February 21, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Hyde, Communications Director, Grays Harbor Historical Seaport
1-800-200-5239, ext. 105 or Cell (360) 589-3776;
thyde@historicalseaport.org
HIGH-RES PHOTOS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD at www.historicalseaport.org in "Media Resources"
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Redwood City, CA - Tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will sail into Redwood City on Wednesday, March 7, arriving dockside at about 4 p.m. Both ships will dock in the Redwood City Marina for 12 days to offer shipboard tours and special sailing events. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to witness the golden age of sail brought back to life.
The initial arrival time on March 7 is subject to change due to wind, weather and tide.
The Lady Washington, star of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie as the Interceptor, and Hawaiian Chieftain will dock at “F” dock in the Redwood City Marina, part of the Port of Redwood City, during their 12 day stay in the city. “F” dock is located near Spinnaker Sailing at 451 Seaport Ct.
The public is invited to step back in time through free dockside tours or sign aboard for special three-hour sails. The crew, all dressed in period costume, will explain the life of an 18th century sailor and the workings of square-rigged sailing vessels.
Both the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain embark on special three-hour battle sails with passengers onboard. These mock sea battles complete with cannon fire offer a wonderful opportunity to learn more about sailing, see the crew in action hauling line and climbing the rigging, and experience the romance of sail as these graceful vessels maneuver for supremacy of the harbor. People can also reserve space onboard the boats for a more hands-on three-hour tour with the ships’ Adventure Sails. Passengers get a chance to help the crew haul line and set sail. Reservations for Battle and Adventure Sails are recommended. Call 1-800-200-LADY to make your reservation today or visit www.historicalseaport.org.
While in port, both the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will also conduct school programs for local students. Following their visit to Redwood City the ships will next visit Oakland from March 20 through April 3 before heading back across the Bay to visit Sausalito from April 4 through 15.
For more information or reservations, visit www.historicalseaport.org or call
1-800-200-5239.
ABOUT THE BOATS
The Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington are operated by the non-profit Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority with homeport in Aberdeen, WA. In addition to public programs, the Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington also offer education programs for students when in West Coast ports. Both boats are continually touring the West Coast providing a portal into the past for both students and the general public. They operate with both paid and volunteer crew. If you are interested in adventure and sail training, consider serving as a volunteer onboard through the Seaport’s “Two Weeks Before the Mast” program. Contact the Seaport for an application.
The Lady Washington, an historic 112 foot square rigged brig, is a full scale reproduction of the original boat of the same name that sailed the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The modern Lady Washington was built in 1989 to meet modern Coast Guard regulations at the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport in Aberdeen, WA. She is the Tall Ship Ambassador for Grays Harbor County, WA and the State of Washington. The Lady Washington also appeared as the Interceptor in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. In 1788 the original Lady Washington, named for Martha Washington, became the first American vessel to visit the West Coast of North America, Honolulu, Hong Kong, and Japan, pioneering trade between the newly independent United States of American and the Orient. The 99-ton all wooden boat can set 4,442 square feet of sail on two masts that rise as high as 87 feet. In order to set and take in sail, the crew must climb “aloft” in all weather conditions. In all, the Lady has more than six miles of rigging. She has a top speed of about 12 knots under sail and carries a complement of two three-pounders (cannon) and two rail-mounted swivel guns.
The Hawaiian Chieftain, a 103 foot square topsail ketch, is a contemporary interpretation of an 18th century European trading vessel common in the Hawaiian Islands during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. The Hawaiian Chieftain was built in Hawaii and launched in 1988. The 80-ton steel-hulled boat can set more than 4,200 square feet of sail on two masts that rise as high as 75 feet.