Blazing cannonades and skirmishing pirates will add flavor to the arrival of three tall ships when they sail into Port Angeles on June 16.
The sailing vessels Lady Washington, Privateer Lynx and Bill of Rights will unload their cannons as they enter the harbor, kicking off a week of activity that offers the public opportunities to ride on each of the vessels as they tour the harbor and even engage in mock battles with one another.
During their grand entrance, however, the ships will be crawling with a crew dressed as pirates, said Les Bolton, executive director of Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority in Aberdeen, who is organizing the arrival of the ships.
“We’re going to be coming to Port Angeles straight out of a film shoot in Aberdeen and Neah Bay,” Bolton said. “This was totally a last-minute situation.
“It’s for a made-for-TV movie whose working title is ‘Blackbeard’.”
Close-up views
Residents who miss the entrance can still board the ships for dockside tours or more elaborate trips in which the vessels re-enact intricate battles with one another in Port Angeles.
But even those who aren’t able to board one of the vessels renown for their tall masts and visual elegance will at least be able to get a long, close-up view.
The Lynx, Bill of Rights and Lady Washington will dock at the Port Angeles City Pier from June 16-21.
After that, the ships will sail to Victoria for a couple of days before heading back to Port Angeles on June 27.
The next day, they will sail to Port Townsend carrying passengers who pay $150 for the ride.
About a half-dozen tickets are still available for this trip, after which the three ships will dock in Port Townsend overnight.
