HMC Ships Oriole and Moncton will be open to the public as follows:
HMCS Oriole: From July 29 to 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the Halifax Waterfront, south side of Svitzer Wharf. HMCS Oriole is the Royal Canadian Navy’s oldest commissioned vessel still in service. She built in 1921 and commissioned in June 1952, and is normally stationed in Esquimalt.
HMCS Moncton: From July 28 to 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on July 31 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Alderney Landing, Dartmouth
The Dutch two masted topsail schooner Wylde Swan will arrive at Tall Ships Quay (in front of the Nova Scotia Power Headquarters) tomorrow morning. She is scheduled to pick up her pilot at 0800. She sails on the 17th.
Saturday brought the Arrival of 2 training ships. The First, The Italian Navy sail training vessel Amerigo Vespucci. Named after an Italian explorer the vessel is a full rigged three-masted steel hull 270.34 ft long, width of 15.5 m 51 ft. She has a draught of about seven metres (23 ft). She was built in 1930/31 and the design was inspired by the style of large late 18th century 74-cannon ships of the line. She is home-ported in La Spezia. I believe she was last in Halifax in 2000.
She will be open for tours at Pier 20 today 1600 – 1830 and 2030 to 2200, and tomorrow 1030-1200 and 1530-1700
The Second training Vessel is the TS State of Maine, which belongs to the Maine Maritime Academy. Built in 1990, she is the ex USNS Tanner (T-AGS-40) and was laid up following an engine room fire in 1993. In 1996 she began conversion to the training ship, and went on her first voyage in 1997. She is tied up at pier 23, and is not open to the public.
The Halifax Joint Rescue Coordination Center is reporting Multiple sailing vessels are in trouble in the mid-Atlantic that were participating in trans-Atlantic races. The Royal Western Yacht Club’s original single-handed and two-handed transatlantic races (OSTAR2017 and TWOSTAR2017) are from Plymouth, UK to Newport, Rhode Island.
JRCC reports At least one vessel is demasted, with others having rigging and or hull damage. Conditions in the area are difficult with 50-70kt winds and 10-15 meter seas (Sea State 8 / 9)
CC-130 Hercules and a CP-140 Aurora aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood, as well as HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN, CCGS Pearkes, CCGS Cygnus and 2 civilian tankers are proceeding to the area. JRCC is coordinating additional assistance from other Atlantic marine rescue centers, including a P3 Orion aircraft from Portugal.
Photos are from the May29th Race Start via twitter.
Update 15:47: 3 vessels triggered emergency beacons just after midnight. 2 are single handed, and the third has a crew of 2. They were 1600nm east of Newfoundland around noon today.
UPDATE 10:48
JRCC is reporting one vessel has motored out of the storm area and is no longer in danger. 2 crew have been rescued by a merchant ship, and the Queen Mary II is on its way to the third.
Additionally a 4th vessel is taking on water 250nm off Newfoundland
UPDATE 06/12 0900: 5 rescues were completed over the weekend.
As 0f 1700 June 10th, the original 3 distress calls were resolved. ALP Forward Rescued 2 Sailors from 1 vessel, The Queen Mary II rescued one from a second vessel and the single sailor on the third vessel was able to motor out of the storm area and was no longer in distress. Merchant Ships MSC Anzou, Labrador and Federal Kushiro provided additional assistance.
The sailor on the 4th Vessel, off Newfoundland was rescued by Thor Magni, with a PAL aircraft overhead.
Yesterday a 406 EPIRB was detected 350nm South East of Newfoundland. The sailor reported keel damage and that he was taking on water. After refueling at the White Rose Platform, a Cormorant helicopter rescued the sailor and flew him to St john’s
The Sailing vessel Sorca, has been lost, while on her way to Bermuda. The Sorca was a regular caller in Halifax, and requested assistance after she began to take on water 155nm SE of Halifax. The Joint Rescue Coordination center dispatched a Hercules and a cormorant helicopter. The 4 Sailors aboard the Sorca were rescued by the Onego Capri. the Cormorant then hoisted the crew and brought them to Halifax airport.
The Tall Ships will be in Halifax July 29-Aug 1st this year. A partial list of Vessels Attending the Tall ships event in Halifax is Below. These vessels will depart Halifax for Lahave France. Additional vessels will take part in an outport program throughout August. Of Note – The Esquimalt based RCN Sail Training Vessel HMCS Oriole is due to participate. Notably absent is the Draken Harald Hårfagre, the Viking longboat currently wintering in Mystic Seaport, though she may participate in the other program.