Who knows their Nautical History?! Step right up and test your knowledge! What can y'all tell me about my old girl Elissa?
The Elissa...Who Knows About Her?
- Thread starter Simon Sexton
- Start date
Who knows their Nautical History?! Step right up and test your knowledge! What can y'all tell me about my old girl Elissa?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elissa_(ship)
In the age of information, ignorance is a choice.
P.S.- she appears to be your avatar.
In the age of information, ignorance is a choice.
P.S.- she appears to be your avatar.
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HAH! Yes sir, that it is; and she is my avatar, as I've been crewing her for almost seven years! I see a lot of folks on here from up north, so I'm interested to see what they know about her!
After reading WikipediA I did not find much of historical significance that a nautical history buff would need to know regarding the ship. Apparently, she was essentially a barely floating merchant wreck eventually restored by a foundation/museum and got dubbed a national historic landmark. "A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance"... which in this case is...what? That she didn't sink? Wasn't even built in one of our yards! Sorry.
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She was actually built in 1877 by Alexander & Hall as a specialty cargo vessel shipping bananas in Aberdeen, Scotland. She rounded Cape Horn multiple times and sailed the world for decades and eventually was purchased by the U.S. while she was still a sailing ship. In the Civil War, she served in the Texas Navy and saw action in the Gulf of Mexico; after that, she was retired, and was bought by an anonymous company and smuggled cigarettes for decades. Eventually, she ended up stranded and abandoned in a Greek salvage yard where she was purchased by the Galveston Historical Foundation, towed across the Atlantic and restored to her full beauty and original name, Elissa. She costed millions of dollars to restore and is ONE of TWO functional sailing tall ships on the East Coast. She is also going onto 141 years old this next year. This is not to argue, it's just that I've put a lot of my life and passion into this ship since I was 11 years old, and to me she's more than just a foreign boat that didn't sink. You have a very nice boat, sir; I always was fond of Bavarias!!
Bob Taylor tried to get a bunch of B.C. businessmen to buy her when she was still in Greece but a bunch from Texas got there first. Bob had a C.T.37 built for himself that he named after Elissa. I was the proud owner and skipper of her for 10 years. A couple of lovely ladies!
Sure you have the facts right? Civil War was from 1860-1864. She hadn't been built until 1877 as you say.
So, no historical national service ala USS Constitution. No historical presence among the US merchantman ala the Charles W. Morgan. I just wonder why the status of a National Historic Landmark.
The historical connection is the ship made port in Galveston to deliver or pick up cargo twice while it was an operating commercial sailing vessel. That's pretty much it, not much, but it is a connection, no Texas Navy or Civil War history. It is a beautiful ship, restored and sailed by people who love Galveston and it's maritime heritage. I believe one call in Galveston was to deliver a cargo hold of bananas from Central America.
The last time I personally saw her under sail was 2006. We walked way out to the jetties to watch her escort the Navy's newest submarine, the USS Texas into the port of Galveston for it's commissioning ceremonies.
There is a very good old Nat Geo documentary "Tall Ship for Texas" that may be on YouTube or somewhere, that gives the whole story how the "Elissa" came to Galveston and was restored.
No, it is not the USS Constitution, no where near the historical importance or national treasure that ship is. But if you're ever on Galveston Island, I think it's worth the price of admission to go aboard.
There is a very good old Nat Geo documentary "Tall Ship for Texas" that may be on YouTube or somewhere, that gives the whole story how the "Elissa" came to Galveston and was restored.
No, it is not the USS Constitution, no where near the historical importance or national treasure that ship is. But if you're ever on Galveston Island, I think it's worth the price of admission to go aboard.
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She is a beautiful ship. She used to sail up into upper Galveston Bay for the Houston Yacht Club "Elissa Regatta" a fund raising regatta to help keep her squared away. I've seen her under full sail twice and sailed circles around her while she was anchored to get some pictures of our boat near her. She doesn't come up into the upper bay any more because she ran aground once. But she is still a beauty. One of the last of the non replica tall masts and square riggers. Here is a link to a little info about her.
http://www.galvestonhistory.org/attractions/maritime-heritage/1877-tall-ship-elissa
KUDOS @Simon Sexton for a high road answer from a bit harsh post Kings Gambit? Short of what may be called compelling historical significance, it is obvious that Simon is very proud and invested in Elissa. Carry on.
Any vessel that looks that beautiful under sail should be preserved, and anyone who takes part in her maintenance or operation can be rightfully proud.
A term these days with, evidently, no "literal" meaning. For example, consider "landmark legislation" or "landmark event" or some similar thing of significance. By reasoning, an "historical landmark" would be something of significance to history. I should not dispute that Elissa possesses historical significance--one as a functional icon of the Age of Sail, even if an unsung one; but, as a National Historic Landmark? In any event, I agree; she's a beautiful tall ship. I'd love to see her the next time I'm on the Gulf coast near Galveston. I thank Simon Sexton for bringing her to our, and to my, attention!
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Yes, but at what point in that ignorance did somebody decide it was a good idea to hang a monster kite off that sprit?