GO TO SEA: Festival of Sail docks in San Diego Bay


SAN DIEGO ---- The ships are ready to sail.

The Festival of Sail returns to the North Embarcadero in downtown San Diego, starting Aug. 30 with the parade of tall ships on San Diego Bay, then continuing through Sept. 3. More than 20 tall ships and other vessels from around the world will dock in San Diego for boarding and perusing by visitors, with more than 225,000 people expected to attend an event that includes ample information on San Diego's maritime history.

"The idea is to educate people about these historic vessels, and preserve their heritage," said Robyn Gallant, events director for the Maritime Museum in San Diego. "We want people to know these ships played in our history, and how maintenance of the ships is important in keeping that history alive."

The parade, featuring more than a dozen windjammers in nautical procession, starts at 11 a.m. Aug. 30, and can be seen from the Embarcadero, Harbor Island, Shelter Island and Coronado. At 9 a.m. Sept. 1, visitors can begin touring the ships in this year's event, listening to live entertainment, eating and drinking at the many restaurant booths, visiting the petting zoo and shopping from more than 150 vendors.

Ships scheduled to appear this year include the Californian ---- the official tall ship of California ---- the gaff topsail schooner Bill of Rights, and the San Pedro-based twin ships the Irving and Exy Johnson.

"The ships are from around the world and represent different styles and eras," Gallant said. "The idea is a representation of maritime history."

Among the more popular events every year are the cannon battles at sea, where period ships engage in cannon-battle reenactments. Visitors can be aboard those ships as the action ensues. Tickets are $65 for adults and $40 for children, and usually sell out.

Children can participate in activities such as the petting zoo and face painting at the Festival of Sail, while children and adults alike can experience pirate ship adventures aboard the Treasure Seeker. An hourlong adventure sail aboard the vessel includes treasure seeking and the firing of water cannons. Tickets are $29-$39.

Authentic Civil War cannons called Napoleonic cannons will entertain ---- loudly ---- with a "noon salute" each day. The cannons also volley during the gun battles.

"The cannon battles are exciting," Gallant said. "You can hear them for a long way."

Guest purchase tall-ships tickets to tour the ships, and must also have tall-ships tickets to buy tickets for the battle re-enactments and pirate ship adventures.

Entertainment aboard the ferryboat Berkeley features a variety of music, including steel drums, folk music, jazz and traditional sea chanteys. In the San Salvador Village, where the Maritime Museum is building a replica of the ship of the same name, visitors can watch master shipbuilders at work. Inside the village are ongoing demonstrations by the native Kumeyaay involving blacksmithing, sail-making and other skills. The village is at 4300 N. Harbor Drive, across from the San Diego Airport.

"Each ship has its own stamp, and guests will have the passports we provide stamped at each stop," Gallant said. "It's a fun way to remember what ships you visited."


