Try out your sea legs: Replicas of historic ships dock in Everett

EVERETT -- Gabriel Clemons was a little concerned about encountering bad pirates aboard the Lady Washington on Monday evening.

After walking the deck, feeling the rigging and waiving to passing boaters, the 3-year-old Lynnwood boy declared the ship, now moored in Everett, as pirate-free.

Although Lady Washington was featured in the 2003 Johnny Depp blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean," the ship has a more regal nature.

"We're more the 'Master and Commander' type thing," said Beth Loudon, a crew member of the Grays Harbor-based ship.

Lady Washington and her companion ship, Hawaiian Chieftain, arrived in Everett on Monday and are scheduled to be in town through Wednesday night.

The vessels will offer dockside tours and public sailings to give visitors a flavor of life on the sea in the 18th century.

The ship's captain, "Evil" Ryan Meyer, said the original ship that the Lady Washington is modeled after was a merchant ship, more or less a UPS truck of its day.

The 1750s ship carried freight between colonial ports until the Revolutionary War, when like many ships in the colonies, it became an American privateer, or private warship authorized to attack British ships.

After the war it made history in 1788 as the first American-flagged ship to sail past Cape Horn and eventually to Washington, Hawaii and Japan. The ship opened the black pearl and sandalwood trade between Hawaii and Asia when King Kamehameha became a investor in the ship.

The full-scale replica was launched on March 7, 1989, as part of the state's centennial celebration. It was built in Aberdeen by the nonprofit Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority. Last year it was named the state ship by the Legislature.

During the tours, the crew, all dressed in period costumes, will explain the life of an 18th-century sailor, the workings of square-rigged sailing vessels, and historical exploration of the Northwest Coast.

A variety of three-hour sails cost between $35 and $60, including "Battle Sails" complete with cannon fire and the chance to see the crew hauling line and climbing the rigging.

Sunset sails offer passengers a more hands-on experience with opportunities to help sail the vessels, all during the golden hours of the day -- but without the cannon fire.

David Breen, a fan of the Horatio Hornblower series of novels by of C.S. Forester, visited Lady Washington after work Monday evening. He said it's the fifth ship of its type that he has visited recently, and one of the best.

"I love the romance and everything about it," Breen said. "This is marvelous."

Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.