Lucky few get to join the Roseway crew

As the first of thousands of people began laying claim to their spots to view Thursday's Grand Parade of Sail, a handful of people were able to snag the best seats in the house.

The Roseway, which was taking members of the media and VIPs out for the parade, took a handful of paying customers along, too.

"We were standing at the right gate at the right time when we heard the announcement," said Neal Anderson of River Falls, Wis. "I don't know if we know how fortunate we were to catch this trip."

Anderson and his friend, Dennis Johnson, also of River Falls, planned months ago to come to Duluth for this year's Tall Ships festival.

"We missed this last time, so we were sure we were going to make it this year," Johnson said. "This is a very fortunate thing for us."

Also getting $75 seats aboard the ship were Steven and Joan Sternig of Eagan, Minn. The couple had come up for the day to check out the festival. Neither had seen a tall ship before. "We happened to be walking by and I heard them say something about coming aboard," Joan Sternig said.

The couple had been interested in doing a cruise but had not acted soon enough this spring when day sails were first offered. "This is great," she said.

Bill and Cindy Murphy came from the Denver area specifically for the Tall Ships festival. They had bought tickets for a day sail this spring, but Thursday morning while standing near the Roseway they heard Capt. Dwight L. Deckelmann announce that he had 12 spots available aboard. The couple jumped at the opportunity.

"We figured we would go twice," Cindy Murphy said. "What are vacations for? This is so much fun."

The Roseway left its dock by the Paulucci Building at Canal Park shortly before 10:30 a.m. Within minutes, willing passengers were put to work pulling on lines to raise the schooner's sails.

"We're paying to do this," noted Steven Sternig.

"It's hard work, but this is fun," Joan Sternig said. "I never thought we would sail on one of these ships."

Four-and-a-half hours later -- after a pleasant sail on the big lake and being part of the largest parade of sail seen in Duluth in decades -- the Sternigs were still enjoying themselves as the Roseway returned to her dock.

"This is the best thing we have ever done," Steven Sternig said.