (Lynx) and Pat (Peacemaker), and Sean (Gazela) and Jo (Amistad). 

It’s all about tall ships in Halifax

It has a been a busy past few days in Halifax, Nova Scotia as the city prepared itself for the arrival of their fleet of ships. As of this morning, all of the ships are here and crowds are thronging along the waterfront. I’m just going to leave you with a few snapshots of what my day has been like (starting with my very first radio interview at 6:00am!)  but plan to update more soon!

Darlene and I ferried over to Dartmouth to say hello to Amistad and Sorca. Saw Unicorn along the way…

Halifax Bound

A trip to the cool climes of Canada comes not a moment too soon. It is a sweltering 90 degrees today and this past weekend found me hopping from one air conditioned venue to another while moving very, very slowly.  According to our Fleet Tracker, ships are starting to make their way north to Halifax, leaving behind the heat wave in the Northeast and heading to the much more comfortable 70 degrees of Nova Scotia. I leave tomorrow morning and I can’t wait. Halifax always does such an amazing job with their event and this year, they will be showcasing their maritime history by highlighting the War of 1812.

We have an awesome fleet of tall ships to line the  waterfront of Halifax and ships will be open for boarding over the weekend.  “America’s Tall Ship” USCGC Eagle and Roseway will both be joining us again (they were in Savannah with us) along new additions, Amistad, Bluenose II, Harvey Gamage, Appledore IV, Larinda, Mar II and Sorca.

It is hard to believe that Tall Ships® Nova Scotia is our last event of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE®  Race Series! It seems like only last week we were saying hello to crew in Savannah. By this time next week, we’ll be saying goodbye.  The summer always goes by so fast…Stay tuned for race updates and our last Parade of Sail of the season on the 23rd.

Lookin’ good from the top of the bridge

Pride of Baltimore II sails toward the Newport Bridge during the Parade of Sail

Last night at the wonderful volunteer thank you party, sponsored by Newport Grand,  there were smiles all around on tired, tan faces. As volunteers, ship liaisons, and port organizers were basking in the glow of a job well done, we couldn’t help but reflect on how quickly the time went from that first volunteer training session so many weeks ago.  An event of this size demands a large volunteer contingent and Newport came through in spades. All the applause, compliments and praise was well deserved.

Of Tall Ships and the City By the Sea

Acrobat in the rigging of Providence

I am sitting in the Tall Ships America HQ in the Oliver Hazard Perry house listening to the Navy Band rock Washington Square with a little Don’t Stop Believing (fist pumps optional but encouraged) How is it Sunday already and why do the ships have to leave Newport tomorrow?

Waiting on line at Picton Castle

It is always so bittersweet to see the ships leave when we are on the road but it seems especially hard when it is in our hometown. We’ve had a steady stream of crew take advantage of our office Open House which has been so awesome. Tuesday, when there aren’t any tall ships in the harbor, no Navy Band keeping me company at the office, and no crewmembers to catch up with, will be a very quiet day indeed.

Who can resist a cannon?

The hot weather finally broke (kind of) today with the breeze coming off the water and  it was a wonderful day to be in downtown Newport looking at some ships.  One ship in particular seems to have a unique way to draw people down the dock, our local vessel Providence –

Acrobat in the rigging of Providence

 

Tomorrow is the Parade of Sail through Newport Harbor and then our fleet heads up to Nova Scotia for the Halifax event (woot!), the final event in our TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(r) Atlantic Coast 2012.  We have had wonderful weather, amazing crowds, and an overall great experience here in Newport and we can’t wait to bring the positive vibe up to Canada. You have been warned, Halifax! Good times are sailing your way!

Deborah and Lori get to tour some vessels

 

Enter to win the Ultimate Tall Ships (r) Nova Scotia Adventure Contest

I’ve been to Halifax, Nova Scotia several times now with the tall ships and each time I go, I am swept up in the maritime history there. Haligonians are so proud of their nautical roots which is why the tall ships events there are always such a blast.  I’ve written about my experiences here and here.

Now is your chance to experience the tall ships in Halifax. By entering the Ultimate Tall Ships(r) Nova Scotia Adventure contest, you could win a free trip to Halifax! Read on to learn more-

Don’t Miss The Ultimate Tall Ships(r) Nova Scotia Adventure contest – your chance to win a trip to bring your friends and family home this July. Enter the Facebook contest by sending a digital message in a bottle to your friends and family. 

The Grand Prize is a trip for 4 to Halifax for the Tall Ships(r) Nova Scotia event, including airfare, hotel stay at Halifax Harbourfront Marriott, Avis car rental and a Gift Certificate from RCR. There are also Instant Win prizes that will be randomly awarded that feature packages to the outports.

Tall Ships(r) Nova Scotia is going to showcase the best of Nova Scotia through film, art, music, food and history. The event will begin in Halifax July 19th – 23rd, and then the ships will sail to Lunenburg, Shelburne, Port Hawkesbury, Pictou and Pugwash July 25th – 29th.

Click on the link below to enter … Now!

https://www.facebook.com/myWaterfront/app_144371285680962

#963 Boat Waving

Photo Credit Matt Maples TSC 2007

What is it about being on a boat that makes you want to wave to everyone? When I am in a car, I don’t feel the urge to wave to people in the lane next to me (perhaps there would be less road rage). Out on the water, I am a waving machine.  Perhaps it’s a solidarity thing – here we are, out enjoying the day on the water, and we are overwhelmed with a feeling of friendship. No matter what you are doing- working aloft, competing in a race, just sailing along, or in a Parade of Sail- there is the boat wave. It says, “Aren’t we lucky? Isn’t this awesome?!”

Waving to Halifax - Photo Credit Matt Maples TSC 2007

Have an idea or a story you want to share? Email it to me at erin@tallshipsamerica.org and I’ll add it to the blog with props to you.

Major credit to 1000 Awesome Things for the inspiration

See the related post at 1000 Awesome things  – #424 Boat Waving

#976 Ships emerging through fog

Halifax was the very first Canadian city I had ever travelled to. It was the summer of 2007 and we had been beaten down by the sweltering heat in Charleston and Norfolk. The events were spectacular but, being from the Northeast, I just couldn’t get over the oppressive weather. No wonder everything moves so slow down there, if you move fast you risk passing out. Between work and my Yankee attitude, slowing down wasn’t an option so it was a relief to travel up north again as the Race Team cooled down in Newport and I couldn’t wait to travel up to Halifax.

 Tall Ships America (The New Face of ASTA) is headquarted in Newport, RI so we get the occasional foggy day. But nothing had prepared me for Nova Scotia in July. The first few days we were there, prior to the ships arrival, looked like this: