Play live battleship on historic boats

Tour tall boats, learn to raise sail at maritime events


The topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain and the brig Lady Washington return to Channel Islands Harbor Jan. 17 to offer family-oriented tall ship sailing excursions and cannon battles at the marina, 3900 Pelican Way, Oxnard. The ships are based in Aberdeen, Wash.

On Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the ships will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Lady Washington has scheduled an Adventure Sail from 2 to 5 p.m.

No reservation is required for the walk-on tours, but a $3 donation is requested. The ships’ schedule is as follows:

Jan. 18: Walk-on tours, 4 to 5 p.m.

Jan. 19 to 21: Walk-on tours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jan. 19 and 20: Battle Sail, 2 to 5 p.m. $40 to $60.

Jan. 20: Adventure Sail (Hawaiian Chieftain only), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $39 all ages.

Jan. 21: Adventure Sail (Lady Washington only), 2 to 4 p.m. $39 all ages.

Jan. 22 to 25: Walk-on tours, 4 to 5 p.m.

Jan. 26 to 27: Walk-on tours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jan. 27: Adventure Sail (Lady Washington only), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $39 all ages.

Jan.27: Battle Sail, 2 to 5 p.m. $40 to $60.

An Adventure Sail is a family-oriented experience that includes opportunities to help raise a sail, learn a sea shanty, hear maritime stories and take the helm of a tall ship, conditions permitting.

A Battle Sail features a re-creation of a typical 18th century naval skirmish with live cannon fire (no cannon balls) and naval-style maneuvering. Buy tickets at www.historicalseaport.org or call the number below.

Spots are still available for one-hour or threehour educational programs for K-12 students and home-school groups.

Launched in 1988, Hawaiian Chieftain is a steel-hulled representation of a typical early 19thcentury coastal trading vessel. Lady Washington is a wooden-hulled replica of one of the first U.S.-flagged ships to visit the west coast of North America. Both ships have appeared in numerous motion pictures and television commercials. Lady Washington appeared in the 2003 movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.”

For Adventure or Battle Sail tickets and reservations for school tour groups, call the Historical Seaport office at (800) 200-5239.