| OUR VOYAGE ON THE |
On May 29, 2000, Sharon and Greg had the privledge of sailing around lower Tampa Bay on the Tall Ship Topsail Schooner Californian
The ship was harbored at the Pier in St. Petersburg for Memorial Day weekend, a stopover on it's Millenium Voyage from California, through the Panama Canal and on to New York to celebrate the Fourth of July. You can read more about the ship at the ship's webpage: Californian . Here is the Californian setting sail from the pier in St. Petersburg for an afternoon sail. The ship sailed every afternoon at 2pm to 5pm. We went along for the Memorial Day sail after Greg spent the weekend teaching the spectators about Naval History of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s.
Greg Centanne at the foremast of the Califorian.
Sharon Centanne dressed as a woman of the 1850s, representing the Irish immigration of that time period.
Passengers were asked to help the crew haul the lines to bring up the sail. Greg readily volunteered and enjoyed reliving the life of a sailor of 1850, proper uniform and all!
This photo shows the size of line ropes needed to secure the large sails. This picture of Greg also shows his 1840s haircut, sideburns and mustache. Men did not wear short hair in those days before electric razors.
Our friend Dale Burridge visited the Californian the same weekend in his Naval uniform.
Here is Greg drinking his cup of "grog". Dinnerware was usually pewter or wooden to avoid rust in those days before plastic.
Here are two closeups of Greg, showing the detailed embroidery on his uniform. It was common for the sailors of the early 1800s to decorate their uniforms with embroidery of their own patterns, and it gave the sailors something to do during long passages at sea.
After a long and exciting weekend at the Pier in St. Petersburg, the Californian set sail for the ports of Miami, Norfolk VA, and New York Harbor. Watch for her in the
Tall Ships Operation Sail Parade 2000 on July 4th. It should be televised.
The Tallship Schooner Californian is owned by the Nautical Heritage Society. Please visit their beautiful website for more information and photos of the ship and her mission.
