Sailing Enthusiasts Buoyed by Annual Tallships Festival

Historic vessels glided into Dana Point on Saturday under perfect winds during the 10th annual Tallships Festival, wowing binocular-toting beach-goers who marveled from the harbor breakwater.

Robert Landry, 39, sat with his legs dangling over the rocks and squinted into his camera as he waited for the 130-foot brig Pilgrim to sail by.

“These boats are amazing,” he said. “I love sailing, but my wife gets seasick just sitting in a bathtub. So we can still enjoy it from here.”

This was Landry’s third year at the event, which celebrates Dana Point’s maritime heritage. The Pilgrim, which turns 50 years old this week, replicates the ship that city namesake Richard Henry Dana sailed aboard in 1834 during a voyage to Southern California from New England.

“Today we also celebrate the return of the Pilgrim from its summer cruise,” said Dan Stetson, director of maritime affairs for the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point.

The summer cruise is run by a 35-member crew that toured Mexico, Santa Barbara and Marina del Rey during August. Most of the members are novice sailors who trained in the spring for the summer cruise.

Nine other California tall ships paraded behind the Pilgrim as it approached the harbor.

With volunteers clad in pirate costumes and live flute music on stage, the 19th-Century atmosphere made Burt Lieb, 64, reminisce about when he first saw Dana Point 40 years ago, before the harbor was built.

“I remember looking out to this area and thinking to myself, this must have been what Richard Henry Dana saw. It was beautiful,” Lieb said.

Meanwhile, contemporary, handcrafted ships were being pieced together at the ninth annual Seafest in Newport Beach. A black wooden pirate’s boat called the C-Witch caught the attention of curious crowds that marveled at its functioning 10 cannons, electronic parrot perched on the mast and ornate decor.

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Glenn Blackway, co-owner of a Huntington Beach casino, said the boat is one of many things he designs as a hobby.

“I once built a 12-foot dollhouse for my daughter,” Blackway said. “And there was a castle I did. I love to build things.”

He quipped: “It’s a good way to meet women.”

His 19-foot-long vessel, with 14 sails, golden lanterns and a decorative gem-studded crown in the back, holds up to four people, Blackway said.

“I plan to sail it for fun,” he said. “But I’m also offering to have children with illnesses, like those with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, aboard so they can enjoy it too.”

Blackway’s ship was one of 35 wooden boats displayed Saturday. The kickoff of the 10-day summer celebration included food booths from various local restaurants, vendors and boat races at the Balboa Park Peninsula.

The highlight was the Nail and Sail contest, which requires teams of two to build their own boat with non-electric tools and race in it.

Allen Cintron and Stephen Sharp were the only team willing to test their architectural skills Saturday. No other teams showed up for the race. This year was their second time competing in the event. As they sawed and nailed the wooden planks together, they joked with onlookers.

“This baby will float,” Sharp, 31, said. “Although we did design it last night with half a bottle of Scotch.”