Day 2 of the Festival of Sail kicked off Friday as thousands flocked to the small north shore town of Two Harbors to see the tall ships. If they could stomach the long lines, guests had the opportunity to board the ships themselves.

“Most of us would never ever have the opportunity to be on anything like this,” said Barbara Watson, a former teacher who came all the way from Grand Forks.

For Watson and many others, the ships provided an exciting new experience. “Everyone that we’ve talked to, the volunteers, the guests, have been just so full of excitement. It’s perfect, I like it,” she said.

As a former teacher, Watson believes the tall ships are a perfect opportunity for people to learn about history.

“This is the best kind of learning style for any kids to see, getting hands-on. The warships are really, really interesting to see because of the size them,” she said.

Watson got to enjoy ships like the Pride of Baltimore 2, a ship modeled after a cargo ship of the same name originally built in the 1800s. “We are a ship that represents Baltimore City, Maryland from an economic perspective, as well as a historical perspective,” said Second Mate Carolyn Corvin.

The original Pride of Baltimore was a cargo vessel.

 KBJR-TV's Quinn Gorham reports from the deck of the U.S. Baltimore.  Photo: KBJR-TV

During the war of 1812, people realized its speed and maneuverability made it a perfect vessel to harass the British Merchant Fleet.

The ship was able to intercept British supply ships, raid what they were carrying, and then speed off before being noticed by the rest of the British fleet. “Our boat’s all about our people and sharing our story with the people of America. It’s really cool to be able to connect all of the parts of America that are maritime parts of America. There’s still a very heavily working maritime fleet in the Great Lakes,” said Corvin.

There are 9 boats at this year’s festival of sail, each with its own story and crew. Find out more about the festival here.

To see the video version of the original report and see related stories, follow this link to the KBJR-TV website. https://www.kbjr6.com/2022/08/05/arghhh-we-head-aboard-tall-ships-day-2-festival-sail/