Tall Ships Return to Kenosha August 9 – 12, 2007

Kenosha, WI (July 23, 2007) - Be a Part of the Majesty! Return to an era when new worlds were discovered by sea, merchant sloops became battle prizes and schooners sailed the Great Lakes at the mercy of nature’s forces and brave crews. Tall ships return to Kenosha’s harbor August 9-12 for U.S. Cellular® Kenosha Days of Discovery ­– a maritime festival along the Lake Michigan shore in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS: Ship tours, sailing excursions, the new U.S. Cellular KidZone, a Kid’s Pirate Look-A-Like Contest, a food & beer garden, live music & entertainment, exhibits & displays, Saturday night fireworks, and more make this an entertaining and unforgettable festival.

WHERE/WHEN/COST: The event takes place at 54th Street and 6th Avenue along Kenosha’s harbor. The opening day Parade of Sails is Thurs. at 5pm. Gates are open Thu. 3-9pm, Fri. 10am-9pm, Sat. 10am-10pm, and Sun. 10am-6pm. Ship tours are Fri.-Sun.10am-6pm. Ticket prices are $5 for all ages on Thurs. and Fri.-Sun.: $10 adults / $5 children (6-15). Children 5 & under are free. Tickets are on sale at the gate and at participating Kenosha area Johnson Bank locations.

SHIP HIGHLIGHTS: The 2007 lineup of ships include The Nina, Madeline, Appledore IV, Windy II, S/V Denis Sullivan, and Friends Good Will. The Nina, from the British Virgin Islands, was built using only traditional tools and techniques of the 15th century. It is believed to be the most historically accurate replica of a Columbus ship ever built. The original Nina was Christopher Columbus’ favorite ship, upon which he logged more than 25,000 miles. The ship was a caravel, which was a common trading vessel during the “Age of Discovery.” In 1992, the newly built replica Nina took part in the film 1492, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Gerard Depardieu. Its mission is to sail as Columbus did, as living history for students. (Source: www.thenina.com)

The schooner Madeline, of Traverse City, Michigan, is a 92-foot twin-masted replica of an 1840’s commercial vessel. 165 volunteers built her over a five-year period. The original Madeline served primarily as a trading schooner, but also served as a lightship and the first private school in the Grand Traverse region. It is believed she was built for owners at Mackinac Island, in Ohio in the winter of 1844-45. (Source: www.mhatc.net/madeline/madeline.htm)

The schooner Appledore IV, of Bay City, Michigan, is owned by BaySail, a private, non-profit organization which supports its environmental education and youth development programs through public sails, private charters, group tours, and port visits. Launched in 1989, she was originally commissioned by Herb and Doris Smith for world voyaging. The schooner is typical of those that once sailed on coastal waters and in the Great Lakes. Why the name Appledore? Herb Smith first saw his future wife Doris while he was sailing a small boat off Appledore Island. Doris, who lived on the Island, was standing in the doorway of her home when he sailed by. (Source: www.baysailbaycity.org)

Windy II is based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the first U.S. certified four-masted barquentine since about 1920. Its mission is to provide an opportunity for people to experience an authentic tall ship and crew while sailing in an idealistic and friendly environment. (Source: www.tallshipwindy.com) The Windy II is available for sailaways during the festival. Sailaway tickets are now available.

S/V Denis Sullivan, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world’s only recreation of a 19th century three-masted Great Lakes cargo schooner. It is a modern educational sailing vessel with a scientific laboratory, two computer workstations and modern navigation and communication equipment. Wisconsin’s flagship, the schooner is an educational sailing vessel connecting learners of all ages to the Great Lakes through experiential learning and technology. (Source: www.discoveryworld.org)

Last, there is the authentic Friends Good Will, of South Haven, Michigan. The original sloop had quite a history. A man by the name of Oliver Williams owned a dry goods store in the Northwest Territory, of what is now Detroit, Michigan. He decided he could order more inventory, which would arrive quicker, from the east if he built a ship. And thus, the original Friends Good Will was built. He would charter her to the federal government for carrying military supplies. The year was 1812, when the War of 1812 was taking place. Unbeknownst to Williams and the others on board, when they sailed to Mackinac Island on July 17 after a military run, it was now on English soil. All on board became prisoners of war, and later were paroled. Friends Good Will became property of the British and was renamed Little Belt. She was recaptured by the U.S. in 1813 at the Battle of Lake Erie. She served in the United States Navy, but was ultimately burned at the hands of the British. Today, the replica serves as an historic flagship for the preservation of traditional maritime skills. (Source: www.MichiganMaritimeMuseum.org)

WHO BENEFITS: U.S. Cellular Kenosha Days of Discovery supports the Kenosha Days of Discovery Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Kenosha area youth discover the importance of our environment by providing sail training and awareness programs, and Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha, an organization that dedicates its fund raising efforts to provide a better quality of life for area youth, elderly and disadvantaged.

FOR EVENT DETAILS: Visit www.KenoshaDaysofDiscovery.com or call (262) 653-4460.

U.S. Cellular Kenosha Days of Discovery Sail Away Tickets on Sale and Volunteers Needed!