Ahoy! Get ready to view tall ships off Port Angeles, Port Townsend — and at festivals in Victoria, Tacoma
The schooner Lynx, a 122-foot replica of a War of 1812 privateer, is docked at Port Angeles City Pier during its last visit, in 2006. It and many other tall ships are coming to the region for festivals in Victoria and Tacoma and visits off Port Angeles and Port Townsend starting as soon as Friday. -- Photo by Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News
By Brian Gawley, Peninsula Daily News
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Tall ships will visit Port Angeles on Friday through Sunday, on Monday, on June 30 and on July 1.
Tall ships also will be seen in Port Townsend Bay on June 30, and on July 2.
The vessels are among those taking part in the American Sail Training Association's Tall Ships Challenge race series this summer along the west coast of North America, which includes a race from Victoria to Port Angeles.
The first of the 13 tall ships — the schooner Lynx — is scheduled to dock at Port Angeles City Pier at 3 p.m. Friday, said Jeffrey Woods, director of operations for the Lynx educational foundation.
After a canon salute, dockside tours are planned from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
On Saturday and Sunday, dockside tours will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Adventure sails also are planned from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The HMS Bounty was scheduled to sail to Port Angeles on Friday, but may not make it that soon, said Bill Larson, former master of the tall ship Lady Washington.
The Bounty "is having a terrible time getting up the coast from California."
Beginning Monday, more tall ships are due to begin arriving in Port Angeles Harbor.
"A lot of tall ships will be arriving and be at anchor in Port Angeles," Woods said.
"There will be no opportunity to go aboard, but it will be picturesque."
Race day
On June 30, the day of the race, the public can sail aboard a tall ship from Victoria to Port Angeles.
Travelers would take the MV Coho ferry over to meet the ships, then travel back on them during the race.
Once in Port Angeles, no tours are planned.
People won't be able to go aboard the 13 ships that arrive on June 30, Larson said.
The ships will finish the Victoria to Port Angeles leg of the Tall Ships Challenge about one mile from the tip of Ediz Hook, Larson said.
"I suggest people go out to the end of Ediz Hook and watch the end of race. These are beautiful ships," he said.
Also on June 30, the Cutty Sark, Yankee Clipper, Mycia, Odyssey and Rejoice will sail from Victoria to Port Townsend to stay one night, pass through U.S. Customs and leave,
No tours are planned.
On July 1, four to five tall ships will race from Port Angeles to Port Townsend.
The public can make reservations to go aboard during that race, Woods said.
On July 2, another opportunity for sailing is set from Port Townsend to Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island via Seattle, Wood said.
The Lynx, Lady Washington, Bounty the Hawaiian Chieftain and Nina are scheduled for that race, Woods said.
Educational programs
The tours and sailings raise money for the American Sail Training Association's educational programs.
The tall ships fleet last visited Port Angeles in 2005 and before that in 2002.
"This is the third time they are visiting and they probably will visit again in another three years," Larson said.
The ships range in size from 50 feet to 180 feet with the largest being the Bounty, which was built for use in the 1962 movie, "Mutiny on the Bounty," it's design based on a ship from the 1700s.
For information about sailing aboard any of the tall ships, phone 866-446-5969.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-417-3532 or brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor Leah Leach also contributed to this story.
Last modified: June 17. 2008 9:00PM