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Schooner Amistad – A Tall Ship Adventure


Documentary of Sankofa Sail – onboard education program of Amistad America. Three Canadian teenagers discover a new world, sailing aboard of a famous tall ship – the Freedom Schooner Amistad – Onboard photography by Wojtek (Voytec) Wacowski. Produced by Marie Thompson – CBC Halifax.

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Tall Ship Semester for Girls


The Tall Ship Semester for Girls (TSSG) provides a high school semester of academic instruction and credit. The course is experiential in nature, meaning that the academic thread is integrated into hands-on experiences and activities that happen in the San Francisco community and in foreign ports during the voyage. www.tallshipsemester.org

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Fort Morgan Alabama Shipwreck – Gulf Shores Beach


Shipwreck of pre civil war ship washes ashore 5 miles east of Fort Morgan Alabama.

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Finding the Titanic


Bob Ballard relives one of the greatest moments of his career as a deep sea explorer — finding the Titanic. Explorer: 25 Years airs Monday, April 19, at 9P ET/PT

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Portsmouth – Hampshire, A Ship Building Town Of Significance

Portsmouth in Hampshire, now a city, was founded in 1180 by Jean De Gisors, a merchant and landowner. He owned land on Portsea Island and found an inlet on the island which he believed was ideal for docking ships. He divided land around the port into plots, built housing, started the market, and by 1194 Portsmouth was given a market charter.Early in the 13th Century Portsmouth had a population of around 1 200 and was considered to be a very important port. Merchants exported wool, grain, wine, woad, wax and iron, from this port.Portsmouth evolved into a thriving community, was home to a hospital (Domus Dei), a leper hostel on the outskirts, and was burned down in ongoing skirmishes between the British and the French in 1338, 1369, 1377 and 1380.After the last attack, the town was fortified, the Round Tower built and equipped with cannons. Then in 1522, a gigantic chain was stretched across the harbour mouth to protect it from enemies. This would be lowered to allow friendly ships in by means of a winch housed in the round tower.A dockyard was built in 1495 by Henry VII and this changed the destiny of the town. Four breweries were built in 1512 by Henry VIII and the dockyard was enlarged. He also built Southsea Castle, closed the monasteries, and watched his famous warship, the Mary Rose sink in the Solent.Plagues came and went, and as more harbours were opened along the Thames, Portsmouth declined in importance. Civil war came and went, and ships were once again being built after a 100 year hiatus. The dockyard expanded through the 17th And 18th century and a naval academy opened in 1733; by 1871 the population of this town had expanded immensely.Today, Portsmouth is home to a population of 190 000 people, this has been up and down since 1900. Main industries have changed from brewing, ship building and corset making to electronics and tourism, and having the Mary Rose raised from the seabed helped.This was done in 1982 after 400 years of being under the waters of the Solent and it is now a museum. In 1987 Britain’s first iron warship, HMS Warrior, was moved to Portsmouth, so if you enjoy floating history, these are two sights which cannot be missed.Besides these two must-sees there is plenty to do in this city. It is modern, exciting and offers a variety of entertainment. A striking difference between old and new is clearly visible, and popular attractions include, museums, the Blue Reef Aquarium, Pyramids Centre, funfairs, playgrounds, the beautiful sea-front and many more.

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The Mega Cruise Ships Setting Sail In 2010

If you want to go on a cruise and travel in luxury then the new mega ships as they have become known offering a whole host of activities to keep you amused for the whole time on board. As the cruise liners look to differentiate themselves from competitors they are bringing in new fun things to do on board. The latest additions for the 2009 mega ships include rock climbing, ice skating and surfing simulators. There will be another host of ships taking to the seas in 2010, how will they improve on existing cruise ships?

The new ship from NCL is Epic which will make its maiden voyage in June. The ship boasts 128 budget cabins which are around 100 square feet, there will be quad rooms for families and for the upper class cruiser there will be courtyard villas at the back of Epic! Once you have enjoyed the many activities on board you can head for an even meal where you will be spoilt for choice in the 12 restaurants. Epic is set to cross the Caribbean and travel from Europe to New York.

Queen Victoria’s sister, Queen Elizabeth is going to be available to book from October. The main features include a large dance floor, an upgraded interior and a huge library.

Another cruise ship to look out for is the Sea Cloud Hussar. This is a three-mast tall ship which will feature the best facilities and services available they claim and is aimed at a more pure sailing experience. It’s due to launch in the final quarter of the year.

If you want to experience cruising in one of these new mega cruise ships then hopefully these mini cruise reviews of the 2010 ships will give you some ideas.

Ben Stott has been working in the travel industry for over 15 years. He enjoys writing about travelling, destinations and especially cruises.

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Why Choose a Pontoon Boat?

Why buy a pontoon boat?

First of all, it is the only boat that is known as a “Party Boat”. However, if you need additional reasons there plenty. This type of boat offers many attractive features; the low price, plenty of extra room for stretching out or taking a group of people for a ride. They are also easily customized to specific needs, and come in various models. Some pontoon boats are intended for fishing, others for cruising, and some have a dual purpose.

What can I do with a pontoon boat?

There are a wide variety of uses for a pontoon boat. The biggest perk that I know of is that you can fit a lot more people than on most other types of boats. The more, the merrier. Right? There are many accessories available that can be added to your pontoon boat to customize it for your use. You can have bench seating all around the sides, in rows, or just use lawn furniture and tables. Adding a camper enclosure can make most all pontoons suitable for spending a night on board. Attaching a canopy makes your pontoon boat ready for an afternoon cruise with family and friends by providing shade from the hot sun. For the fishermen; you can get built in livewells, rod holders, and bait buckets. The deck of a pontoon boat also makes a great platform for fishing with the buddies. It is also an ideal boat to use for scuba diving. Some models are even fast enough to pull the kids on water skis, wake boards, or tubes.

These boats are also available with freshwater and toilet facilities.

What is a pontoon boat made of?

A pontoon boat is a lightweight vessel. The hull of the boat is constructed of tubes called pontoons, which taper in at the front of the boat. This allows for better movement and speed in the water. An aluminum frame attaches the pontoons to the deck platform. The deck of a pontoon boat can be made out of wood, aluminum or fiberglass. There is a railing all around the deck for safety. This comes in useful for the occasions when the boat is used for party cruising.

Where should I take my pontoon boat?

The best place to cruise on your pontoon boat is in a lake, river, or other calm water. They are not made for the sea because of its shallow hull. Waves over two feet will be washing on to the deck of your boat. So I would stay away from the rough waters of the ocean.

Pontoon Facts:

Depending on the size of the Pontoon boat; it can hold anywhere from 6-17 people.

The sizes range from 14 to 28 feet.

The average price of a pontoon boat is $11,000; with prices ranging anywhere from $7,000 – $30,000 new. A used pontoon boat can range from $1,000 – $15,000.

Pontoon boats use an outboard engine and stern drive; with horsepower ranging from 10HP to 135HP.

Kristy Bateman is the writer for Earl’s Blog on SellUrBoat.com.. These articles are unique and helpful to anyone interested in learning about boating and or fishing. Please visit SellUrBoat.com to view a variety of unique articles from Kristy. SellUrBoat.com is The Simplest Solution to Buying and Selling ‘Ur’ Boat.

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Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – A History Event Preserved

One evening in December 1773 a group of American colonists disguised as Native Americans sailed to Griffin’s Wharf where three British tea ships were docked. Climbing aboard, the colonists began to destroy the tea with axes and hatches. A large crowd watched these events transpire in complete silence. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum was created to commemorate this milestone event that led to the beginning of a revolution.

Established in 1973 the city official recognized its legitimacy as the venue for celebrating the Boston Tea Party. Since its inception the museum has gone on to be the site of a host of events including re-enactments of this historic event.

The museum features an array of exhibits, memorabilia and live historical presentations are collectively used to retell the tale of the Boston Tea Party. Three replica tall ships can also be found here which help tell the story and add a tangible element that fuels the imagination. These ships have been authentically recreated to feature even the minutest of details creating a richly satisfying experience. Visitors can explore the decks, cargo holds and crew quarters on each of the ships. The wharf where the ships are docked also presents a fair amount of space that is used for recreations, exhibitions and displays.

The Boston Tea Room presents visitors with a varied range of cuisine to indulge in during their visit. This dining venue is capable of accommodating up to 500 guests for cocktails, events and dinners in addition to two enclosed show spaces for larger events.

With a choice of Boston hotels to choose from during their travel, visitors will find it quite a task to find a hotel that meets their needs. BostonHotelsEye.com is an online booking site that features a host of hotels in Boston with detailed information allowing visitors to make an informed choice.

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RMS Titanic


This video contains a lot of (very old) pictures on Titanic, and even two short (original) films. It also contains pictures from the famous movie “Titanic” with Kate and Leonardo as actors. It’s a monochrome film.

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Model of the CSS Virginia’s steam engine.


Oops! I had the wrong information about this model steam engine. It’s not the Monitor’s after all. Beautiful Display, but it is not the model of the USS Monitor Engine. It is the engine of the CSS Virgina (Merrimack), the Confederate ship that fought with the Monitor in the Civil War. This model was built by Bernard Denny, a wonderful builder, and resides at the Mariners Museum in Newport News ,Virgina

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