Summer of 1812

The Harbour was a flurry of activity, as the tall ships sailed in and made dock.

"The Tall Ships Challenge is an annual event organized by Tall Ships America alternating in a three year cycle between the Great Lakes, the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts of North America.
The event draws hundreds of thousands of people to witness tall ships from the age of sail and allows participants to interact with the crews of different vessels in friendly rivalries as they race from port to port."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_Ships_Challenge

The tall ships made an excellent backdrop, and participated in, the War of 1812 Reenactment. Most allowed visitors to climb aboard, explore and learn through guided tours throughout the weekend.

The first of the Tall Ships to arrive in Midland Harbour - Madeline 1. From the town website:
"Madeline is a reconstruction of a mid-19th-century schooner, typical of the trading schooners that once sailed the Great Lakes. The original Madeline was the first Euro-American School in the Grand Traverse region and for a short time served as a lightship in the Straits of Mackinac. Launched in 1990, the modern Madeline was built over a period of five years by volunteers of the Maritime Heritage Alliance (MHA), using traditional methods and materials. From her homeport in Traverse City, Michigan, she has sailed with her volunteer crew on all five Great Lakes, visiting over 60 ports with dockside tours and historical interpretation. Madeline is designated as the City of Traverse City's goodwill ambassador. Crewmembers, trained as historical interpreters, share their knowledge of history, marlinespike skills, and wooden boat building. School programs with special hands-on activities are also available. The Maritime Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes."

"Pride of Baltimore II is a topsail schooner built to the lines of an 1812-era Baltimore Clipper. She is Maryland's working symbol of the great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region and a reminder of America's rich maritime heritage. Pride of Baltimore II's mission is to educate the public on Maryland's maritime history, tradition and commerce opportunities.

Pride of Baltimore II is available for charter and for dockside and sailing receptions in each of her destinations as well as public day sails. She can accommodate up to six paying passengers as “working guest crew" between ports of call. Pride of Baltimore II maintains an international sailing schedule. She sails with two rotating professional captains and a crew of eleven. Crew positions are open to qualified men and women sailors."

"HMCS Oriole
Oriole has a standard displacement of 68 long tons (69 t) and a fully loaded displacement of 92 long tons (93 t). The vessel is 102 ft 0 in (31.1 m) long overall with a beam of 19 ft 0 in (5.8 m) and a draught of 9 ft 0 in (2.7 m). The vessel is propelled primarily by 11,000 sq ft (1,021.9 m2) of sail including the spinnaker in a Marconi rig. The height of the mainmast is 94 ft 0 in (28.7 m) and the mizzen mast is 55 ft 2 in (16.8 m). The vessel is equipped with an auxiliary Cummins diesel engine driving one shaft, creating 165 horsepower (123 kW). Oriole has a maximum speed of 8 knots (15 km/h). The vessel has a complement of one officer and five enlisted with the capacity for 18 trainees."Leggi altro