There's a Boat-load of Activities Planned for the 2010 Schooner Days in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

There's a lot going on this weekend, starting with the arrival of the schooners throughout Friday. (The LYNX, which as many of you know, was used to train cast and crew for Pirates of the Caribbean, is at the High Street Landing if you're looking for it!) There are schooners moored everyone along both landings. Take a walk around Olde Towne and check them out, then head for one of the 18 restaurants offering Schooner Fare all weekend long.

Colonial Seaport foundation will be exhibiting and demonstrating the use of historic shipwright tools and usages.

 On Saturday morning, beginning at 9 a.m., there will be all kinds of seafaring activities going on down at High Street Landing and North Landing. Schooners will be moored at both landings, and some are open for tours. The Naval Shipyard Museum will have special children's activities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Navy and the Coast Guard will also be represented, which is just as well since we are going to be invaded by PIRATES right there at the landing! Also there for visitors to enjoy:  Blacksmith works, historic shipwright exhibits and demonstrations provided by the Colonial Seaport Foundation and other maritime related crafts practiced by historic re-en actors, and teams of boat builders from S.A.I.L. will be creating watercraft right there before your eyes! (They will launch the skiffs upon completion on Sunday afternoon.) The Naval Shipyard Museum outdoor activities will end at 1 p.m., but the Museum will still be open until 5 p.m. along with the other activities at the landing.

Learn to build a wooden skiff at the boat building tent located at the High Street Landing on Olde Towne's waterfront.

 Also on Saturday, head up to North Landing to visit the Hoffler Creek exhibit and the Elizabeth River Barge, with special activities for children on board. Col. Crawford will be giving free tours of Olde Towne/Downtown starting at 2:30 and 8 p.m. from the Renaissance Hotel entrance. And many of the merchants on High Street will be participating in a "Sail-a-Thon" sale or give-away.

Privateer "Lynx" docked at Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia's High Street Landing for Schooner Days. Photo by Mike Goodwin.

 On Sunday, boat building will continue at High Street, and the LYNX will be offering tours during the morning for a $5 donation. You can take a cruise on the SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. from the dock at Ocean Marine ($16/person--check www.spiritofindependence.net for more info). The LYNX will also take off on a river cruise Sunday afternoon (see www.privateerlynx.org for details and cost), or you can head down to the Commodore for the Natchel Blues Network's "International Blues Challenge.

We've ordered sunshine all week-end long, so get out and about and aboard Schooner Days. Whatever you do, spread the word, and don't miss the boats. See you there!