Tall ship Californian fires a cannon toward the Maritime Museum of San Diego during the 2016 Festival of Sail!
I took a fair number of photos at the 2016 Festival of Sail today. The celebration of tall ships, which takes place at the Maritime Museum of San Diego during Labor Day weekend, is just as wonderful as ever. I suppose I’m biased. I’ve always loved tales of the sea and stories of rugged souls who have embarked on journeys of discovery.
The Festival of Sail this year includes 19 ships. Many have arrived for this event from locations up and down the West Coast.
I blogged about the annual Festival of Sail the last couple of years, so this time I won’t provide heaps of information. Just a sense of what it’s like to wander among the beautiful and amazing ships, and to watch them out sailing on San Diego Bay. Remember–this awesome event continues through Labor Day!
The 2016 Festival of Sail includes dueling tall ships out on San Diego Bay. Here we see Californian and Bill of Rights maneuvering to fire some broadsides.Out on the Big Bay and along the Embarcadero, many beautiful sailing ships are part of this year’s annual Festival of Sail in San Diego.Mister Mac, that notorious pirate, has descended on San Diego with two rascally accomplices to wreak havoc.The tall ship Spirit of Dana Point is a replica of a 1770s privateer used during the American Revolution. It is based at the Ocean Institute up the coast in Dana Point, California.Figurehead of the Spirit of Dana Point is a Native American female.The graceful brigantines Exy Johnson and Irving Johnson have returned for this year’s Festival of Sail. They are based at the Los Angeles Maritime Institute.Volunteer crewmember aboard the Exy Johnson tells a visitor about the complex workings of an amazing tall ship with many sails.Visitors to the 2016 Festival of Sail in San Diego learned about maritime history and experienced a little of what life might have been like sailing across the broad ocean on a tall ship long ago.These Royal Marines belong to the HMS Surprise, docked just behind them. They’re enjoying a bit of grog. Don’t tell the captain!Visitor standing on the newly rebuilt poop deck of the Star of India rings the historic ship’s bell. The wheel has been removed for refurbishment. The nearby binnacle and wooden benches will also be made like new!The Tiama and Cloudia were docked side by side not far from the Maritime Museum of San Diego during the 2016 Festival of Sail.The Cloudia is an old wooden Norwegian top-sail ketch recently restored in San Diego. I believe it is available for local sailing trips.There is so much to look at and explore! What’s down below the deck?Docked behind the Maritime Museum’s steam ferry Berkeley, the galleon replica San Salvador made its public debut during the 2016 Festival of Sail.Visitors line up to have a chance to go aboard San Salvador for the very first time.Looking up at masts, a crow’s nest, and a flag of the Spanish Empire while waiting to board the San Salvador. This ship is an approximate replica of what Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed in when he discovered San Diego Bay in 1542.A park ranger from Cabrillo National Monument, across the bay on Point Loma, talks to visitors about the history of the actual San Salvador and the difficulties of sailing long ago.Once aboard the replica San Salvador, we were permitted to explore the main deck and enclosed areas at either end. It’s hard to believe, but during the journey of exploration in 1542, over 100 men occupied a similarly tiny deck!Ropes and a bombard tucked away inside the forward part of the galleon San Salvador.Exhibits on the San Salvador replica galleon include a crude narrow dining table and armor used by Spanish conquistadors.Out at the end of the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s dock, three cannons are prepared to be fired!Boom!Californian sails in toward its docking place near the San Salvador. More cannon battles out on San Diego Bay will take place all Labor Day weekend!
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Getting ready for the 2016 US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo at the B Street Pier. A cool sand sculpture will soon appear here to welcome passing Labor Day crowds on the Embarcadero.
Two epic events are coming to San Diego’s Embarcadero this coming Labor Day weekend! The 2016 US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo, which will take place near the Cruise Ship Terminal on the B Street Pier, and the 2016 Festival of Sail, which will take place at and around the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
I’ve blogged about both amazing annual events the past couple years. The sand sculptures, created by some of the best sand artists in the entire world, are utterly mind-blowing. The tall ships are a feast not only for the eyes, but for the senses once you step aboard.
I took a slow easy walk along the Embarcadero a short while ago and snapped a few pics of very early preparation for both events. If I feel well enough next weekend, expect to see lots of super cool photos from both epic Labor Day weekend events!
One of several U.S. Navy floating docks has been set in position near the Maritime Museum of San Diego, in preparation for visiting tall ships at the 2016 Festival of Sail.Californian, the official tall ship of California, will participate in the 2016 Festival of Sail this coming Labor Day weekend. Right now she is docked at the Maritime Museum, her home.Gaff-rigged topsail schooner Bill of Rights, based in South Bay’s Chula Vista, will be one of many amazing tall ships participating this year in the Festival of Sail. I spotted it cruising across San Diego Bay today.Visitor to the Maritime Museum of San Diego sits peacefully on a bench near the aft of the 1904 steam yacht Medea. Big crowds will arrive here on Labor Day weekend!The 2016 Festival of Sail takes place Labor Day weekend on the Embarcadero. If you are in San Diego and love historical ships, you must go!
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ICSA Women’s Semifinals on San Diego Bay. Competing sailboats approach downtown’s Cruise Ship Terminal.
Check out these cool photos!
I was walking along the Embarcadero early this evening when I saw dozens of tiny sailboats out racing on silvery San Diego Bay. I noticed the sails featured the letters SDYC, which stands for San Diego Yacht Club.
When I got home, an internet search revealed that I had been observing the first day of ICSA Women’s Semifinals action. San Diego is the location of the 2016 College Sailing / Sperry Women’s Nationals. The 36 sailboats that I watched represent top universities from all around the United States, which are competing through Friday right here on our beautiful bay! Winner takes home the coveted Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association’s Gerald C. Miller Trophy!
Small sailboats float on rippled silver, beneath dramatic clouds.Shining sails dance in the wind, as paired sailors from 36 colleges around the country compete in the Women’s Nationals.A zoomed photo of the sailboats dancing across San Diego Bay.The San Diego Yacht Club sailboats approach the Embarcadero, having just passed the finish line.These sailors were among the leaders. The top 18 semifinalist teams will move on to the finals.A very cool sight during a random walk along the water before sunset!The leading sailboats approach San Diego’s Cruise Ship Terminal. Gleaming skyscrapers rise in the background.The leaders from this race appeared to line up in finishing order. Fascinated, I watched from the Broadway Pier.And then a few minutes later they were off again! A gull watches sails dip and tack in the sea breeze, like fluttering white wings.A team that competed in College Sailing’s ICSA Women’s Semifinals starts back across San Diego Bay before night falls.
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The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s old Coast Guard patrol boat, renamed M/V Farley Mowat, is docked this weekend on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
Yesterday after work, I noticed that an unusually decorated old U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat was docked along the Embarcadero, just north of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Naturally, I had to investigate!
Turns out the renamed boat, M/V Farley Mowat, is now owned and operated by an organization called the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose stated mission is to defend, conserve and protect marine ecosystems and species. They use direct-action tactics to expose and confront the illegal slaughter of marine wildlife at sea. I’d seen their exhibit aboard the steam ferry Berkeley during Earth Day on the Bay, where their representative explained that Sea Shepherd was like Greenpeace on steroids.
I spoke to a friendly crewmember near the Farley Mowat and learned they would be offering the public free tours on Saturday. The vessel has just returned from its second mission in the Sea of Cortez off Baja California–the wildlife defense campaign was titled Operation Milagro II. For a number of months, Sea Shepherd worked with the Mexican government in a marine refuge near San Felipe to identify and intercept illegal gillnet fishing which has reduced the population of the rare Vaquita Porpoise over the decades to just about 100 animals. This is commendable work! Sea Shepherd not only has permission from the Mexican government to patrol for poachers and pull up illegal fishing nets when encountered, but they are making observations concerning this endangered marine species. They are doing similar work to protect another rare fish in the region: the Totoaba Bass.
Working within the law in a positive way to protect these species is commendable and extraordinary! After doing some research at home, however, I learned that the organization is quite controversial. Some say they go too far. Some, including other environmental activists and organizations, have called them eco-terrorists. I don’t know enough to comment, but I do know that sometimes people with enthusiastic agendas and a sense of urgent purpose can lose their sense of humanity. The people I met yesterday and this morning when I walked again along the Embarcadero seemed like very nice people. I will say no more.
A very friendly, informative crewmember of Farley Mowat explained their recently completed mission, which was to defend the Vaquita Porpoise in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez.Photograph of M/V Farley Mowat the following cloudy morning. Visitors were being given tours aboard the vessel.Interested people and crew mingle before boarding the Sea Shepherd’s cool boat. Public tours of M/V Farley Mowat are being offered this weekend in San Diego.Looks like kids made some Thank You signs for Sea Shepherd!A tent near the boat featured gifts and information in support of Sea Shepherd. Defending Ocean Wildlife Worldwide.A detailed poster explains why sea turtles should be defended. Click to enlarge. San Diego’s South Bay has its own small group of migratory green sea turtles.Sea Shepherd stops in San Diego. They were featured in Animal Planet’s television show Whale Wars. M/V Farley Mowat will soon be on its way to another location on the high seas.
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A seagull flies above San Diego Bay as the sun illuminates fantastic, stormy clouds.
San Diego’s weather today was stormy. So the clouds were more amazing than usual. Late this afternoon, they were simply magical.
As I walked along the Embarcadero, gazing out across San Diego Bay, my small camera filled up with images. Here are my best shots!
Amazing clouds above tall ships on the water. The weather has been unsettled lately, creating rare opportunities for the camera.A cruise ship docked next to downtown San Diego seems small and rather bland compared to the sunlit clouds mounting high above it.Magic seems to crown San Diego’s Broadway Pier. The sun is falling as day comes to a close. Light shines through clouds gloriously.A simple photograph taken one spring day in wonderful San Diego.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
Visitors and members of the Maritime Museum of San Diego enjoy a spring Sunday aboard HMS Surprise. The Star of India’s masts rise in the background.
A sunny spring Sunday. So I just walked along the Embarcadero. To no place in particular. I started late this morning at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, where Earth Day on the Bay was taking place. I checked out the exhibits for a few minutes, talked to a few cool people, then walked around outside. And I just kept on walking. Life is good on San Diego Bay.
Today was Earth Day on the Bay at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Exhibitors on the passenger deck of the steam ferry Berkeley demonstrated the work they’re undertaking to protect the environment.It’s Sunday, which is volunteer work day at the Maritime Museum. If I heard correctly, these guys near the San Salvador were applying tar to some steel cables that will be used on the HMS Surprise.Two parrots on the Pearl Harbor memorial plaque near the USS Midway.
In the above photo you can see the rear of the Navy Bicentennial Commemorative Plaque. As you might recall, that plaque’s mysterious origin was revealed in detail by a few of its creators here!
Some folks out fishing on the Tuna Harbor pier were catching spotted seabass! This one was too small and was quickly returned to San Diego Bay.This sneaky gull perched atop a docked bait boat seemed to be watching those folks fishing nearby!Someone zooms by riding a bucking water scooter over the sparkling blue water.Close-up photo of a colorful float inside a lobster trap. I just walked along the pier, looking out at boats, water and the beautiful San Diego skyline.Skaters take a break in the sunshine near Tuna Harbor.Someone relaxes on a spring Sunday by maneuvering a remote control model sailboat in Tuna Harbor. Another cool sight along San Diego’s always lively Embarcadero.Fun marine artwork depicts a pod of dolphins in the ocean. A window of the Wyland Galleries in Seaport Village.Colorful banner fluttering in the sea breeze proclaims Life is Good. I always enjoy walking past Alamo Flags in Seaport Village.Just some bright yellow flowers.A street magician, cyclists, and the Californian tall ship out on San Diego Bay.Papa Alex is a very friendly, happy, soulful psychic. He often hangs out between Seaport Village and Embarcadero Marina Park North. His motto is: “Peace and love. No drama.” Sounds wise to me!Wow! Look at those massive bubbles flying through the air! This fun could be found on the grass at Embarcadero Marina Park North.And high above those bubbles was this kite. I love San Diego.Tourists rent some wheels near the Marriott Marquis and Marina.I rested for a bit on the fishing pier at Embarcadero Marina Park South. Here comes the Stars and Stripes racing yacht, carrying passengers enjoying a unique adventure on the Big Bay.And there goes the Silvergate, ferrying people over to Coronado Island. What a glorious spring day!
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Visitors to Seaport Village in San Diego rock out to the Bayou Brothers!
I walked quite a bit today. As I passed through Seaport Village, my ears caught some music coming from the East Plaza Gazebo.
The Bayou Brothers were rocking, and people were dancing to cool Zydeco music like crazy! It felt like a slice of Mardi Gras! I love it!
As I walked along San Diego’s Embarcadero today, I noted a lot of energy around Seaport Village’s East Plaza Gazebo.Look at all the happy people dancing! It’s hard to keep still when an awesome Zydeco band is playing!The Bayou Brothers, based in El Cajon, is a well known local band. Their infectious, toe-tapping music features accordion, keyboards, guitar, bass, and even a fun rubboard!It’s hard to stand still! The Bayou Brothers add wonderful vitality to a Sunday afternoon in Seaport Village.
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Heading down the Bayshore Bikeway on Coronado Island, with a bit of downtown San Diego in the background.
My random walks around San Diego are full of surprises. I’m always excited to stumble upon one of those immensely fun sculptures that used to be part of the Urban Trees exhibitions on the Embarcadero.
From 2003 to 2011, seven different Urban Trees projects were funded by the Port of San Diego. Each exhibition featured about 30 unique sculptures, standing downtown at intervals along San Diego Bay. This public artwork was made from a whole range of different materials, including wood, copper, glass, tiles and steel. The fanciful pieces were selected by juried artist competitions, and when the Urban Trees exhibitions came to an end after about one year, many of the creations were sold by the artists to various collectors, institutions, businesses and public entities.
So there are times when I just can’t help smiling, because I happen to encounter one of the transplanted “trees” during a walk.
Perhaps you’ve already seen a few of these highly creative sculptures on my Cool San Diego Sights blog. If not, then click here.
My Bike, by Amos Robinson, 2008. This inventive kinetic sculpture turns in the wind. It was part of the Port of San Diego’s fun Urban Trees 5 exhibition.A steel bicyclist with wildly blowing hair flies through the blue sky past some Southern California palm trees!This colorful sculpture was part of Urban Trees 2. It’s called A Different But Loving Pair, by Cecilia Stanford. It’s made of handmade tile and mosaic.Whimsical public artwork that now stands across the parking lot from the Port of San Diego building on Pacific Highway.Visitors to San Diego’s Embarcadero walk past a looming dragon!Sea Dragon, by artist Deana Mando, 2006. This fantastic creation was part of the Urban Trees 3 exhibition. It’s now seen by many people.My walks around San Diego are frequently interrupted by dragons and other very cool sights!
UPDATE!
Here are a few more photos of three Urban Trees in front of the Cruise Ship Terminal! (I took the following pics in early 2017.)
Three sculptures by the San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal on the Embarcadero were part of Urban Trees exhibitions in past years.Green Fire, Robert Verhees, 2006.Tap Root and Growth, Christopher Lee. I can’t find a year.Orange Tree, Guy and Ellen Mayenobe, 2007.
ANOTHER RANDOM UPDATE!
Some of the Urban Trees that have been acquired by the Port of San Diego are moved around from place to place. I’ve observed that the Sea Dragon was moved to Pepper Park in National City in early 2017.
I’ve also noticed from the window of the trolley that the Fish Tree by Zbigniew Pingot and Tobias Flores, which used to stand with those three other sculptures in front of the Cruise Ship Terminal, is now located in the northwest corner of the Port of San Diego’s parking lot! A Different But Loving Pair no longer occupies that corner of their parking lot! Where it is, I don’t know!
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San Diego’s famous Star of India–the oldest active sailing ship in the world–is having its decks replaced. First up is the poop deck. Work has just begun.
Today I boarded the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s world-famous Star of India. The lady in the ticket booth informed me that the deck replacement began about a week or so ago!
You might remember I blogged about the Star of India’s deck replacement effort here. Click the link to check out that post, and you can see how the poop deck appeared before work began.
A nice docent allowed me to walk up the steps almost to the poop deck so I could get a good photograph. As you can see, the first section of the deck has been removed. I also noted that the saloon underneath has been carefully converted into a work area.
Do you love history or San Diego? Please click here to help with this very important project!
The historic ship’s elegant saloon has become a work area during the deck replacement.Gazing up through a big hole in the ceiling! The new, stronger deck will be built using sophisticated techniques and modern materials, but it will visually appear like the original.
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Today I saw a new canopy and sign at the ever-expanding Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. It’s a food tent called Loaf and Fish! They’ve got one of my favorite things!
I’m not really a food blogger, but I have a terrible weakness for fish sandwiches, fish tacos and fish burritos. So when I saw a new food vendor was selling fresh fish sandwiches this weekend at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market, of course I had to try one!
A bit down the pier you’ll find the sign that reads Loaf and Fish. Those are the nice folks you need to see. My grilled fish sandwich was really good! I was told they don’t have a website yet, but they’ll be there on the pier every Saturday morning, a tasty addition to the constantly growing Dockside Market!
(You can visit San Diego’s new outdoor fish market every Saturday morning on the pier just north of Seaport Village, next to Tuna Harbor.)
Loaf and Fish. Built, helmed and crewed by fishing families. The tasty yellowtail in my sandwich was caught by the fishing vessel Wild West!Oh, man! My fish sandwich is getting ready! Some tomatoes, avocado (yum), red onions, chipotle mayo, lettuce, all on a fresh bolillo roll. And, of course, grilled fresh fish!And here it is, with a smile! You know what? It was pretty darn good. I recommend devouring these!Everyone at Loaf and Fish was super nice to some strange blogger guy walking around with a camera. Good luck guys!
UPDATE!
Loaf and Fish has added a couple of items to their menu. You can now enjoy fish tacos and tasty fish soup!
The fish tacos are just as yummy as any you’ll find in San Diego. And keep in mind our city has the best fish tacos in the entire world.
I’ve also tried the fish soup and it’s really tasty! In addition to big chunks of freshly caught fish, there are fresh vegetables and slices of avocado floating on top! On chilly mornings this hot soup really hits the spot!
To top it all off, eating on the pier by the water–with the bustle of activity all around, including friendly fishermen and local fishing boats and the seagulls and playful sea lions barking nearby–it’s a feast for the senses that can’t be beat!
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