Naval warfare vessels of old sail into harbor

Andrew Edwards

History just sailed into Newport Harbor.

Two reconstructions of the past -- the Lady Washington and Bill of

Rights -- docked alongside the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum on

Wednesday for an eight-day stay.

During their visit, the ships’ crews are scheduled to teach

children about life on the high seas and engage each other in

old-fashioned naval warfare.

Movie fans might recognize the Lady Washington. The two-masted

tall ship, based in Aberdeen, Wash., appeared as HMS Interceptor in

the Johnny Depp film, “The Pirates of the Caribbean.”

But instead of the British colors used in the film, the ship flies

an old-fashioned American flag, and is a reconstruction of the

original Lady Washington, an 18th century ship that sailed around

Cape Horn to trade with China.

“I love it,” Margie Hausam, 10, of Costa Mesa said after she

boarded the ship.

“It’s from the movie, and it’s one of my favorite movies.”

Both ships will be open to the public for dockside tours

throughout most of their stay, and museum president Glenn Zagoren

said school groups will take field trips to the ships to learn how

sailors lived when the wind powered the world’s merchant ships and

naval vessels.

The ships’ crew members will wear period garb as they show

youngsters old navigational tools and explain maritime history.

One of the key points of the lessons is that the uneducated

sailors of old lived much tougher lives than schooled officers, Bill

of Rights captain Christopher Trandell said.

“We focus on the concept of stay in school; learn math; you can do

more,” Trandell said.

The Bill of Rights, home-ported in San Pedro, had not sailed for

two or three years before its trip to Newport Beach, Zagoren said.

Newport Beach’s tall ship, the Lynx is in San Diego for repairs,

and another ship that was set to visit was sold.

Bill of Rights crew members had two weeks to sand, paint and

undertake a host of other chores to return the ship to seaworthiness.

“The fact that the Bill of Rights is moving -- is even here -- is

a strong statement to the volunteers and crew members that got it

ship shape in two weeks,” Zagoren said.

The two-masted Bill of Rights is modeled after a Gloucester

fishing schooner and is scheduled to face off against the Lady

Washington Saturday and Sunday in naval battle reenactments.

“This is the first time we’ve had these ships out together,

playing together,” Lady Washington captain Ryan Meyer said.

“We haven’t fought these guys yet, so we’re curious how they’re

going to do.”

The mock battles are unscripted, and the crews try to outmaneuver

each other and execute a technique called “crossing the T,” in which

one ship positions its broadside against an enemy vessel’s bow or

stern, allowing one crew to fire its guns without their rivals firing

back.

The tactics are like the beginning of a yacht race, Zagoren said.

“If you’ve ever done the start of a race, the ballet of a start is

very similar to battle,” he said.

The museum is set to sell tickets for people to ride along for the

battle sails.

The captains will use radios to prevent accidents, but otherwise,

the crews will compete to out-sail each other.

“There’s a little bit of ego going into it,” Trandell said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at [email protected].