Tall ships a hit

SANDUSKY — People got their pirate on over the weekend with the return of the Festival of Sail Sandusky. It mirrored a scene, like straight from Blackbeard's own diary, right on Jackson Street Pier this entire Fourth of July holiday weekend: Feather hats, eye patches, swords and the not-so-distant boom of cannons surrounded visitors for the swashbuckling soiree. (Left to Right) Gene and Ali Kinney and Lauren, Jacob, Emily and Ryan Smith stand in front of the World's Largest Duck. Register photo/COLLEEN CARROLL The event, hosted by Draw Events and sponsored by groups including Shores & Islands Ohio, offered an opportunity for visitors to see professional replicas of some of the most famous tall ships in world history. Both the U.S. Brig Niagara and the Nao Trinidad sat impressively on Lake Erie as kids, donned in tricorns and sashes, climbed on board the massive wooden vessels for guided tours. The Nao Trinidad was the flagship of Ferdinand Magellan's 1519 Spanish Expedition. It did not survive the trip but was succeeded by a sister ship in the fleet, the Victoria. The Trinidad, however, served as the lead ship and would have been the vessel Magellan commanded himself. Magellan was killed during the trip and is likely the last boat he sailed. The U.S. Brig Niagara was at home on Lake Erie's shores, as it was the same waters in which it defeated a British squadron in 1813. The Battle of Lake Erie is considered a turning point in the War of 1812. Detroit was secured, and morale within camps was elevated from the victory. A cannon fires on the Jackson Street Pier during the Festival of Sail on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Register photo/BRANDON ADDEO Both ships, however, were slightly outshined by a less intimidating but no less gargantuan presence, The World's Largest Rubber Duck. Affectionately known as "Mama Duck," the fowl perched itself directly in the center of the pier and hovered over visitors like a looming, plastic sun. Safiyyah Monis and Wesleyann Johnson from Center Line, Michigan, could not have been happier to see it. "We came all the way for the duck," Johnson said. "We dressed in yellow just for the duck." Johnson said it was their first time in the city. Once Safiyyah had enough of the duck, they were excited for a chance to check out the downtown area for some dinner. (Left to right) Pirates, Flint Blackthorne and Benjamin Hornegold stand with Eddie, Kaye and Ziggy in front of the Nao Trinidad. Register photo/COLLEEN CARROLL "This is a really great festival. We'll definitely come again," Johnson said. "Driving into downtown was really cool seeing all of the historic buildings and shops." Rob Gilmore had perhaps found a way to steal the duck's thunder, literally. Every hour on the hour Gilmore, a cannon master from Old Fort, Ohio, was setting off victorian aged cannons from the pier. Gilmore said the skill was shared between him and his father after finding three abandoned cannons in Fremont he began his restoration business. Gilmore has since created cannon replicas for movie sets including The Last Samurai. "My dad and I started it. I always liked cannons and history. I found three cannons in a cemetery in Fremont, and I built carriages for them. From there, it just took off," Gilmore said. Gilmore's setup included a 31-foot Columbia that he built from scraped materials from the Safe Harbor Marina. The boat is called the Motley. On it sat eight custom-built cannons, all exact replicas from 1812. Overall, crowds seemed thrilled with the event, kids were certainly entertained and many adults gladly took on a "pirate's life for me" attitude. "This is great," said Ziggy, from Napoleon. "These ships are incredible."