Tall Ships Arrive In Greenport

Greenport, NY is again proud to sponsor the Tall Ships Challenge. I was happy to see the arrival and preparations for the big weekend. Greenport is one of my favorite towns and when they decide to have a party they do it up right.

The ships that were docked when we arrived were impressive and the tops of the masts could be seen from blocks away.  The Tall Ships already settled in were the HMS Bounty (Greenport, NY), The Lynx (Portsmith, NH), The Pride of Baltimore II (Baltimore, MD) and The Unicorn (Clinton, NJ).  The Picton Castle (Scotland) -picture on the right -was due to arrive at 2 o’clock as well as The Roseway (Boston, MA).

It was a foggy morning, which added a cool spooky vibe to the day. My husband and I have been sailors for over 15 years and, we eat this stuff up.  Add weather to the mix and we are gleeful. The shroud of fog reminded me of many mornings on the boat before the sun burned off the haze. We climbed the ramp of the Greenport Observation Deck and surveyed the beautiful harbor.

The first ship we observed was The Unicorn. This ship is entirely manned by women and offers the opportunity for women and girls to sail with them and have the experience of a lifetime.

Their website says the following: “Sailing as the only all-female crewed tall ship in the world, Unicorn sails the sea with proven on-board leadership programs for teenage girls and women. Holland-built in 1947 from German U-boat metals, Unicorn partners with Sisters Under Sail to deliver her mission of building confidence, enhancing self-esteem, developing social conscience and teaching the value of sisters working together towards a common goal.”

“In 2011, Unicorn and Sisters Under Sail set a course for New England and offers several leadership sailing opportunities for girls and women.” I am proud of strong women who live their dreams!

The next stop was at The HMS Bounty – which calls Greenport, NY its home. What an impressive ship! The crew was going through the ropes and checking that the rigging was in good shape for when they will raise their sails.The captain and crew were all young and eager and had a maritime vibe that just pulsed from the deck.

The Bounty’s website starts with these words: “HMS Bounty…at one with the sea…global voyager…movie star…dedicated to preserving the fine art of square-rigged sailing.”

“The HMS Bounty is one of the most famous ships in the world. Known for the storied mutiny that took place in Tahiti in 1789 on board the British transport vessel, the current Bounty, a replica, has survived to tell the tale. Built for the 1962 movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando, HMS Bounty sails the country offering dockside tours in which one can learn about the history and details of sailing vessels from a lost and romanticized time in maritime history. Since her debut in “Mutiny on the Bounty”, HMS Bounty has appeared in many documentaries and featured films such as the Edinburgh Trader in Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest with Johnny Depp.”

We walked over to the dock near the Shelter Island Ferry to check out The Lynx. This ship is gorgeous and, to me, felt like it would be the most fun to sail on.  This ship is a beautiful example of an American Privateer.  Their brochure says “LYNX is guided by the Maxim: ‘Be Excellent To Each Other And To Your Ship’”.

Finally, we checked out The Pride Of Baltimore II. I understand the name. I’d be proud, too. Their website explains the ship:

“The world’s most renowned American War of 1812 Privateer Schooner Sailing in the 21st Century”

“Pride of Baltimore II is a reproduction of an 1812-era topsail schooner privateer.  She is Maryland’s working symbol of the great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region, and a reminder of America’s rich maritime heritage.” As a sailor, I’m also proud of America’s maritime heritage.

We wandered over to Claudio’s Restaurant, a long-time favorite which is rich with history and flavorsome food. “In 1854 the Portuguese Whaler “Neva”, from Fayal in the Azores, docked in Greenport with a whaler on board named Manuel Claudio. For the next 16 years the “Neva” set sail from Greenport on even longer and more arduous journeys, sometimes sailing for “two years before the mast.” In 1870, Manuel garnered enough to set foot ashore, never to sail again, and open “Claudio’s Tavern” It has been in the family with a Claudio at the helm ever since.”

We settled in for a long lunch with a nice bottle of 2010 Wild Ferment Chardonnay made by Roanoke Vineyards for Claudio’s. It was perfect with stuffed shrimp and southwest shrimp salad. Usually, we can’t resist their award-winning baked clams, but since I went with the stuffed shrimp we skipped them. The shrimp on both plates had wonderful seasoning that the restaurant is known for.

The salad was balanced and healthy with perfectly ripened avocados and snappy yellow grape tomatoes.The shrimp was seasoned with a spicy rub and popped with flavor!

The stuffed shrimp was fantastic. Within their special stuffing it had clams, scallops and lobster. Delish! The wild rice salad had Israeli couscous, orzo and peas and was a great companion. The coleslaw was extra special with the addition of red peppers and their special spices. Remember the movie “Mystic Pizza”? The owners wouldn’t divulge their special Portuguese spice mix. That always reminds me of Claudio’s.

We waited in anticipation for The Picton Castle and we set ourselves up at Crabby Jerry’s to spy for the masts. I am convinced that Andrew was the first person to see the masts emerge from the fog. I ran in to tell the bar patrons and called my new friend to get her to return to the dock! Hyper sailing enthusiasts are a sight to behold!

She came into harbor and gave us quite a show! As soon as she was ready to dock the sun shone through to much applause from the docks!

Greenport is a destination that is so worth the trip. Drive East from NY or come across from Connecticut on the New London Ferry and enjoy an afternoon or weekend. Maybe I’ll see you there, as I try to drive out as much as I can. We talk about possibly retiring there.

I will post more pictures. Look for them on my blog or on my Facebook page.