Before there were luxurious motor yachts with combustion engines, there were just boats with motors. Before there were mere motorboats, people traveled in a more traditional way. Namely, sailing.
This winter, those along the Eastern Seaboard might be able to see a piece of that the traditional way of navigating the ocean waters.
The Tall Ship Oliver Hazard Perry, the newest in the fleet of Tall Ships, will leave Newport, Rhode Island at the tail-end of January and set sail to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This means that you may be able to experience a small slice of history. The ship, which is designated as a sailing school, provides a glimpse into how mariners used to traverse the open waters.
The 200-foot ship will then head to Bermuda before sailing back to Fort Lauderdale where she will be based through March. The sailing school is offering two incredible opportunities for explorers of all ages to participate in round-trip voyages to Cuba. The first is scheduled for March 10th through 18th and the second March 18th through 26th.
An additional passage will take place from Bermuda back to Newport on April 14th through 22nd.
The Oliver Hazard Perry’s mission is to provide innovative and empowering education-at-sea programs. These voyages promote personal and professional growth for all ages.
While the voyages to Cuba are targeted towards high school and college students, there are a limited number of berths available for adventurous adults. However, the Bermuda and Newport passages are designated for any adult to wants to learn the skills of offshore celestial navigation and marine meteorology.
“Simply visiting somewhere like Cuba is exciting in itself, but it’s quite another thing to arrive on a Tall Ship where you have been fully immersed in the adventure and responsible for actually getting yourself there,” said Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island Executive Director Jessica Wurzbacher.
For more information about the trips or the ship, visit the Oliver Hazard Perry website.
Southern Boating January 2017