Tall Ships in Newport
Cisne Branco from Brazil.
Like everyone else in this town last week, I went down to the wharves to see the sailing ships arrived for the Tall Ships Festival of large sailing vessels. I had the opportunity to board a few of these ships early in the morning before anyone else was around. Most of the crew were still below decks. The few people with me were photographers, but I was wielding a pencil and sketching as usual. It was a remarkable sight, so unusual to see the very tall masts rising up to the sky, contrasting the verticality of masts and rigging against the sky, shore and sea. Years ago it was the norm to see these tall ships on our waterfronts, but we were treated to it for just a few days this summer. And I must add here that the international crews of these ships were all around town and wherever I saw them they were very friendly and a pleasure to meet.
For those who haven’t seen the biggest of these ships under sail, imagine the highest suspension bridge you have seen and visualize a ship under full sail passing underneath, 4/5 the height of the center span of that bridge.
