Tall Ships Brockville - June 14 - 16, 2013

It was with excitement that we went down to see these tall ships.

@tallshipsfleet #tallships1812

We chose to board to of them: the large Peacemaker and the smaller Mist of Avalon, as a comparison.

These ships have been brought in from home ports around the world. They were an amazing sight in Brockville's harbour. These tall ships changed the nature of Canada, as colonists came from away, bringing disease; trading furs for money, liquor or other goods; and bringing pioneer settlers who invaded the land.

Pioneer life was difficult for women

The trading posts must have been interesting places to visit.

My grandmother spoke of her family settling in remote country in Quebec, with native people who would bring the children home when they were lost, wandering in the woods. It was not all conflict and many built good lives in a new land, aided by First Nations.

Of course, the 1812 celebrations were about the soldiers. Many of whom settled on Lanark County land after the 1816 demobilisation.

Metal worker and his forge

The harbour was full of many examples of the tools that life in 1812 would have required.

soldiers' tent city

The tents for the soldiers were quite interesting. We attended on Saturday, June 15th, and today, Sunday it is pouring rain. It will smack of a difficult life in the wilderness for those hardy souls who venture to the harbour.

Hot wool uniforms!

Playing spoons!

 Having taught much history and social studies from grade 1 to grade 8, I know the text books leave out much of the reality of those were were here first, and those who chose to exploit the land and its peoples. (I am happy that the Algonquin AIP is, at least, making progress.)

It was in 1603 the Samuel de Champlain first sailed the Ottawa River, with help from Native Peoples. They brought disease. They took land.

A framed print I have owned since 1995
–artist: Johannes Boots

 It is shameful that it was in 1772 that they first petitioned the Crown, via the Governor of the time, to set up Aboriginal Title Rights. Unfortunately, each Governor would travel back to England, having been replaced, and they would begin anew. A shameful part of our history when colonialists exploited the people and its land and resources.

We saw some people getting dressed in Regalia as we left, but by this point the crowds were building and we were tired! We'd arrived by 9:00 to get a parking spot. It was quite a bit of walking for those with bad backs! This was the only sign of First Nations that I saw.

 My previous post features a slide show of the harbour sights. It was quite the event.

Mist of Avalon –Tall Ships in Brockville

View of Mist of Avalon from
Peacemaker's deck

A schooner, 30.5m (100') long, it is quite different from Peacemaker, which is a larger Barquentine. We wanted to compare large and small.

The ship began her life in 1967 as the Motor Vessel "Liverpool Bay". She was built by the strong native timber and the skilled hands of the shipwrights of MacLean Shipbuilding, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her Captain and Crew worked the Banks off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, fishing for the cod that were her reason for being.

After twenty years working in the harsh environment of the North Atlantic, with fish stocks declining and her machinery and equipment well past their prime, in 1987 this once proud vessel was left abandoned at a Halifax pier. Another five years of neglect added to her decline, but under the layers of paint and algae, behind the rotting timber and planks, was a gracious schooner hull waiting to return to sea.

In December 1992 began the ship's new life as "Mist of Avalon", named for the mystic Celtic island of re-birth. The Ship was purchased, hauled out, hull scraped and anti fouled. In July 1993, she was ready to leave Nova Scotia for her new home port at Holidays Afloat Marina in Ivy Lea, Ontario, Canada. Here, work continued on the conversion from motor vessel to a fully rigged sailing vessel in the tradition of the late 19th century Grand Banks schooners.

• The Mist of Avalon is for sale! 
• Follow an account of Mist of Avalon's 2008 trip to PEI for the race around the island.

Peacemaker – amazing tall ship

Peacemaker's home port is Brusnwick, Georgia. It is a Barquentine, 37.8 m (124') long. It's rig he

View from the ramp!

ight is 123 feet. We purchased a passport to visit the ships, with details on each ship's background. You can see photos of it in full mast on its webpage.

The peacemaker was built on a riverbank in southern Brazil by an Italian family of boat builders, using traditional methods and the finest tropical hardwoods. The ship was first launched in 1989 as the Avany, a name chosen by her designer and owner, Frank Walker, Brazilian industrialist.

Long line-ups to view her!

Teaching knots!

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Much fun in the Brockville Harbour –June 15th 2013

Visit their webpage here

1. Tall Ships Brockville - June 14 - 16, 2013
2. Peacemaker – amazing tall ship
3. Mist of Avalon –Tall Ships in Brockville

sailor

The above is a slideshow of my photos of the day in the harbour. Lots of recreationists, and soldiers about in period costume. It was quite the event! An amazing tourist draw. There were long line-ups to visit the ships.

The 10 Ships

Get better acquainted with the 10 ships that will be visiting us on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Each one has her own story to tell – and the crew will have stories to share as well!

• Empire Sandy
• Fair Jeanne
• La Revenante
• Mist of Avalon
• Peacemaker
• Pride of Baltimore II
• Liana’s Ransom
• Sørlandet
• St. Lawrence II
• Unicorn

Tall Ships Brockville June 2013

The volunteers were amazing.
You can check out all of my ship photos here.
What a wonderful day in Brockville!  @tallshipsfleet #tallships1812
Here are photos, hotlinked on the map, of the various ships.

The tall ships were anchored in Brockville's Harbour. It was an amazing sight.