Tall Ships Arrive for Tours, Cannon Drills

LONG BEACH — Rain didn’t hamper the Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington tall ships from docking Tuesday afternoon at Rainbow Harbor for the third annual Tall Ships Tour.

Visitors were taken on a free tour led by costumed crew members.

The boats are replicas of Spanish ships that carried goods between the Americas and China during the 1700s. The ships are docked in Long Beach for the tour, which is sponsored by Voyages of Rediscovery, an education program about the Pacific Coast.

“Maritime awareness really broadens the children’s horizons outside their regular daily existence,” said Lynn McFarlane, a manager at Voyages of Rediscovery. “It definitely brings history alive.”

Various activities and tours on the ships will run through Feb. 7.

Education programs that trace the steps of early explorers of the California coast are offered to fourth- and fifth-graders. Cost is $5 for dockside tours and $30 for sailing tours. Self-guided tours will be offered weekdays except Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $7 per family, $3 for adults, $2 for students and senior citizens and $1 for children. Reservations are not required.

Passengers can watch the crew perform cannon drills during three-hour battle reenactments Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Cost is $40 per adult and $20 per child. Sunset sails will be available Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. and cost $35 for adults and $15 for children.

For reservations, call (800) 200-5239.