Tall Ships arrive tomorrow

Here's a little of what to expect

What's happening? More than 55 ships, 8000 sailors and one Prince Harry will descend upon Sydney Harbour from October 3-11. They're here to celebrate the Royal Australian Navy's centenary.

When does it start? On Thursday at 11am, 16 tall ships will sail through the heads into Sydney Harbour, in two-by-two formation, with their square sails and traditional rigging in full glory.

On Friday morning, some 40 warships from China, Thailand, Brunei, India, Japan, the US, Indonesia, Spain, New Zealand and Australia will sail into the harbour. A 21-gun salute at at 10am will mark their arrival; air displays start at 9:30am.
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16 tall ships in 2X2 formation will be quite a spectacle, especially against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Fort Denison. I reckon my SIL will be there snapping away. He is a great photographer and I'll try to snag some of his photos.
 

They come here every year or so too and it's a wonderful sight. But then again, we have the "Bluenose", which in my neck of the woods is the Mother of Tall Ships.

I've been out on it and the craftsmanship in the ship is too beautiful to describe.

Bluenose.jpg
 
The most impressive ship I've ever actually been on was the Charles W. Morgan in Connecticut - she's a former whaler.

Charles_W_Morgan.jpg

She was just re-launched this past July. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship with a not-so-beautiful purpose.
 
This is the first I've heard of it. Typical of the media to focus on continual doom & gloom. It will be a great sight. Look forward to seeing any photos.
 
Warrigal said:
Lovely photo Phil but how does a ship at dock manage to set all the sails without sailing away ?
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LOL!

It was dry-docked for many, many years in the Mystic Sea Port (Mystic, Connecticut) and was the main attraction in that re-created whaling village. They had carpenter's shops, bakeries, sailmaker's lofts, the whole works - just no drunken pirates or hookers, which was a big disappointment for me. :(

They finally took her off for a 3-year total re-fit and she's sea-worthy (or at least river-worthy) once again.
 
I gave the aforementioned Gwen a boring few hours on a detailed examination of the Balclutha at Fisherman's Wharf. She was a sister ship to the Cutty Sark and as I'd built a scale model of the Cutty it was quite an experience for me to be on and touch the real thing.
I had an absolutely wunnerful time. She didn't.
 
Some of my ancestors arrived in Sydney from London in 1863 on the fully rigged sailing ship "La Hogue".
There are photos in existence but not in full sail because she was always photographed at her moorings.

 
ABC24 seem to be having a live coverage going. Don't know for how long.
The tall ships are lining up and making towards the Heads now.... (no, not those 'heads') The entrance to Sydney Harbour Headlands. tch.
What a shame it's such a lousy miserable wet dull day for it. Damn!

This will be amusing to Aussies.... The Indonesian ship has busted something and turned for home. It appears that we have managed to "Stop the Boats" from Indonesia in at least this instance.
 
Sydney Harbour is looking very drab and the wind is from the west so full sail is out of the question.
They'll probably be using power with some token sails for effect.

Actually, since the navy is here in strength, just who is up north 'stopping the boats" ?
 
Still a few up there, a local radio announcer mentioned yesterday that his son is on one on patrol along 'the border' and how disappointed he was not to be included in the festivities in Sydney. Still, at least the weather is better.
 
They are quite something to see.. We went to Sault Ste. Marie this past summer to see the tall ships.. We visited 3 of them.. Very impressive..

We also saw a few of them last year at the re-enactment of the war of 1812.. We were at Fort Joseph near Sault Ste. Marie..
Again, very interesting...............
 
Beautiful shots. I agree it's a shame they aren't under sail - that really gives it some punch.

I had joined Ancestry.com for their free trial just to get a quick family history for my son. The only ship I could find in our ancestry was when my grandfather came over and it was a steamer, not sail.

But I'm convinced that somewhere in the family tree there were a few pirates hanging off the mainmast with cutlasses clenched in their hands and black-powder pistols tucked into their belts.

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Conditions for photos might be better on Saturday when the harbour will be filled with all kinds of ships.
It's the centenary of the first Australian naval entry to Sydney.

All we need is some sunlight and the harbour will be magnificent.

My SIL has taken some photos back in August, from memory on The Bounty replica.
Worth a look on Viewbug http://www.viewbug.com/member/glenmorgan
 
A nice photo from yesterday




Much brighter day today for the arrival of the warships. 40+ ships representing 17 nations.






In 1913, the first RAN fleet entered Sydney Harbour for a review.

October 4, 1913
The Royal Australian Navy Fleet, , the country's first flagship, sails into Sydney Harbour. The Australia was accompanied by HMAS Melbourne, , HMAS Encounter, HMAS Warrego, HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Yarra.

The next year they were deployed in the Great War in the water around New Guinea and New Britain.
 

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