Tall Ships Salute : A Statuesque Lady Gets a Proper Tribute

The last of the world’s mighty windjammers sailed majestically up New York Harbor on the nation’s birthday Friday, past great gray warships and the Lady they all came to honor.

The stately relics paraded slowly between the refurbished Statue of Liberty and Governors Island, where President Reagan and thousands of the rich, wealthy and powerful gathered to review them.

In brief opening remarks, Reagan said the windjammers have long been a symbol “of liberty itself . . . to be as free as the wind.” It was “fitting, then, that this procession should take place in honor of Lady Liberty.”

It was the greatest gathering of sailing ships in a century, experts said, the highlight of a Fourth of July extravaganza centered around the rededication of the 100-year-old Statue of Liberty.

Bands Played

Bands played on the island and throughout the city, and families staked out their spots for the day.

After the 4 1/2-hour sailing parade, the Reagans accepted an invitation to a barbecue aboard the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, their vantage point for the computer-controlled fireworks display.

Later, Reagan saluted the courage of Americans in uniform and prayed “that the call for their courage will never come.”

In remarks prepared for delivery aboard the Kennedy, Reagan set the stage for what was billed as the largest fireworks display in U.S. history.

“Tonight, there is much to celebrate and many blessings to be grateful for,” he said. “So while it’s good to talk about serious things, it is just as important--and just as American--to have some fun. Now, let the celebration begin.”

Millions of visitors poured into the city for Liberty Weekend, and police said a remarkably euphoric mood prevailed.

“I think it is excellent,” said Edward Chang, who came from Taiwan just for Liberty Weekend. “I hope her (a) happy birthday.”

“And millions of years,” his wife added.

“I think it’s the most momentous occasion our country has celebrated,” said Sherm Hotchkiss of Greenwich, Conn. “It wells everybody up, rethinking our country and what we’re all about.”

“You almost have to be an immigrant to really appreciate America,” said 70-year-old Gunter Nestler. “I came from what is now East Germany. The people there are very nice. But they have no freedom.”

Police estimated that 1.8 million people crowded the shoreline and crowded by the windows and on the rooftops of skyscrapers to see the parade of great windjammers up the Hudson River. Millions more watched on national television.

Sailors Line Yardarms

Many of the ships were having to sail so close to the wind that they were using their engines as well as their sails. Some furled their square-rigged sails and ghosted along on their staysails, their bare yardarms and bowsprits lined with sailors at attention.

As each tall ship passed the Statue of Liberty, a small cannon on Liberty Island belched forth a firework cannonball, which burst to leave a small flag of that ship’s homeland, wafting down to the water on a little parachute.

‘I’m So Excited’

“I haven’t been east of the Mississippi until now,” said Beth Campbell of North Ogden, Utah, watching the ships from Battery Park City. “I’m so excited.”

The procession of the tall ships was a sharp contrast to the earlier International Naval Review of sleek modern men o’ war from 13 foreign nations and the United States.

A Marine helicopter brought Reagan to the battleship Iowa at midmorning to review the 33 warships anchored along the Hudson. The President stood behind a bulletproof-glass viewing stand and as the Iowa steamed down the Hudson, the ships under review--ranging from the British carrier Ark Royal to the submarine Bonefish--barked out a 21-gun salute with small saluting guns.

The Iowa’s huge 16-inch guns remained silent for fear of blowing out windows in lower Manhattan.

Jets Overhead

Overhead screamed the jets of the French Air Force acrobatic team, followed by the U.S. military precision flying teams. Navy skywriters emblazoned two American flags and the legend “U.S. Navy Salutes Ships of the World” across the brilliant blue sky.

When the 90-minute review was complete, the helicopter took Reagan to Governors Island to join his wife and French President Francois Mitterrand for the tall ship parade.

At least 265 ships from 30 nations took part in the parade, among them 22 of the roughly 30 Class A sailing vessels left in the world. A Class A vessel is at least 175 feet long. Its mainmast top towers 160 feet above the deck.

The 295-foot Coast Guard bark Eagle led the parade, followed by such ships as the Danmark, a square-rigger from Denmark; the Christian Radich of Norway; the giant 366-foot full-rigged ship Libertad of Argentina, and the controversial barkentine Esmeralda, reportedly used as a torture ship in Chile.

Only a Few Arrests

The city had enjoyed a buoyant mood for Thursday night’s glittering show, culminating with the relighting of the Statue of Liberty, and it was still in sway on Friday. Police said 200,000 people jammed into Battery Park to watch the relighting but there were only a handful of arrests for disorderly conduct.

The Coast Guard estimated that 30,000 ships and boats were packed into the harbor for the celebration and only one, an 18-footer, sank. Its occupants were rescued unharmed. A sailor fell overboard from the carrier John F. Kennedy, but he was retrieved safely in eight minutes.

Toward the end of the tall ship parade, a 40-foot Dutch flatboat collided with a 70-foot American schooner, dismasting the Dutch boat and injuring a woman aboard the American ship. Authorities said the injury was not serious.

The Coast Guard said there were twice as many boats on hand as there were at Operation Sail ’76 in the Bicentennial celebration.

Coolers, Balloons

Early morning commuter trains into the city were crowded with families lugging coolers and picnic baskets. Red, white and blue balloons festooned Manhattan and thousands of people gladly paid $60 apiece for a seat in grandstands to see the tall ships pass.

From a floating shell a band played the national anthem and crooner Andy Williams sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” as the Eagle sailed into view.

Green foam rubber diadems patterned after the statue’s crown were selling for $3 on the street, and they appeared to be the celebration’s hottest item.

An estimated 1 million people soaking up the sun at Coney Island watched the Patrouille de France, the French Air Force team, perform its aerobatic routines with red, white and blue smoke.