Visitors to this summer's tall ship festival in Duluth will have the opportunity to not only tour replica ships at dock but also to sail aboard them.
Two of the vessels probably will be in constant motion for four days, offering four to five tours daily, said Terry Mattson, president and CEO of Visit Duluth.
For people who want even more time on the water, Duluth Rotary Club 25 will be selling berths on a yet-to-be-named ship on its voyage from Duluth to Green Bay. Mattson expects these berths to sell for about $1,200 a pop.
Want even more of a taste? You may want to check the American Sail Training Association's Web site -- www.sailtraining.org -- for information on how to serve as a trainee aboard one of the ships participating in the Tall Ships Challenge: Race to Save the Lakes. The ASTA is not only a co-sponsor of the event but also helps link would-be mariners with tall ships seeking help.
"For young and old people, working on a ship offers a chance to learn about working together as a team," said Erin Short, an ASTA coordinator for the Tall Ship Challenge.
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"The ship comes first. It's less about you than the ship and the crew as a whole," said Short, describing the kind of shared purpose that develops on a voyage.
The challenge, co-sponsored by Great Lakes United, is designed to promote efforts to protect the largest chain of freshwater lakes on the planet. It involves a series of races between the ports of Toronto; Cleveland; Bay City, Mich.; Duluth; Green Bay; and Chicago. The participating cities all chipped in to support the event as well.
