Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go aboard the 115 foot long Draken Harald Hårfagre, the largest Viking ship built in modern times, currently docked in Manhattan’s North Cove. Here are a few photos of her arrival and at dockside. … Continue reading
Rick Spilman
Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to spend a little time in the engine room of the Liberty ship, SS John W. Brown. The ship, normally based in Baltimore, was visiting New York and offered a full day “Living History Cruise.” … Continue reading
Some people choose to celebrate today as “Talk Like Pirate Day.” They may walk around with funny hats, eye patches and/or plastic swords saying “Aargh” or “Shiver me timbers” or some other sort of nonsense. I have never quite understood the … Continue reading
In 2009, we posted about how thousands of trees downed by Hurricane Ike in Galveston, TX proved to be a literal and figurative windfall for Mystic Seaport in rebuilding the historic whaling ship, Charles W. Morgan. Of the 40,000 trees … Continue reading
Today, the largest Viking longship built in modern times, Draken Harald Hårfagre arrived in new York City and tied up in North Cove. In late April 2016, Draken Harald Hårfagre set out from her home port in Haugesund, Norway on an epic … Continue reading
President Obama has designated 4,913 square miles of ocean, 130 miles off Cape Cod on the southern edge of George’s Bank, as the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, the nation’s first marine reserve in the Atlantic Ocean. Lee … Continue reading
This summer, the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry will sail from its homeport of Newport, RI on a five-week expedition to the Canadian Arctic, becoming the first full-rigged sailing ship to sail in the Northwest Passage in more than a century. The University … Continue reading
On September 28, 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into what is now called San Diego Bay on his flagship, San Salvador. San Salvador was the first recorded European vessel to sail along California, and survey its coastline. Now, 472 years later, … Continue reading
In an interesting historical coincidence, just days after the luxury cruise ship, Crystal Serenity, completed a passage through the Canadian Arctic’s Northwest Passage, HMS Terror has been found. HMS Terror is the second of two ships from Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated expedition to traverse … Continue reading
If you are around New York harbor this Thursday, September 15th, the Working Harbor Committee is hosting their latest Hidden Harbor Tour : Brooklyn Waterfront –Past & Present. Captain Margaret Flannagan will be the guest speaker in a 2-hour, fully narrated boat tour of … Continue reading
Draken Harald Hårfagre, the largest Viking longship built in modern times, will be visiting New York harbor from September 17 — 28. On September 17th, the Viking longship will sail past the Statue of Liberty around 11AM and arrive at North … Continue reading
There is a line from a Paul Simon song, “these are the days of miracle and wonder.” One might not think to apply that lyric to the events of 9/11, fifteen years ago today, and yet for at least part … Continue reading
A wonderful drone video of last weekend’s Gloucester Schooner Festival by Martin Del Vecchio. Drone Video – 2016 Gloucester Schooner Festival Parade of Sail … Continue reading
The wreck of HMS Tarpon, a British submarine sunk by a German Q-ship during World War II, was discovered last March in the North Sea, near Thyborøn, Denmark. The wreck was discovered in 40 meters of water by a Danish … Continue reading
S.S. John Brown, one of only two operational Liberty ships, is steaming toward New York harbor and is expected to arrive the morning of Saturday, September 10th. The historic ship will be berthed at Pier 36, 299 South Street, on … Continue reading
This morning, the 1911 built, steel, four masted barque, Peking, left South Street Seaport, its home for more than 40 years, for the last time. For those of us who have known the ship for almost as long, it was … Continue reading
In 1866, five clipper ships set out together from Foochow, China bound for England in what would be the last Great Tea Race. On September 6th, one hundred and fifty years ago today, after sailing more than 15,000 nautical miles, … Continue reading
On Thursday, September 8th at 6PM. James M. Kendra and Tricia Wachtendorf will discuss and sign copies of their new book, American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11 on the historic ex-Coast Guard Cutter Lilac at Pier 25 … Continue reading
Tropical Storm Hermine, which looked very nasty there for a while, drifted enough to the east to miss New York harbor. There were local reports of flooding at high tide, but overall, it has been a beautiful Labor Day weekend … Continue reading
A great event on the historic ex-Coast Guard Cutter Lilac at Pier 25 in Manhattan on Thursday, September 8th at 6PM. James M. Kendra and Tricia Wachtendorf will discuss and sign copies of their new book, American Dunkirk: The Waterborne … Continue reading