(SOUTH HAVEN, Mich.) -- Individuals, school groups and senior citizen groups can take a cruise on the WINDY II during the tall ship's visit to the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven May 31 to June 5.
The WINDY II is a 150-foot four-masted barquentine that can fly up to 14 sails. She is newly built and has been sailing since May 25, 2001.
Passengers who take the cruise can actually help sail the tall ship by hoisting its sails, and may even taking a truck at the wheel. WINDY II is the largest fully USCG certified sailing ship on the Great Lakes. She will be offering one and a-half hour cruises on Lake Michigan from Friday through Wednesday. This is a rare opportunity to experience the majesty of this large ship powered solely by the wind, as were the sailing ships of the past. Sailing the WINDY II is like taking a step back in time, while still enjoying the benefit of modern equipment and safety features.
Special cruises are being reserved during weekdays for student groups and senior citizen groups for maritime heritage educational sails.
Passengers will participate in the sailing of the ship while learning basic nomenclature, sailing principles and about their maritime heritage.
WINDY II 's homeport is Navy Pier, Chicago where she joins the four-masted schooner WINDY, built in 1996, which visited South Haven on her maiden voyage home. The WINDY II is a near sistership to the WINDY, but with a different rigging and deck configuration. According to Museum Executive Director Barbara Kreuzer, while both vessels are not exact replicas of any one ship, they accurately represent the commercial sailing vessels that were still operating in the early 1900s. Both ships are designed to accommodate public cruises, private charters and educational programs.
Cruises for the general public will be available on Saturday, June 1 at 11:00 a.m., 1:00, and 3:00 p.m. Sunday cruises are scheduled for 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. In addition, the ship is available for private charters each of the evenings that she is in port.
Fares for the hour and a-half cruises are $25 for adults and $15 for seniors over 60, and for children 12 and under. School groups of 50 or more may participate in the maritime heritage education sails for $10 per student Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The Michigan Maritime Museum is the proud sponsor of this port visit. To schedule a school group, a cruise for senior citizens, or for private charters on the WINDY II, call the Museum at (616) 637-8078 or (800) 747-3810.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Michigan Maritime Museum is a private, tax-exempt, non-profit institution that operates with no tax-based funding. The Museum is located at 260 Dyckman Avenue, at the bridge, in South Haven, Michigan.
The Michigan Maritime Museum is a proud member of the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA). For regional travel information, contact WMTA toll free at 800-442-2084 or log on to www.wmta.org. Founded in 1917, WMTA is the oldest continually-operating tourist association in the nation. Representing 41 counties from the Michigan-Indiana state line north to Mackinac Island and covering the entire west half of the Lower Peninsula, WMTA is dedicated to proving that "Nobody Knows West Michigan Like We Do!"
Contact: Barbara Kreuzer, Executive Director
Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven
(800)747-3810 or (616)637-8078
Email: barbarammmuseum@accn.org