Tall Ships Come to Port

 When I saw that Port Washington was having a Tall Ships Festival, I wanted to go. I usually don't get to see them but seeing there were going to see in Port and I figured mom and dad could use my help with some stuff, I decided to go check them out. Ideally I wanted to go to EAA and Tall Ships on back to back days so I didn't mess up my week at work but it didn't work out that way but either way, I made it work.

Tall Ships are large traditional-rigged sailing vessels such as topsail schooners. They are really just modern pirate ships. 

Tall Ships were in Port for 3 days before they headed up Lake Michigan towards Door County. They actually reached out to Port for safe harbor and Port figured they could do something to draw people down to see them. Working together, the Port Visitor Center and the sailing ships put together daily sails and tours of the ships. The sails were $70-$95 depending time of day. Sails were 1.5-2 hours depending on the time of day. I kind of regret not spending the money to do a sail. I think I will save my pennies and do a sail next time I get to see Tall Ships.

I had the opportunity to volunteer at Tall Ships. I spent a couple of hours answering questions and booking sails on the ships. It let me watch the ships come into the harbor, dock, set sail, and just watch ships. It was actually a good time even though I wasn't sure what I was going to get into. I picked a time slot where there wasn't a lot going on. 

Tours of the ships were once a day around 4 pm due to the Lake level. They could only board at Rotary Park even though they docked at Coal Dock Park. Each day one of the ships would dock at Rotary Park and open up for free tours. 

Due to some miscommunications (and a late departing ship), the tour on Friday was on the Appledore. The Appledore home port is Bay City, MI. The ship is not the big. It's only 85' in length. We were free to explore the top deck of the schooner. 

You could see the itty bitty galley.

And peek down the stairs to see the living quarters. 

I was disappointed that while docked, the sails are down so they weren't as magnificent looking as they are when the sails are bellowing in the wind while out on the open water.

I was able to watch the Liberty Clipper come back after their sail with their sails bellowing in the wind as I walked back to my car. 

Even though you could only tour the shops once a day, you could view them any time while they were docked at Coal Dock Park. You could look down into them and if crew was around talk to them. 

I am glad I was took a day off to go check out the Tall Ships. I think I would have been kicking myself if I didn't. I hope you can some time be able to see Tall Ships and maybe even take a sail on one of them.