I've been spending a good deal of time on the water up here lately and have gotten to see some interesting vessels transiting the harbor.
To commemorate the battle of Midway, the USN flagship Constitution, built in the 1790s, was out and about last last week. I got to watch her fire off her cannons in a salute of some sort. "Old Ironsides" Very cool!
(https://imgur.com/AJaIjX9.jpg)
Later in the week, the Portugese naval Flaship "Sagres" was escorted into the harbor. ~ 300 ft long and shining brilliantly. Note the white sheet on the bow of the tug.
(https://imgur.com/SX0YFst.jpg)
Not sure if this is a local oyster sloop or a skipjack from the Chesapeake Area.
(https://imgur.com/7KkK1n5.jpg)
Big steel schooner off the airport
(https://imgur.com/7RRkGEd.jpg)
Schooner Adventure. Flagship of the city of Gloucester. One of two surviving original grand banks fishing schooners. 122 ft long. Her main boom alone is ~ 50 ft long!
(https://imgur.com/fMBbd5u.jpg)
Sightseeing schooner Liberty Star. Sailed around the world twice.
(https://imgur.com/dbZgj1t.jpg)
They even let me drive her! :D
(https://imgur.com/W6YYsoP.jpg)
That is a grand finale for a string of photos!
They probably turned the Constitution around while they had her out, as they do that once a year to keep the weathering of the wood and varnish equal on both sides. She is a grand oldtimer.
Shirley and I sailed on a schooner on Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan, and the passengers hauled up the sails, and trimmed them, but did not get to take the wheel. The Captain said that their insurance forbid it. We had 10 K wind, reach and reach, so tending the wheel was not too demanding. I don't remember her name, but she was very similar to the Liberty Star. Even though the wind was directly offshore, and a reach, we left the pier under diesel until 200 yards out, and returned in a similar fashion.
That steel schooner certainly has a tall main mast, I wonder what kind of sail they would hoist on the upper portion?
Norman
I did a Boston Harbor/Boston Tea Party cruise a few years ago on the Liberty Star or her sister. My brother and his family were in Hingham for many years. I sort of adopted Boston as my second city.
Norm - I think that is just a top mast with no topsail attached.
Todd - The summers are great up here! The winters (living aboard)...maybe not so much. Not sure if we'll spend another one in Boston. Loving these 70 degree summer days though!