Lady Washington, Hawaiian Chieftain to meet in Westport

Hawaiian Chieftain returns to Grays Harbor April 9 after best-ever California tour season

The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will rendezvous in Westport next month for three days of activities before the vessels depart for their spring and summer sailing season in Washington State waters. The meet-up also marks the end of the California and Oregon tour season for the Hawaiian Chieftain, the best ever in terms of ticket sales for Lady Washington’s companion ship.

Both vessels are scheduled to arrive at the Westport Marina the afternoon of April 9 and begin joint preparations for a six-month season of sailings in the Puget Sound region. While in Westport, both will offer a schedule of public sailings and tours. Crew in period costume will welcome visitors aboard the ships on these dates and times: April 9, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.; April 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A $3 donation per person is appreciated.

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will also offer the first Battle Sails of the season at 2 p.m. April 10 and 11. Battle Sails feature booming cannon and close quarters maneuvers in Grays Harbor between the two vessels. Tickets are $60 adults, $50 students/seniors/active military, $40 children 12 and under. At 10 a.m. April 11, Lady Washington will take guests on an Adventure Sail, which features demonstrations of tall ship handling and a chance for guests to help sail a real tall ship. Tickets are $55 adults, $45 students/seniors/active military, and $35 children under 12. To purchase tickets, call 800-200-5239 or buy online at www.historicalseaport.org.

April 9 marks the end of Hawaiian Chieftain’s six-month “Hands-On History for Youth Tour” of California and Oregon ports. The ship conducted education programs for K-12 school and home-school groups. The ship also took guests on weekend Adventure Sails and port-to-port transits. Of the 1,357 spaces available on Adventure Sails and transits through March 25, Hawaiian Chieftain welcomed 922 guests, or 68 percent of capacity. That’s the best performance for Hawaiian Chieftain since it was acquired by the Historical Seaport in 2004. Several sails were added due to high ticket demand. Thirteen sails were sold out or came within one ticket of selling out. During the 2008-2009 California tour, the ship operated at 44 percent of capacity.*

*Estimate based on combined Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain sales.