This summer, don’t miss the chance to see a fleet of sailing vessels, known as the Tall Ships, coming into a variety of ports along the Great Lakes. Readily accessible from most of the Midwestern states and parts of Canada, these beauties are a sight to behold, and worth the drive!
Ports of call up next:
Chicago, IL – July 27 – 31
https://navypier.com/tall-ships-chicago-2016/
Green Bay, WI – August 5 – 7
Duluth, MN – August 18 – 21
https://tallshipsduluth.com/
Erie, PA – September 8 – 11
Brockville, Ontario – September 17 – 18
https://www.tallshipsbrockville.com/
The Tall Ships put in to various different ports as they race across the Great Lakes in an event known as the Tall Ships Challenge/Great Lakes 2016. The event is coordinated by the Tall Ships of America sailing association, a non-profit organization focused on youth education, leadership development, and the preservation of the rich maritime heritage of North America.
Just a sampling of the ships include:
The S/V Denis Sullivan
This ship is a 3 masted Schooner, and is a replica of the schooners that commonly sailed the Great Lakes before ships were powered by steam engines. Her home port is Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and she serves as a floating classroom and a goodwill ambassador for the state of Wisconsin. She is 137 feet in length, with a rig height of 95 feet. Her sail area encompasses 5,916 square feet.
Draken Harald Harfagre
This ship is a re-creation inspired by the Viking Longships; she hails from Haugesund, Norway. The Vikings were secretive about how they built their ships, and few records or plans remain. This ship is 115 feet in length, with a rig height of 78 feet. She is powered by one large 2,798 square foot sail, and 25 pairs of oars.
El Galeon Andalucia
From her home port of Sevilla, Spain, this ship has sailed the ocean blue to participate in this summer’s event! She is a replica of a Spanish Galleon, the ships that sailed for the Spanish Crown in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and she is the only one of her kind sailing today. With a rig height of 121 feet, and a sail area over 10,000 square feet, this ship will take your breath away.
Don’t miss your chance to see these and many other impressive and authentic ships on display at the Tall Ships festivals in the US and Canada this summer. The last time these ships were in the Great Lakes was 2013, and they may not come again for a few years.
So pack up the kids, rent a car, and get on the road for an unforgettable event that will give everyone a great topic for that first essay when they return to school: “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.”
And why not help someone else while you’re at it? All Star Travel makes a donation to a pediatric cancer research center for each rental car booking, so when you rent from All Star Travel, you are helping others. And we guarantee you’ll love your experience with All Star Travel! Read Reviews from customers who have used our service and been very satisfied.
https://www.sailtraining.org/tallships/index.php