The tall ships Lady Washington, the official ship of the State of Washington and her companion ship Hawaiian Chieftain are back in Bellingham offering walking and sailing tours and mock battles with visitors aboard, several times during their stay here in town. The ships crews will be dressed in 18th century costume..
They will arrive today, for their 11 day stay, May 5 – 16. Walk-on tours are 4-5 p.m. May 5-7 and May 11-14; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 8-9 and May 15-16. Public battle sails are 2 p.m. May 8, 9, 15 and 16. Family adventure sails are 10 a.m. May 9 aboard the Hawaiian Chieftain and at 10 a.m. May 16 aboard the Lady Washington. A battle sail is a recreation of a typical 18th-century naval action, featuring booming cannon and close-quarters maneuvers. An Adventure Sail is a family-oriented experience with demonstrations of tall ship handling, a sea shanty, and a chance for guests to help sail a real tall ship. A detailed schedule is available at www.historicalseaport.org. Guests may purchase tickets for public sails online at historicalseaport.org.
Self-guided tours of the 18th-century replicas are available in port, and a variety of three-hour sailing tours aboard the ships are also available.
The Lady Washington was used in the film the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl,” and “Star Trek: Generations.” The ships are owned by The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority. For more info you can contact them at (800) 200-5239.
photo courtesty of flickr.com by Marshall Astor