Stormy Weather Sailing

It seems like every year at the Duluth Tall Ship Festival there is a day or two of stormy weather. This year was no exception.

When and If

Appledore V

Pride of Baltimore II

El Galeón Andalucía

I’ve been going through my lost Duluth photos. They really weren’t lost but I had forgotten all about them as I went on to photograph the fall colors. At the end of August the Tall Ships visited Duluth Minnesota. I wandered around during the event taking pictures of the tall ships. One of my favorite was the El Galeón Andalucía.  The Galeón Andalucía is a replica of a 16th-17th century galleon, the only one in the world that sails in present days.

Duluth Tall Ship Festival 2016

This past August we drove up to Duluth Minnesota to attend the Tall Ship Festival. This is a huge event in Duluth and it is the second time we have attended.There were nine ships at this year’s festival.

As we drove into town we noticed that the Pride of Baltimore II was tied up at the docks in Superior, Wisconsin so we drove over to take a look.

We were a bit disappointed with this years festival. The crowds were so large that it was almost impossible to get on the ships. This year they sold special passes that allowed you to go to the head of the line but even those lines were long. the last time it was held it was relatively easy to get on the ships but not this year. We had friends come up to visit the ships but they decided it wasn’t worth standing in line. They weren’t the only ones that gave up. We decided to skip the ship festival and drive up to Gooseberry Falls State Park. Turns out a lot of other folks had the same idea and there were no places to park at Gooseberry.

In addition to the problem of getting on the ships it was very difficult to move around the waterfront. The famous Blue Bridge was a huge bottleneck with long lines waiting to get across the bridge. It was even worse when the bridge had to open to let ships through. There was another bottleneck in back of the aquarium. There was an art show taking place at Bayfront Park and several times we just gave up and went back to the condo because the crowds were so large. I suppose the event was a success for the city but it was a very negative experience for the visitor.

My wife was particularly disappointed that the Norwegian Viking Ship  Draken Harald Hårfagre  was not able to make it to the festival. We had followed their five weeks from sail from the North Sea, across the Atlantic. We just missed seeing it in Iceland. As it turned out the ship couldn’t couldn’t navigate Lake Superior’s pilot laws. Apparently they were unaware that they had to have a pilot on board and didn’t have the funds to pay for one.

The El Galeón Andalucía was my favorite ship. Unfortunately it didn’t give rides and were weren’t able to get on it this year because of the crowds.

El Galeón Andalucía

The Zeeto was docked behind the Mist of Avalon in this shot.

Zeeto

The When and If was giving rides and is shown here entering the Duluth Ship Canal with the North Breakwater Light and Duluth in the background.

When and If

The US Brig Niagara is showing entering the harbor during the Parade of Tall Ships. We watched the event from the War Memorial Park. The festival did offer an opportunity to sail on one of the Tall Ships during the parade and that is something I would seriously consider doing during the next event.

US Brig Niagara

I happened to catch the Mist of Avalon sailing out of the harbor, early in the morning, as it was leaving Duluth for it’s next destination.

Mist of Avalon

The Denis Sullivan was heading for the docks in Duluth Harbor.

Denis Sullivan

Appledore V under sail in Duluth Harbor.

Appledore V

The Abby Road was a late entry into the festival. I happened to catch it entering the harbor right behind a large ship.

Abby Road

 

 

 

Bon Voyage to the Tall Ships

On Monday morning the tall ships departed through the Duluth Ship Canal for the Tall Ship Challenge Race. Not all of the ships were participating in the race but all of them left the harbor. It was a beautiful sunny day with fluffy white clouds in the background. The ships gathered several miles outside the harbor for the start of the Challenge Race. The Zeeto and the U.S. Brig Niagara departed through the Superior entrance to the harbor.

Peacemaker

SS Sørlandet

Pride of Baltimore II

Privateer Lynx

Schooner Hindu

More photos from the Duluth Tall Ships Festival 2013 can be found on my website.

The Tall Ships from the Vista Star

After sailing on the Denis Sullivan on day two of the Tall Ship Festival we decided to see if we could catch a view of the tall ships from one of the special Vista Fleet boat trips. We were able to get seats on a 9:30 am sailing of the Vista Star on the third day of the Tall Ship Festival.

It was another day of grey overcast skies with a hint of rain. As it turned out there were not many people up at 9:30 am so we had most of the upper deck to ourselves. It was a bit cold so most of the folks were inside on the lower decks.

One of the selling points of the Vista Fleet Tour was the ability to see all of the tall ships lined up at the dock. As it turned half of the tall ships were out on the lake sailing.

As we were waiting to get underway the Denis Sullivan and the Privateer Lynx were leaving the dock for a morning sail.

Denis Sullivan

U.S Brig Niagara

The Schooner Hindu followed us under the lift bridge and sailed along with us as we entered Lake Superior.

Schooner Hindu

As I mentioned about half of the ships had left the docks and we could see them in the out in the lake. It would have been great if the Vista Star had followed them out into the lake but it sailed along the shoreline.

As we came back into the harbor we did get some nice shots of the ships that had remained at the docks. We continued sailing down the harbor and under the Blatnick Bridge.

U.S.Brig Niagara

SS Sørlandet

Pride of Baltimore II

Peacemaker

When we returned to dock the ships that had been out in the lake were returning to the docks so we were able to get some shots of them docking.

Denis Sullivan

Privateer Lynx

Coaster II

More photos from the Duluth Tall Ships Festival 2013 can be found on my website.

The Tall Ships at Sunset

Yes I did say sunset. After three days of overcast weather and rain the sun decided to come out late in the day on Sunday. When I saw that the sun was out and there were still tall ships out on the lake I headed down to Canal Park to see if I could get some sunset photos.

Pride of Baltimore II

Pride of Baltimore II

Pride of Baltimore II

The tall ship Halie & Matthew was a last minute scratch from the Duluth Tall Ships Festival. Apparently it was struck by lightning which damaged the bowsprit and caused a fire. The ship sailings were scheduled to end around four thirty in the afternoon but the other tall ships took up the slack and continued sailing into the evening.

Privateer Lynx

Privateer Lynx

The dark clouds in the background and the sun on the sails provided outstanding conditions for late evening photography in Canal Park and the harbor.

schooner Hindu

Schooner Hindu

Coaster II

Coaster II

More photos from the Duluth Tall Ships Festival 2013 can be found on my website.

Sailing the Denis Sullivan

On the second day of the tall ships we were scheduled on the 9am sailing of the Denis Sullivan. When we woke up and looked outside it was so foggy that we couldn’t even see the Duluth Lift Bridge. Throughout the early morning the fog moved in and out. We weren’t sure that the Sullivan would sail in the fog. This is a shot of the Sullivan as it entered the harbor during the Parade of Ships.

We arrived at the docks about an hour before sailing. There were people lined up but one of the volunteers announced that they hadn’t been informed which line was for those sailing on the ships. About a half hour before the scheduled sailing things were straightened out and we walked down to the Great Lakes Aquarium where the Sullivan was docked. Some of the crew were up in the riggings working on the sails.

There was a nice breeze on an overcast day and the fog had cleared a bit. We boarded the ship. The crew lowered a small rubber boat which was used to push the Sullivan away from the dock.

As we sailed toward the Duluth Lift Bridge I noticed the crew of the Peacemaker up in the riggings working on the sails. That was quite a sight.

The lift bridge came up and we headed out through the ship canal. The bridge remained up. We were the first of three tall ships to sail out of the harbor. The Schooner Hindu followed us out. A short time later the Privateer Lynx came out under the bridge.

Once out on the lake the crew put folks to work helping to raise the sails. It was hard work pulling the heavy sails up.

I noticed the Hindu was sailing close to shore. It is a much smaller ship and the winds were creating some nice sized waves.

Soon we notice the Privateer Lynx sailing past us. This photo shows the Lynx plowing through the waves. The Lynx went out into the lake further than the other tall ships.

Once we were underway we were free to roam the ship. It was rough enough that we had to hang on to something as we moved about the ship. It was also rough enough that folks started to get a little green around the gills. This is a photo of Captain Tiffany Krihwan at the helm of the ship. She has over 20 years sailing experience.

I noticed that most of the tall ships have a small herb garden on board. The Sullivan was no different.

I walked up to the bow of the ship and watched as the horizon appeared and then disappeared as the ship rose and fell in the swells.

This was my last shot before it started raining hard. Although I didn’t have my camera pack I always carry a couple of plastic grocery bags with me. I rapped the cameras in bags for the return trip.

By the time we reached the dock everyone was soaked. My shoes squished with each step. In spite of the weather it was a fun sail. Probably better than sailing on a beautiful day with no wind. We headed back to the condo to get some warm clothes and grab a bite to eat.

I noticed that the sailings scheduled for the rest of the day took place in the harbor. Apparently it was a little too rough to take landlubbers out into the lake.

More photos from the Duluth Tall Ships Festival 2013 can be found on my website.

Arrival of the Schooner Hindu

I happen to be in Canal Park at sunrise when the Schooner Hindu became the first of the tall ships to arrive in Duluth for the Tall Ships Festival. I noticed it way out in the lake but didn’t realize it was going to come into the harbor so I started back to the condo.

When I looked back out onto the lake it was clear that it was going to come into the harbor so I walked back down to the ship canal and photographed it as it arrived at the mouth of the harbor and came in under the Lift Bridge. It then proceeded to dock where it remained the rest of the morning until it came back out of the harbor for the Parade of Ships.

 

More photos from the Duluth Tall Ships Festival 2013 can be found on my website.

Tall Ship Parade of Sail Duluth, Minnesota

My wife and I were in Duluth, Minnesota for the 2013 Tall Ship Festival. On the first day in the afternoon all of the tall ships gathered outside the harbor and then lined up for a parade of sail into the harbor. They were joined by several other large ships as well as many smaller boats. We watched from along the lakewalk.

U.S Brig Niagara

SS Sørlandet

Privateer Lynx

Pride of Baltimore II

Peacemaker

Peacemaker

More photos from the Duluth Tall Ships Festival 2013 can be found on my website.