Tall Ships - email and images from John Thompson (my father-in-law)

Here's a selection of photos from our excursion yesterday to see the tall ships moored at Chicago's lake front. The day was warm, the sun bright overhead and the lines to go aboard the vessels and use the free trolley shuttles between ships were interminable. But we did manage to see all the ships we wanted to.

Had my first ever Metra train ride from Wilmette to Chicago's Union Station, really comfortable and convenient. As Helena Friberg our Swedish tour guide always said during our Scandinavian Oddessey, it was all about "Discovery."

The Pride of Baltimore II, a 157 foot two masted square rigged top sail Baltimore Clipper from Baltimore MD.

The Windy II a 150 foot four masted convertible gaff rigged schooner. This cruise ship is in regular service all season long at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The 198 foot U.S. Brig Niagara, home port Erie PA. This ship is a replica of the Niagara which fought the British underCommodore Oliver Hazard Perry. It was Commodore Perry who penned the famous report of victory, "We have met the enemy and they are ours..." after the defeat of the British squadron on Lake Erie during the war of 1812.

The 180 foot three masted barque, Picton Castle, a Canadian conversion to sail of a WWII British mine sweeper. It is now used as a sail training ship, makes voyages all around the world with a small professional cadre of officers and volunteer sail trainees. Home port is Lunenburg Nova Scotia.

The ship we really came to see. The Nina, a 92 foot 15th century caravel redondo, the smallest of Columbus' three ships, was his favorite. Columbus apparently really disliked the sailing qualities of the Santa Maria, and favored the Nina as the best sailer in his fleet. Although the quarters are so small and cramped that the crew worked, ate and slept on deck which were often awash if the ship was heavily loaded (below decks was reserved for cargo and supplies) and the tiny captain's cabin, under the after deck, had only 4 feet of head room, she was still his favorite. Columbus sailed over 25,000 miles in her before she was lost on a trading voyage to the Pearl Coast in 1501.

This replica was built in Brazil as a Peace Corps project after extensive research into the methods used to build such ships, and was constructed using authentic 15th century tools and building methods. It is the most authentic recreation of the Pinta ever attempted. The Nina sails under the U.S. flag, but its home port is Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

All-in-all it was a great day and a huge adventure. Discovery, discovery, discovery!