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Ships Ahoy: The tall ships return to Kenosha for Days of Discovery
by Lee B. Roberts
Journal Times
There is nothing like the sight of a majestic tall ship, gliding into the harbor with its sails billowing in the wind, to remind us of the rich maritime history of our Great Lakes. Such sights will be familiar ones this weekend when six tall ships come to Kenosha’s harbor for the 2007 Kenosha Days of Discovery.
This four-day event kicks off this evening as the ships arrive in a Parade of Sails beginning at 5 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. It will continue through Sunday, featuring a range of maritime-themed activities and entertainment for all ages. In addition to being able to tour the historic replica ships, festival-goers can enjoy live music from a number of regional bands; watch street entertainers; take part in a Pirate Look-A-Like Contest and even book a sailing excursion on one of the ships.
There will also be an expanded KidZone, offering everything from face painting to storytelling and magic shows. And, on Sunday, Radio Disney will present a Street Jam for kids of all ages.
“This is an event that is fun for the whole family,” said John Heimsch, regional director of marketing for U.S. Cellular, which is the title sponsor for the 2007 Kenosha Days of Discovery.
The foundation, which was established in 2002, has a mission of developing resources to provide Kenosha’s youth with sail-training opportunities leading to increased nautical and scientific knowledge, improved self-esteem, development of teamwork and leadership skills, and greater intercultural understanding. In addition to the activities and exhibits it will offer to everyone during the festival, the foundation works with Kenosha area youth organizations and schools to provide hands-on learning experiences both at the lake front and on sailing ships.
The idea is to help area youth learn to appreciate Lake Michigan and all it has to offer, says Patti Soens, of the Kenosha Days of Discovery Foundation.
By getting kids interested in science and nautical life, the foundation aims to increase appreciation for all of the Great Lakes, she said. “It’s not just about learning to sail, but about learning from sailing.”
For more information about the learning opportunities offered through the Kenosha Days of Discovery Foundation, visit the web site at http://www.kenoshadaysofdiscovery.com and click on Seaman Ship.
This weekend’s festival is the third time that the city of Kenosha, in cooperation with the KDD Foundation and the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha, have hosted the Days of Discovery.
The last time it was held, in 2004, the festival drew 60,000 visitors and had an economic impact of approximately $4.8 million in the area, according to Heimsch.
All of which comes back to the basic idea behind the event, which is to create a better quality of life in the community, he said.
For a complete schedule of events, go to the event web site at http://www.kenoshadaysofdiscovery.com
Meanwhile, here are a few facts about each of the ships to get you started:
Windy II
HOME BASE: Chicago
SPARRED LENGTH: 148 feet
RIG HEIGHT: 85 feet
BASICS: The Windy II is a 4-masted topsail Gaff schooner with a sail area of 4,800 square feet. Its mission is to provide hands-on sailing experiences, private charters, and sail training education including maritime heritage and nautical sciences.
UNIQUE FACT: In 1996, Windy was the first four-masted commercial sailing vessel built since 1921.
WEB SITE: http://www.tallshipwindy.com
S/V Denis Sullivan
HOME BASE: Milwaukee
SPARRED LENGTH: 138 feet
RIG HEIGHT: 95 feet
BASICS: The Denis Sullivan is a three-masted schooner with a sail area of 4,597 square feet. Its mission is sail training, sea education, Lake Watch & Dockside Discovery programs, as well as other education programs.
UNIQUE FACT: The ship is committed to reestablishing the historical, cultural and environmental bonds between the community and the Great Lakes
WEB SITE: http://ww.discoveryworld.org
Friends Good Will
HOME BASE: South Haven, Mich.
SPARRED LENGTH: 104 feet
RIG HEIGHT: 86 feet
BASICS: Friends Good Will is a square, topsail sloop. Its mission is sail training, day sails, dockside interpretation; historical reenactment, education in history, geography, navigation and marine science.
UNIQUE FACT: A replica of a ship involved in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, she serves as an historic flagship for the preservation of traditional maritime skills.
WEB SITE: http://www.MichiganMaritimeMuseum.org
Nina
HOME BASE: British Virgin Islands
SPARRED LENGTH: 92 feet
RIG HEIGHT: 54 feet
BASICS: The Nina is a Caravel with a sail area of 1,919 square feet. Her mission is to sail as Columbus did in the 15th century, as living history for students. More than 1 million students have visited the Nina since 1992.
UNIQUE FACT: The ship was built using only traditional tools and techniques of the 15th century.
WEB SITE: http://www.thenina.com
Madeline
HOME BASE: Traverse City, Mich.
SPARRED LENGTH: 92 feet
RIG HEIGHT: 71 feet
BASICS: The Madeline is two-masted, gaff topsail schooner with a sail area of 2,270 square feet. Its mission is adult sail training and maritime history.
UNIQUE FACT: The ship is the State of Michigan’s official tall ship. A reconstruction of an 1840s schooner, the Madeline was built over a five-year period by volunteers using traditional methods and materials.
WEB SITE: http://www.mhatc.net/madeline/madeline.htm
Appledore IV
HOME BASE: Bay City, Mich.
SPARRED LENGTH: 85 feet
RIG HEIGHT: 76 feet
BASICS: The Appledore’s mission is to foster environmental stewardship of the Saginaw Bay watershed and the Great Lakes ecosystem and to provide personal development opportunities for learners of all ages through shipboard and land based educational experiences.
UNIQUE FACT: Herb Smith, the person who commissioned each of the six Appledore schooners, said the name Appledore comes from the name of an island off the Maine coast that he sailed to as a teenager.
WEB SITE: http://www.baysailbaycity.org
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Kenosha Days of Discovery Maritime Festival
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday. Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Kenosha Harbor. From Racine, take Highway 32 South to downtown Kenosha. Turn left on 52nd Street to the harbor.
COST: Admission, which includes entrance to the festival grounds and tours of visiting ships, costs $5 on Thursday and $10 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, for ages 16 and older. Kids ages 6-15 get in for $5 every day, and anyone six or older will be admitted for $5 after 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Children 5 and under will be admitted free throughout the festival. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance at Kenosha Johnson Bank locations.
INFO: Go to http://www.kenoshadaysofdiscovery.com
Tall ships excursion
Tickets are also available for 90-minute Lake Michigan sailing excursions aboard the Windy II at select times during the Days of Discovery festival. Excursion times are 4 p.m. on Thursday (Parade of Sails); 11 a.m. and 1, 3, 7 and 9 p.m. Friday; 1, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday.
Sail ticket prices are $27 for adults ($54 for Parade of Sails) and $20 for children 15 and under ($40 for Parade of Sails). Festival admission is not required for Windy II sailing excursions.
Sail tickets can be purchased in advance for a specific date and time, or at the Windy II ticket booth, at the East end of the festival grounds (54th St. & 2nd Ave.).
Private charters aboard the Windy II and other visiting ships are also available in advance. Call (262) 653-4460 for pricing and reservation information.
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