Rhode Island and a few Tall Ships

The Bluenose II

Well Canada Day weekend saw me head to Newport Rhode Island for a little sun. It is just a quick 1.5 hour drive up the coast from Hamden so not difficult to make the trip. The weather was absolutely perfect to hang out by the water and check out a few things. The beach would have been awesome but I did not even lay eyes on it until I was leaving the city. I was originally drawn to Newport on this particular weekend because I knew that the Bluenose II was in port.

The Bluenose II heading under the Newport Bridge during the Tall Ship parade

Of course all my Canadian friends and family will know about the Bluenose but for my American friends who might not know the original Bluenose (launched in1921) was a fishing schooner that also happened to be undefeated under Captain Angus J. Lunenburg in the International Fishermen’s Trophy series, which were races between Canada and the US. Now you can most often see her on the Canadian dime.

Her home port is in Lunenburg Nova Scotia but of course I had to go to Rhode Island to see her. The Bluenose II was built from the same plans, at the same yard and by some of the same men as the original. This newer version of course has modern navigation and communication instruments as well as modern accomodations for the crew. The Bluenose II has a crew of 18 men and women all from Canada (one of requirements to be eligible to work on the ship).

Me at the helm of the Bluenose II

Me at the stern of the Bluenose II

To my pleasant surprise I realized that not only was the Bluenose II in Newport, but 18 other tall ships were in port as well. I was very fortunate to catch the final 2 days of Tall Ships Rhode Island 2007. On saturday the ships were tied up at various docks. Most of them we were able to board however I actually only climed aboard the Bluenose II. On sunday however I got to see the Tall Ships Parade of Sail before they headed out to sea.

The Cisne Branco (White Swan). She flys under the Brazillian flag with her home port in Rio de Janeiro, however she spends most of the year sailing in internation waters.

This is the Gloria. She sails under the Columbian flag. She acts as a sail training ship for the Columbian Navy. Students in their final academic semester train on the ship while bringing a message of friendship and good will to all the nations she visits.

Now for anyone who has not seen the tall ships they really are neat to see. They come in all sizes from some smaller ships like the Bluenose II and some larger ones like the Cinse Branco. The bigger ships are so neat to see when they are in full sails because they look just like the big pirate ships from the movies. Some of the ships even fly pirate flags and during the final parade of ships many were firing their cannons.

Many of the tall ships waiting in line for the Tall Ships Parade of Sail. Quite a contrast to all the yachts and pleasure crafts in the foreground.

There was not a lot of wind during the parade so it was a very slow parade but here are some pictures. I watched to parade from Goat Island but I was quite disappointed that there are no actual goats on the island (unlike Kangaroo Island eh Vanessa).

The Gorch Fock II from Germany.

The Gorch Fock II behind Rose Island in Narragansett Bay

The Tarangini from India. Those are not birds on the mast, they are actually members of the crew. They are just relaxing while the ship motored up the bay however a little bit farther along they had to go to work as they made the turn around Gould Island and then sailed back down the bay and out to sea.

Another shot of Tarangini

The Bluenose II heading out to sea and back home to Nova Scotia

Julie