Kaisei
Festival of Sail
July 23, 2008


Five hundred glorious years of history under sail paraded through the Golden Gate in the 2008 Festival of Sail on July 23rd. Thousands of people lined the shore as 40 boats streamed from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge along San Francisco's fabled waterfront. Even the weather cooperated - no fog and only a modest sea breeze made for a perfect day.

From the Nina, a replica of Columbus' ship, through the square rigged replica of HMS Bounty and the US Coast Guard's magnificant barque Eagle, to the World War II Liberty Ship Jeremiah O'Brien and giant container ships and tankers outside the parade, there was something for everyone.

There pictures were taken from the 151' brigantine Kaisei. She is operated by Ocean Voyages Institute of Sausalito, a non-profit organization founded in 1979 by a group of international sailors, educators, and conservationists with a mission of teaching the maritime arts and sciences, and researching and preserving the world's oceans. Ocean Voyages is led by Mary Crowley, and provides unique opportunities for getting aboard vessels around the globe.

The 2008 Festival of Sail on San Francisco Bay, from July 23rd to 27th, 2008 is one of those special opportunities to climb aboard ships from the past. Ships of wood and steel, where miles of lines terminate on fife rails with belaying pins, and much of the work is done with "Norwegian Steam" - human muscle - are a reminder of how those who crossed oceans and spread cultures around the world did it all.

If you get a chance to go to one of these, just do it. These pictures offer a little taste of the adventure. And, as the simplest of examples, here are two short clips of hoisting the main, and four jibs at one time. Enjoy.

Rick Van Mell

Proud & strong ...	Kaisei is ...	ready for sea.	From dolphin striker ...	to masthead ...
rigged & ready ...	fife rails ...	shipshape and ...	furled.	To call the watch.
Enclosed bridge & ...	nav station.	Instruments aloft ...	masthead exhaust!!!	Canadian ketch ...
Oriole ...	crew muster ...	standing by to ...	cast off ...	gathering way ...
good crowd ...	out to sea.	Lots of lookers ...	who'd like to go.	Crew's relaxed ...
guests too.	Casual briefing ...	& a cup of java.	Crew boarding.	Future mariner is ...
full of questions.	Looking aft.	First Mate Matt	Great guests	Casual name tags
Safety briefing	Prepare to cast off ...	forward spring line.	Safety harness.	Capt'n Josh says ...
cast off.	Bay Lady crosses ...	astern.	Clear astern.	Gaskets off the ...
main sail.	Under way ...	guest at the helm ...	cameras ready ...	aim and ...
fire!	Standing by the braces	Enemy sighted.	Symmetry!	Stand by to hoist ...
the main ...	(got it?) ...	sweat the throat ...	and the peak ...	once more, together ...
Almost up.	Ferry Building	Time to relax ...	and enjoy.	All hands aloft ...
at the course yard ...	over the crosstrees ...	and on to ...	topgallant yard.	Up she goes ...
(hang on!) ...	At the knock staysail.	Hands aloft ...	let go the gaskets.	Oriole's looking ...
for wind.	So is our crew.	Ready on staysail downhauls ...	up they go ...	and sheeted home.
She's got breeze.	A chilly bridge.	Coil lines, fore & aft.	The Rock.	Concentrtion.
Four jib sheets.	An Islander 36 ...	closer in.	Golden opportunity.	Jeremiah O'Brian
Going out ...	the Gate.	Like days long gone ...	wood & gaffs ...	beat to windward ...
friend or foe? ...	it's the Californian.	The old meets ...	the new ...	close aboard.
Looking pretty.	Alma at sea.	Eagle sets sail	Californian looks ...	like Lynx
Close aboard.	Picture time.	Mile & Seal Rocks	Little Nina	Bounty hoists ...
main & fore yards	Parade begins	Lets go!	The chase is on	Lynx heads up ...
to cross astern ...	very nice!	In the lead.	Steel - Schooner - Ketch	In to the Bay ...
let all kites fly ...	gaining speed.	In 1492, Columbus ...	crossed the ocean ...	(must have been nuts) ...
would you?	Who's that ...	astern? ...	Bounty!	Full & drawing.
Coiled & ready.	Triple protected!	Presidential Potomac	Another Islander.	Well trimmed.
Forward lookout.	Wing & wing ahead ...	Closing in ...	Eagle flies	Old & new.
Tiny history.	Good omen.	Bountiful rock!	Turning the corner	Gas Light
Alma	Still there!	Eagle looks ...	great from ...	almost any ...
perspective.	Robert C. Seamans	A fine salute to ...	the great crew ...	on Lynx
Trouble docking!	Backing in to ...	Pier 40 ...	alongside ...	move the ...
boarding ramp ...	and gangway.	Mary Crowley, Ocean Voyages ...	made it all possible. THANK YOU!!!

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