One difference: The MHA had several months to plan for the Niña and Pinta. Because of that success, we were contacted by the Niña and Pinta,” Wright said. Wright said last summer the MHA was contacted about hosting El Galleon, an authentic wooden replica of a Spanish galleon, when that ship was found to have an open weekend on its itinerary. Woody Wright, a longtime member of the Maritime Heritage Association, said the MHA has established a reputation and a link with organizations across the world that have resulted in ships like these seeking out Traverse City as a stop on their tours. From Traverse City, they travel to Muskegon and South Haven, before heading down the Mississippi River. Lawrence Seaway and hitting the Great Lakes, with stops in New York and Ohio. The ships sailed up the East Coast before entering the St. The Traverse City visit is part of the South American-made ships’ ongoing tours of the western hemisphere. The ships will open for tours from 9am to 6pm daily, starting Aug. The Niña and Pinta will dock at Clinch Park’s northwest wall on Aug. It’s been more than 500 years in coming, but two of his ships are making their way to Traverse City. “So we figured it would be a win-win all around to come check them out, and they are awesome,” said Steve, and air traffic controller.įor more information about the floating museums and the job openings, visit of Columbus’s ships to dock in Traverse City 1492 Sails into Grand Traverse Bay By Ross Boissoneau | Aug. Steve and Jill Burns of Olive Branch brought their 2-year-old, Parker, to see the ships this week because Steve loves military and maritime history and Parker is into pirate ships. Thompson said she’ll remain a crew member “until it’s not fun anymore.” Kodros thought he’d be a crew member for just six weeks, but has stayed nearly a year and a half. “We get to meet a lot of interesting people: People on the crew, people from all over the country. “It’s like feeding your family it’s family style,” said crew member Kathy Thompson, who was a special-education teacher in Minnesota before volunteering in fall 2011. The cook will daily make breakfast and an evening meal for up to 15 people. The good news for anyone still keen on being the volunteer cook is that sophisticated culinary skills are not required. You might end up going three or four days without actually getting clean.” You might have salt on your skin, which gets into your bunk. When the ships are traveling, the hours take some getting used to: Three hours on and three off for chores like being on watch, holding the spotlight and steering. Kodros didn’t sugarcoat the work it can be tough. Louis-area resident swapped a bank teller job for a spot with the Nina crew. “They take good care of us,” said Kodros, 25. The Christopher Columbus Foundation provides the crew with food and bunks. “It is pretty much volunteer,” said Gus Kodros, the Nina’s first mate. Some visitors may see the “COOK WANTED” sign and ask “How do I apply for the cook’s job?” and “How much does it pay?” and “What are the qualifications?” The tours are self-guided and offer informational signs, but the dozen or so crew members answer all questions. ($8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for ages 5-16 and free for kids under 5). The ships are open daily to tours, 9 a.m. Instead, the crew steers by moving a tiller, basically a long stick attached to the rudder. Visitors are often struck by how small the Nina is, that the 1492 crew of 24 lived and worked on the deck and were always exposed to the elements, and that there’s no steering wheel, which wasn’t invented for ships until 1703. The ships, blackened by a pine tar coating that preserves wood, arrived from Peoria, Ill., last Friday and are to leave for Little Rock - via the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers - after Sunday. That’s the 65-foot-long trade vessel Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492 with two other of the world’s most famous ships, the Pinta and Santa Maria, on a voyage that accidentally discovered the New World for Spain and Europeans.īoth the Nina and a Pinta look-alike are docked this week at Beale Street Landing, sent here as floating museums by the Christopher Columbus Foundation. The message is posted aboard the exact replica of the Nina. “COOK WANTED, Inquire with staff,” states the handwritten sign. For adventure-seekers, an unusual job opening has floated into Memphis and soon sails away.
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