Masts, Sails, and Sky -- Sailing on the Tall Ship, Manitou

The previous day's Schooner Festival in Traverse City, Michigan, had done much to convince my land-loving wife to join me on a seafaring adventure that I'd looked forward to for a very, very long time. We were over a week into our 25^th wedding anniversary vacation and as we stood on a jetty and watched the various schooners and tall ships parade in the dark, blue water, it was obvious to her, and I, that a "normal" transit across the Grand Traverse Bay did not involve the ship keeling over with its sails nearly in the water.

Why such a picture? Perhaps I'm largely to blame for that fearful notion. She knows that I have been fascinated with tall ships and the tragedies that sometimes befall them. She's read my articles on the Albatross and S/V Concordia sinkings. So, it was with much relief that I heard her say, "I've been talking with a gentleman who has been aboard the Manitou - and he loved it... Said it didn't rock much at all."

Two days later we were being welcomed aboard the 114-ft Manitou by her cheerful captain and crew. Built in 1983, the tall ship Manitou is a replica of an 1800's "coasting" cargo schooner, similar to those that sailed the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. She has room for 62 passengers, but tonight's sunset compliment was in the mid twenties.

Right off the bat, my wife took the camera while I joined the ranks of volunteers as we gripped ropes and hoisted the mainsail. That's right. When you sail on the Manitou you can get right into the action. I never realized that sail cloth could be so heavy, but then again, maybe I was pulling more weight than I should have.

Up to this point we had motored out into the bay, the time just after 6 pm. The sails were up on both masts, and without fanfare or announcement, I felt the distinct ceasing of the engine; the faint mechanical hum from below disappeared, and the Manitou relaxed into her element, propelled solely by the wind. I'd been waiting for this to happen, very conscious of a favorite moment from the movie, White Squall. (See here, for more.)

At first, my wife and I sat towards the middle of the ship, between the two towering masts. Various crew scrambled forward and aft, responding to the captain's orders and expertly hoisting additional sail. The ship answered to the extra canvas, and as we tacked out into the Grand Traverse Bay, I couldn't sit still any longer.

Leaving my bride, I grabbed my camera and gingerly walked down the deck, finally grabbing a vacant spot atop the port (left) deckhouse just in front of the ship's wheel.

The sails above me blossomed taut with wind, the late afternoon sun giving the canvas a comforting, warm glow. Below me, the deck heeled over in an exciting fashion, and from beneath my fingertips the wood took on a life of its own - a kind of musical presence. I was instantly reminded of how one of my Zion guitars feels when a string is plucked hard, and the wood and wire sing with humming sustain. Yeah, it was like that.

Lost in the moment, I fell back against the deckhouse roof and took in the masts, sails and sky. A glance over my left shoulder, and I spied the captain, busy at the wheel.

"She's beautiful!" I called out.

The Captain briefly diverted her eyes to me. Then looking back up at the sails, her face blossomed into a knowing smile. "Thank you," she called back, her grin widening as she spun the wheel to a new course correction.

Later, with a darkening sky of Michigan purple, the Manitou nestled up gently to the dock and the captain and crew bid us farewell. Unbeknownst to us, we'd managed to grab the final 2-hour sail of the 2010 season.

The Traverse Tall Ship Company delivered on a dream of mine. In this world of hurried and noisy travel, the Manitou and crew gave me a taste of a quieter time, not so long ago, when the wind dictated the progress.

Thank you, Manitou, your beauty has quieted my soul, slowed me down and given me a much needed taste of tall ships.

I will be back.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Manitou Photos

► Close-up Photos of Manitou - See my Slideshow -- Click here

► Want more pictures of Manitou? Make sure you click the numbered squares at the top of this article, especially the first one. Make sure you click on the photo itself and it'll open up to a much larger image, giving you a better view of this magnificent ship.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For more information:

TRAVERSE TALL SHIP CO., LLC
13390 S.W. Bay Shore Dr.
Traverse City, MI 49684
Click for a Google map

Call Toll Free:
800 678-0383 or 231 941-2000

Manitou's Facebook page

Traverse Tall Ship Company -- Official Website

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Other Nautical articles by Ron Masters:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

► The Sinking of the School Ship S/V Concordia - (Click here)

► The Sinking of the School Ship Albatross - (Click here)

► History's Worst Maritime Disaster - 10,000 Deaths on a Single Ship (Click here)

► The story of 16-yr old Robin Lee Graham's Solo Sail Around The World. (Click here)

► The Rescue - fictional short story involving a tall ship (Click here)

► The Burning Vessel Miss Kaitlyn Sinks in Indian River - (Click Here)

► The Search for 12 Lost Submarines from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea - (Click Here)

► The Uninvited Wedding Guest - A Ski Boat! (Click here