June 30, 2026 Sail 250 - The Tall Ships

 Tuesday June 30, 2026   Celebrating Sail 250 - The Ships

Sail 250 was a great success here despite some questionable weather on Saturday and Sunday for the flyovers.  Great collection of tall sailing ships from a variety of countries.   We got to see the ones docked around Fells Point and the Inner Harbor.  More ships were docked on the far side of the harbor, so we weren't able to see them all up close. Hooked up on Friday with another Looper couple we know.  We first met Kathleen and Michael from Apres Sail when doing the loop in 2019.  Then ran across each other again on the western Erie canal two years ago.  Crazy the way and places you meet cruising friends. Enjoyed exploring a few ships and a nice lunch with them. Hopefully our paths will cross again.  Interesting tall ship story - While sailing the Mediterranean in 1962, the aircraft carrier USS Independence flashed a ship with the light signal asking: "Who are you?" The response: "Training ship Amerigo Vespucci, Italian Navy." The Independence replied: "You are the most beautiful ship in the world." In 2022, the Amerigo Vespucci sailed by the American aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush, which saluted the ship and commented: "You are still, after 60 years, the most beautiful ship in the world."  

Amerigo Vespucci under sail. And no, I did not take this picture

Another interesting ship story.   Prior to WWII Germany built 4 large steel sailing ships.  After the war they were used for reparations.  All 4 of these vessels were together here. They are the USCG Cutter Eagle, Romania's Mircea, Portugal's Sagres and Germany's Gorch Fock.    After visiting NYC for the 4th, they will be holding a race to Boston which is the final stop in this tour.  Canada didn't send a sailing ship but sent their huge AOPV vessel  HMCS Willian Hall.  AOPV - Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel  - a huge icebreaker based out of Halifax, NS.  Great tour through the ship including the bridge. 

USCG Cutter EAGLE

NMS MERCIA

NRP SAGRES

GORCH FOCK

AOPV  WILLIAM HALL

Climbed a lot of stairs to get up to the huge bridge of the William Hall

Amazing view from the bridge.  You are up HIGH. 

Ships alongside one of the inner harbor piers

Some of the local ships like The Pride of Baltimore II took people on sailing cruises. 
This is a replica of a famous Baltimore clipper ship.
Renowned for their fast and agile abilities as a privateer. 

On the Eagle (and those 3 other sister ships) there are 3 of these wheels
 connected together and operated by 6 sailors to quickly turn the rudder
 during close quarter maneuvers.

 The EAGLE was getting plenty of visitors tied to a prime location in the inner harbor

From the marina we were able to watch the departure of ships headed
to their next stop in NYC.  The Peruvian ship BAP UNION was awesome. 
Loudly playing some festive music while fearless sailors manned the yards.
Perfect way to end the tall ships visiting Baltimore.