On July 21, the fore topsail set on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar of 1805 will go on display in all its perforated glory. The sail has 90 shot holes and will be displayed for a limited time over the summer at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The sail’s area is 3,618 feet, equivalent to the size of two tennis courts.
Matthew Sheldon, Director of Heritage at the NMRN, said: ‘HMS Victory, Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar are key to our history. The sail is an amazing object, scarred by battle and, like HMS Victory herself, a proud survivor of an iconic battle. ‘But it is also a vast handmade object from Georgian times that required great skill and knowledge to create. Seeing it is a real treat.’
The Portsmouth News reports that entry to see the Trafalgar Sail is part of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 11-attraction annual pass ticket available at historicdockyard.co.uk, which costs from £31 per adult with under-16s free during the summer holidays and valid for multiple entries throughout the year. Book online to save 20 percent at www.historicdockyard.co.uk Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is also offering 30 percent off for over-60s if purchased before July 15.
Spanish Navy tall-ship docks in Charleston Harbor
Wednesday, July 11th 2018, 2:39 pm EDT
Wednesday, July 11th 2018, 4:39 pm EDT
CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) –
If you go by the Charleston Harbor, you will notice a different ship docked at the port.
The ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’, arrived in Charleston on Wednesday morning. This is the last port visit of the XC Training Cruise and will set sail on July 17th for its home port, Cádiz.
In its 90 years of service, the tall-ship has visited the city of Charleston on 4 occasions. The first visit was in 1934 and the last time was in 1985.
http://www.live5news.com/story/38622863/spanish-navy-tall-ship-docks-in-charleston-harbor
This tops’l was displayed in a sail loft at Portsmouth during the 2005 Trafalgar bicentennial celebrations. Only a roped perimeter separated it from visitors. It was a privilege to see it. When his health did not permit him to travel, I stood in for the late-Patrick Tull who had organized a small group to attend assorted Nelson 2005 activities. Seeing Victory and the tops’l was one event. Others included a Prince Andrew-hosted dinner in Greenwich’s magnificent Painted Hall, a visit to Lloyd’s of London’s impressive Nelson collection, a Prince Philip-hosted dinner at the London Guildhall, and then, serendipitously, I walked into a gallery on the Mall to find Geoff Hunt setting up a Royal Society of Marine Artists show. Great celebration…