The good news: Bill of Rights remains based in Chula Vista, thanks to the advocacy of many. The schooner will continue to train Sea Scouts and Boy Scouts and serve as an educational platform. Hooray!
However, I could see how the wooden ship still needs help with its redecking. I also learned the ship is due for its periodic haul out for hull inspection and maintenance. Of course, all of this takes money.
Interested in lending a hand?
Click this webpage to learn various ways you can keep this unique and important tall ship going strong!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
Three classes of schooner raced from a point off Shelter Island, out of San Diego Bay through the channel, around a couple of buoy markers, and back.
I was privileged to be aboard Bill of Rights out of Chula Vista. Our primary opponent of similar size during the Schooner Cup was Californian of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Bill of Rights began its journey out of Chula Vista Harbor under its diesel engine. At this time we got our sails ready. Once the race began under watch of the SGYC Race Committee boat off Shelter Island, it was all wind power!
Several dozen people were aboard–crew members plus passengers–and many volunteer hands were employed pulling on lines when raising the sails and tacking during the race. The ship’s dog Justice kept watch on all the activity!
I took lots of photos!
Mind you, I’m a complete novice when it comes to sailing. I asked a bunch of questions, and I hope my descriptions here have been accurate.
Who won? As of this moment I don’t know where to find the results. (UPDATE–they’re now on the Schooner Cup webpage.)
As I understand it, we DNFed because we missed our first mark! (UPDATE–we sailed the wrong course!) No matter. It was a fun, wonderful day for all on an amazing, historic tall ship, sailing out on the sunlit water.
My photographs begin as we start out from Chula Vista Harbor…
We’re near Shelter Island, where the various schooners are sailing around before the race begins…
Maneuvering for position as the America’s Schooner Cup race is about to begin!
Here we go!
Soon after this dramatic moment out on the Pacific Ocean, the schooners chose different tacks and became widely separated. No more close up photos of our competitors.
Finally, sailing back into San Diego Bay. That’s Justice the ship’s dog keeping lookout!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
I met Brian Forristal today. (That’s him on the right.) He is the founder of Veteran Sailing, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering and supporting veterans and service members by hosting no-cost sailing events that facilitate mindfulness and connection to nature, strengthen camaraderie and teamwork, and ignite a lifelong passion for the sea and sailing where adventure awaits.
Where did I meet Brian and his smiling sailing comrades? On the tall ship Bill of Rights during today’s America’s Schooner Cup Race off the coast of San Diego! (Photos of the fantastic race coming up tomorrow!)
The Veteran Sailing website is full of information. They offer a therapeutic Discovery Sail for veterans out on the water. Soon they’ll offer mission-oriented sailing, multi-day excursions, sailing retreats, community events like bonfires and barbecues, and our own sailing school.
Let your veteran friends know this great organization exists! Or perhaps help Veteran Sailing out with a nice donation!
Thank you all for your service!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
An incredible tall ship makes its home in Chula Vista. Walk along the Chula Vista Marina and you’re bound to see the beautiful Bill of Rights at her dock.
Nearby, a kiosk is operated by the South Bayfront Sailing Association, which maintains and operates Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights is a historic, 136 foot gaff rigged schooner launched in 1971. Here’s their website. The tall ship is open to tours, charters and is often used to train U.S. Navy Sea Cadets, members of Navy Junior ROTC, and other youth organizations.
Last time I walked along the marina, I noticed the tall ship’s kiosk was open. So I took a peek inside!
Look at all the amazing stuff I discovered! In addition to lots of great gifts, there’s an art gallery featuring the work of local artists. As you might imagine, a nautical theme prevails.
I was greeted by the smile of Susan. She informed me the kiosk is open from 9 to 11 am, Tuesday through Sunday. It is operated entirely by volunteers. (They welcome new volunteers, too!)
I encourage a visit. The “Gallery & Gifts” kiosk is located at 604 Marina Parkway. By purchasing a souvenir or beautiful art, you’ll be supporting the educational programs of Bill of Rights, too!
My final photograph shows the October, 1971 issue of Sailing magazine. That’s Bill of Rights on the cover!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
Have you seen the enormous sailboat Persévérance docked in San Diego?
I saw the amazing boat this morning. It was a little north of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. I was told it has been in San Diego the past few days.
The Persévérance is a research vessel operated by world-renowned French explorer and polar expedition pioneer Jean-Louis Étienne.
According to a map displayed on the boat, the 2025-2026 Jean-Louis Étienne and Elsa Pény-Étienne’s Expedition has has already visited Greenland and the Arctic region via the Northwest Passage. After leaving the West Coast it will cross the Pacific Ocean and head south to study Antarctica!
The unique oceanographic schooner gathers data on climate and ocean currents, visits Marine Protected Areas, and seeks to analyze human impact on the oceans. Marine Protected Areas on the itinerary include Clipperton, French Polynesia, Ross Sea, and the proposed Dumon d’Urville MPA in East Antarctica.
I asked whether there will be public tours of this remarkable sailboat, but was told, unfortunately, no.
A few weeks ago, on a late summer San Diego day, I enjoyed a sunny walk around part of Mission Bay.
From a point near Riviera Beach at Moorland Drive, I proceeded counterclockwise along the Bayside Walk to San Rafael Place. This northwest part of Mission Bay is called Sail Bay, and you can see why.
Sailboats, bicycles, volleyball, families playing or lounging on the sand, joggers, people enjoying a beautiful, relaxing day… Even yoga on paddleboards!
This is San Diego at its best!
Enjoy photographs that I took as I walked along…
…
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
What were all those sailboats racing in San Diego Bay this afternoon? I watched them as I rode the ferry from Coronado to downtown San Diego.
It turns out these boats were participating in the Cortez Racing Association‘s Tribute Regatta in the north part of San Diego Bay. According to the race page, the event honored the lives of our sailing friends: Lisa Brewer and Ernie Pennell.
I never tire of watching sails that billow and slant across the blue water.
The two-masted vessel in the center of the next photograph is Bill of Rights, based in South Bay in Chula Vista. The beautiful tall ship was passing through…
After the Coronado ferry arrived near the San Diego Convention Center, I walked out to the pier at Embarcadero Marina Park South and took more photos…
…
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
New Year’s Day in 2025 was the perfect day for a long, sunny walk in San Diego. So that’s what I did!
I took these photographs as I strolled from beautiful San Diego Bay to Balboa Park.
Happy New Year to all!
A couple sits at the end of Broadway Pier gazing across San Diego Bay toward many sailboats. It’s the San Diego Yacht Club’s annual New Year’s Day Race.Many people were enjoying a sunny New Year’s Day by walking along San Diego’s Embarcadero.The Children’s Park playground was super busy.Family plays foosball at Children’s Park.A quiet day to fish out on San Diego Bay.A perfect day for friends to throw a baseball on the grass.The big 2-day New Year’s FNGRS CRSSD concert takes place at Petco Park.People enjoy walking through Balboa Park’s rose garden.Yes, a very fine day for a walk.Musician plays in the Plaza de Panama near Balboa Park’s House of Hospitality.Many eyes gaze down into the lush Lower Garden of the Japanese Friendship Garden.A good crowd listens to the 110th Anniversary Concert of the Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park.You never know what you’ll see in Balboa Park!Nearly all of the International Cottages in Balboa Park were closed for New Year’s Day. At the House of Scotland cottage, the door was wide open, welcoming one and all!Another year gone by. The effort to reopen the historic Starlight Bowl continues.The United States flag above the San Diego Automotive Museum is at half-staff on New Year’s Day. President Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100 on December 29, 2024.
…
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Two unusual ocean-going vessels are now visiting San Diego. Both are large and amazing!
The first, which you see above, is the Island Pride, a state of the art construction and support vessel. It features a large helicopter landing pad and an impressive crane. It’s docked at the B Street Pier. I don’t know why it’s in San Diego–I saw it this morning during a walk along the Embarcadero. If you’re curious, you can read about this impressive ship on its website here.
That helicopter pad in front makes Island Pride appear as if it’s wearing a hat!
The second ship, moored a short distance north of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, is the superyacht Aquijo.
According to this Wikipedia article, Aquijo is (or recently was) the largest ketch in the entire world! A ketch is a two-masted sailboat whose mainmast is taller than the mizzen mast. Aquijo was built in the Netherlands.
Take a look at the final photo. Impressive!
You never know what sort of cool sight you might encounter during a walk along San Diego’s Embarcadero!
UPDATE!
Here’s a pic of Island Pride taken several days later. It had turned around…
ANOTHER UPDATE!
About a month later, I spotted Aquijo docked behind the San Diego Convention Center…
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
M5, the world’s largest single-masted yacht, is presently docked at the 5th Avenue Landing superyacht marina behind the San Diego Convention Center.
M5 stands out from the other nearby superyachts. Its mast is so incredibly high, M5 cannot pass under any bridge that she can navigate to! That includes the San Diego-Coronado Bridge!
Read about the amazing yacht, which periodically visits San Diego, here.
This evening as the sun began to set, my walk along the south Embarcadero took me past M5. So I captured these photographs…
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
