Kalmar Nyckel
Frankly, the A.J. Meerwald , the Kalmar Nyckel, and the Gazela deserve far better. The A.J. Meerwald, the “Official Tall Ship of the state of New Jersey,” is a 1928 built Delaware Bay oyster schooner. The Kalmar Nyckel , the Delaware’s “Official Tall Ship,” is a replica of a 1625 built pinnance, which was the flagship of the colony of “New Sweden,” in much of what is now Delaware. The 1901 built barkentine Gazela Primeiro is a Portuguese fishing schooner now lovingly restored in Philadelphia.
These fine vessels will be play-acting as “pirate” ships this Sunday in mock battles in an event sponsored by the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. Pairing an oyster schooner, a 15th century replica and a Portuguese barkentine is fine, but letting them be overrun by Disney-fied pirates, well that is a bit much.
I agree with the sentiment, but if even one more person becomes interested in sailing ships, pirates, or the museum it becomes justified in my mind.
I live near Philadelphia and wish I didn’t have to work or I’d surely go down to Delaware for the event.
I wonder whether the typical “pirate” festival does anything to engage or interest anyone in ships or nautical history. There seems to be so much misinformation and nonsense associated with Johnny Depp style pirate that I wonder if anything else can break through.