Tall ship docking in Sandusky Aug. 15-18

SANDUSKY — A tall ship arrives to downtown Sandusky in a relatively short amount of time.Two companies successfully negotiated for the Nao Santa Maria to appear for four days, Aug. 15-18, at a dock beside Jack Daniel's Barrel House Saloon on East Shoreline Drive. It's coming during the North American leg of its worldwide tour.The upcoming event plays off last year's Festival of Sail Sandusky, a tall ships festival. The event, taking place in July 2018, helped commemorate Sandusky's bicentennial, or 200-year anniversary. Thousands attended the festival at Jackson Street Pier."It was such a success for locals and local businesses that we want to try and secure ships here every year with a major event every three years," said Ryan Whaley, the owner of Green Door Mediaworks, a local public relations firm. Green Door worked with Draw Events to bring the Nao to Sandusky.Whaley wants to host future tall ships events in Sandusky, preferably on Jackson Street Pier once its makeover is complete in 2020."It will be one of the best spots on the Great Lakes to host a major ship event," Whaley said. Want to go?What: The Nao Santa Maria's appearance in SanduskyWhere: Jack Daniel's Barrel House Saloon , 1 E. Shoreline Drive, SanduskyWhen: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 15-16; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 17-18Cost: Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids and $25 for a family pass; Tickets good for one-day admission. Bio blast: Nao Santa MariaA press release provided by Green Door Mediaworks provides some background on the tall ship:The Nao Santa Maria's replica comes for the very first time to America to commemorate her original journey 527 years ago, where they were able to discover the Maritime routes that lead them to this continent for the very first time, starring by Christopher Columbus, the encounter between two worlds, in 1492.The ship was built in Spain in 2017 by the Nao Victoria Foundation in collaboration with the Huelva's Provincial Council and launched in the town of Punta Umbria (Huelva, Spain) on March 16, 2018.A faithful design up to full scale and dimensions, where more than 100 artisans of the sea worked on its construction, including riverbank carpenters, rope masters and naval engineers.After 14 months of investigation, more than 300,000 hours of work were carried out along another 14 months for the construction, where the mold of the hull was created.The ship spans 93 feet long and boasts three masts. It's main mast height tops more than 82 feet. There are five sails on its platform and holds five decks.During 2018, the Nao made a successful tour through numerous ports in Spain and France. Then she came back to Huelva, where she departed from Spain in a six-day voyage. On Nov. 26, her great crossing of the big blue began, reaching land in Puerto Rico on Dec. 18.Navigating with traditional techniques and a 17-person crew, after a 23-day course, the ship arrived on the island of Puerto Rico and then started its U.S. tour. Sandusky is its only stop in Ohio.Among the list of locations:• Florida: Fort Myers Beach, Key West, Panama City, Port Canaveral, St. Augustine• Georgia: Brunswick• Louisiana: Baton Rouge• Massachusetts: Newburyport• Michigan: Bay City• New York: Buffalo, Rochester• North Carolina: Wilmington • Ohio: Sandusky• South Carolina: Beaufort• Virginia: Yorktown• Wisconsin: Green BayReach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.The Nao Santa Maria will make an appearance Aug. 15-18 at a dock beside Jack Daniel's Barrel House Saloon in downtown Sandusky.The Nao Santa Maria will make an appearance Aug. 15-18 at a dock beside Jack Daniel's Barrel House Saloon in downtown Sandusky.