People get to sail the tall ships in Minnesota

DULUTH , Minn. — As the first of thousands of people began laying claim to their spots to view today’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 out for the parade, took on a handful of paying customers for the trip.

“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 this morning while standing near the Roseway they heard the captain announce the opportunity to ride on the ship, and they 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.”

Steve Kuchera is a reporter

at the Duluth (Minn.) News

Tribune, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: grand parade of sails, news, minnesota, duluth