PORTLAND, Maine - Portland this weekend hosts its first "tall ships" festival in 15 years. Among the vessels in port for the occasion is the Columbia.
Its skipper, Karl Joyner, says it was built as a replica of a fishing schooner that would have worked the Grand Banks off Nova Scotia a century or more ago.
"It's a modern interpretation so it has a few changes," Joyner says, "but the rig, the rigging, the mast, the sails, and the actual hull design are all recreated as close as possible to the original."
Columbia will be the last ship in a parade of sail tomorrow between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. The tall ships, including the Coast Guard training ship Eagle, and a replica of a Spanish galleon, will pass by Portland headlight and Spring Point, before turning to enter Portland's inner harbor.
Some of the ships will be on view Sunday and open to visitors who purchase $15 tickets.
