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.)
A pirate ship was observed this afternoon sailing through San Diego Bay. What were these pirates up to?
The pirate ship pursued tiny, helpless sailboats competing in a regatta. The rascals!
Fortunately, the shore battery on the barge behind the Maritime Museum of San Diego noticed the mayhem. A gunner quickly prepared several cannons.
(Yes, the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was entering the bay at the time. Did they notice these sneaky pirates?)
Cleaning the cannons and inserting cartridges with a ramrod.
Two swords and an axe were kept within reach. Just in case dangerous pirates must be repelled hand to hand.
Uh, oh. The pirate ship has come about and is steering toward the Maritime Museum’s defensive shore battery!
A shot is fired across the pirate ship’s bow! Will the brazen invaders retreat?
They promptly fire back with a ship’s gun!
The shore battery fires once again. Is there any hope for San Diego?
A miss! The situation now appears hopeless!
We wave the white flag and surrender!
Fortunately, those swords weren’t put to use. The pirate ship, triumphant, would sail away in search of treasure at Skull Island.
OKAY! What happened here?
Maritime Museum of San Diego visitors on the barge got to watch a sailing adventure that takes place on their Spanish galleon replica San Salvador. The fun shipboard event is an interactive experience called Boarded!
Families and kids sail with a crew of pirates out on San Diego Bay. This hilarious interactive pirate show in San Diego puts visitors right in the middle of the action. Participants will be sworn in as part of the ship’s crew, trained how to navigate, sword fight, bail water from a sinking ship, escape from the King’s Jail, swab the deck, and learn other pirate skills.
Whew! I was worried there for a moment!
…
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.)
San Diego is home of a world treasure. Star of India is one of the most important historic ships in the entire world.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego maintains 1863 tall ship Star of India, which is not only the oldest active ship in the world, but a United States National Historic Landmark. The beautiful sailing ship, an iconic sight on the Embarcadero, is one of our city’s brightest crown jewels.
Local museums are facing a future of difficult funding. Now imagine a maritime museum that must care for and preserve historic ships that are outdoors in the weather and on the water, including Star of India. Ships are expensive to maintain. To preserve a world treasure like Star of India takes a lot of funds, volunteer work, and love.
A few days ago I noticed one volunteer working on the wood deck, repairing the inevitable cracks that come from exposure to sun, rain and changing temperatures. He explained that he was sealing cracks with a special marine sealant and adhesive. I also learned the expansive main deck of the Star will have to be replaced in the future. No small or inexpensive task!
If you take pride in Star of India, why not help her by becoming a member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego like myself? Or you can become a volunteer, or make a donation!
…
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.)
If you’ve wondered what it was like to sail into San Diego Bay on a Spanish galleon back in the 16th century, you have the opportunity to enjoy the amazing experience!
San Salvador, the seaworthy replica galleon built by the Maritime Museum of San Diego, sails out of downtown San Diego a couple time a month, taking visitors on a memorable adventure on the water!
San Salvador, a full size replica of the Spanish galleon flagship used by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to explore the California coast in 1542, was built by the museum back around 2015 on the shore of Spanish Landing. You can see photos of its construction here.
Today, passengers board the ship at the museum and typically enjoy a four hour sail off Point Loma. That’s what I did yesterday!
The trip was nearly a sell-out, so between passengers and about a dozen crew members, the galleon was quite lively. It really became lively out on the open ocean, when the round hulled galleon really rocked and rolled! (If you are susceptible to motion sickness, take a Dramamine in advance of your journey, and keep your eyes on the horizon.)
One cool aspect of the trip was everyone learned a lot about the history of Cabrillo’s exploration, Spanish conquistadors, and San Diego as it was many centuries ago.
During the sail, I recommend hanging out on either the raised foredeck or quarterdeck, where you have the best views and can watch the dynamic crew working the sails and yards.
After Captain David briefed the passengers on safety, we were on our way through San Diego Bay using San Salvador‘s two diesel engines. Because galleons are square rigged, you can’t sail into the wind. On the way back into the bay from the Pacific Ocean, we sailed with the wind and didn’t taken our sails down until back near the Embarcadero.
Okay, let’s see some photos!
We are ready to pull away from the Maritime Museum’s barge…
Here we go! I started out by standing near a foredeck ladder looking back at the shrinking San Diego skyline.
I climbed up onto the foredeck…
Crew members getting to work…
I shifted my position to the quarterdeck. You can see the whole ship from here and observe the captain, who was standing near me.
That guy in the open window is the helmsman. From a sheltered spot he can observe the sails and way forward, while manually steering San Salvador under orders from the captain. He uses a vertical lever whipstaff to move the tiller, which turns the rudder.
A sail is being readied from the foredeck.
There’s Spike Africa! The schooner participated in last weekend’s Schooner Cup race, which I enjoyed from aboard Bill of Rights. See those photos here!
Heading out to sea down the channel, with North Island on our port side. A sailboat was watching us! Captain David is still using the diesel engines.
Almost out into the Pacific Ocean. That’s the New Point Loma Lighthouse down by the water.
Shortly before, we saluted Cabrillo National Monument by firing one of the galleon’s swivel guns. Fingers in ears can’t hold the camera!
It turned out to be a perfect, partly cloudy day.
We’re starting to roll! Hanging on!
Many hands raising the galleon’s sails…
Now I’m looking rearward from the quarterdeck.
Some folks headed down to the lower main deck where the rolling is less severe.
Lots of exciting action closeby!
A sailboat ahead requires a steering maneuver.
A NOAA research ship was also heading down the channel away from San Diego.
If you want, you can train to become a volunteer crew member on the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s amazing tall ships!
We’re being slowly propelled forward by wind power! Galleons aren’t terribly fast. We managed 3 knots. (That’s about 3 1/2 miles per hour–the speed at which I walk!) Imagine being an explorer in the 16th century rolling about on the open ocean moving at this quite modest speed!
There are various places where passengers can safely sit during the voyage.
After we tacked and began sailing back toward Point Loma, I headed to the galleon’s beak.
I turned around…
We are under sail almost all the way back to the museum. Once we enter San Diego Bay, it’s much smoother sailing! This is the life.
Now I headed once more to the foredeck…
Looking down at the beak as yards are squared to capture the wind from our rear.
There’s Spike Africa again, off of Harbor Island!
We all raise a lusty cheer for Spike Africa. Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
After a few moments, they return the cheer!
If you’d like to enjoy a similar adventure, check out San Salvador‘s webpage by clicking here!
…
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’ve recently learned a bit of unsettling news. A petition has been launched to save Bill of Rights as Chula Vista’s official tall ship.
Here is the text of the petition:
The Schooner Bill of Rights has called Chula Vista, CA home for decades. In fact, she is the official tall ship of the city. Recently, we were notified that her home dock had decided to terminate our lease…and we have less than 2 months until the date they’ve decided we have to leave.
The Bill of Rights has been instrumental in thousands of people’s lives, between Sea Cadets, Boy Scouts, and sailors from around the world. We want the lease renewed so we can continue to be an accessible, contributing member of our local community and to the tall ship community as a whole.
If you have known her personally, please share how she has affected you and why it was so important. We’d love to hear from you.
Please, sign and save the Bill!
To visit the petition website, and perhaps add your own name and remarks, click here.
…
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.)
The historic tall ship Bill of Rights makes its home in Chula Vista Marina. Launched in 1971, today it offers charters, tours and, perhaps most importantly, it is an asset used for training youth interested in careers at sea. Bill of Rights is used by the U.S. Navy Sea Cadets, Navy Junior ROTC, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and others.
The all-volunteer South Bayfront Sailing Association owns and operates Bill of Rights. An over half-century-old wooden schooner needs a lot of maintenance. Right now the original decking is being replaced. Captain Don Johnson is an expert carpenter, fortunately, but to redeck the beautiful, historic yacht in the most economical way practical still takes significant money.
Lately, the youth organizations that train on Bill of Rights have seen a significant reduction in their own funds. That has placed the South Bayfront Sailing Association in a position of needing donations from local businesses and generous individuals to continue the programs.
Would you like to help preserve both history and education in Chula Vista?
Please visit the South Bayfront Sailing Association website by clicking here. Consider volunteering or making a donation. Simply visiting the tall ship and its nearby gift shop kiosk makes for a fun excursion. They’ll gladly give you a tour, too!
Everything you do helps a lot!
…
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.)
We in San Diego are so fortunate. Our city is home to one of the world’s most famous tall ships, Star of India, and one of our nation’s top maritime museums. Why not show your love for these San Diego jewels with a Valentine’s Day gift?
The historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, like all ships exposed to time and outdoor weather, need continuing maintenance and repair. With love in your heart, you can help out!
Here’s a wish list that supports the museum’s fleet, including Star of India, H.M.S. Surprise, Californian, Pilot boat and San Salvador.
To learn more, or perhaps make a loving donation, send an email to membership@sdmaritime.org.
…
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.)
Enjoy a few photographs. They were taken today in San Diego a few minutes after sunset.
The western sky was fiery orange and red, making an incredible backdrop for Star of India, docked at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The world-famous tall ship was strung with magical lights.
The sunset’s colors reflected brilliantly from the park’s watery fountain and a slice of San Diego Bay in the distance.
Truly awesome!
…
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.
Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl is now docked in downtown San Diego at Broadway Pier. It will be visiting our city through Sunday.
This morning, as I walked out on the pier, I noticed crew members high in the sky, preparing a huge banner that would hang like a sail from one of the ship’s yards. I sat down on a bench and watched the action! And took some photos!
Would you dare work so high above the ship’s deck, clinging like a spider to a windswept web? I don’t think I’d have the courage! Or agility!
To the crew member who waved down at me: Hello!
The public will be able to step aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl this Saturday, November 15, 2025, between noon and 3 pm. It’s free!
…
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.
