The Amerigo Vespucci, Norfolk, Virginia. June, 2000.
Sunday seemed rather chilly here in the Glade, so I spent a good part of the afternoon trying to organize some of my BB (Before Betsy) pictures. That’s when I came across the picture above.
I have always enjoyed ships, especially sailing ships. In my younger days I made ship models and I had one of Old Ironsides that took me seven years to complete. In the spring of 2000 I went to Norfolk, Virginia, with my daughter Kelly and her husband, Chuck, to see the tall ships.
The tall ships are large sailing ships from around the world. Although the designs of the tall ships go back to the Age of Sail, most of the ships are relatively modern. There are periodic races between the tall ships which bring the ships to many ports around the world. In 2000 they stopped at Norfolk while on their way to New York.
Although there were nearly fifty ships in Norfolk, one that I especially enjoyed visiting was the Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian full-rigged three masted ship about 330 feet long. The Vespucci is modeled after 18th century 74-cannon ships of the line, although it doesn’t carry any cannon. The hull is painted black with two white stripes to designate what would be the two gun decks.
The Amerigo Vespucci is still used to train junior officers of the Italian navy, and is a beautiful ship. If you enlarge the picture you can see some of the ornamentation on her stern.
With luck I can get Betsy to go with me to see the tall ships some time in the future.
Tags: Tall Ships, Travels, Virginia
Senior Moments 
January 26, 2009 at 10:14 am |
that is just beautiful. It certainly is an awesome art….creating and building ships.
It took you 7 years to make a model??? YOu should post a pic of that George. really.
Suz
January 26, 2009 at 10:39 am |
I am sure Betsy would enjoy that trip very much. The tall ships are just beautiful. Keep us posted!!!
January 26, 2009 at 10:56 am |
That’s an awesome looking ship. I can’t imagine what kind of model took 7 years to comiplete. It must have been one heck of a model and a thing of pride when you were done.
January 26, 2009 at 11:18 am |
Thanks George for sharing your story and picture of the tall ships….My husband would like to see these ships … have a fun day. Baba
January 26, 2009 at 11:32 am |
Thisch a handsome peace of mastercraft. I too find these elaborately made and decorated ships wonderful. My dad used to make models of ships too. He also painted them and I have a few of those paintings on my wall.
Seven years is a very long time to persevere. Still mum has one that was started by my grandad and finished by dad. How many years went I don’t really know.
I beleive a tall ships race is organiced every summer over here too in the town of Turku.
January 26, 2009 at 12:37 pm |
What a Majestic ship !
I have seen the tall ships in Plymouth Harbour , they take your breath away.
Beautiful picture, I’m sure Betsy would enjoy that little outing ….
January 26, 2009 at 12:48 pm |
This is a nice looking ship. In California, I think in San Diego, they have a ship museaum that you can go on some of these ships and look around them.
January 26, 2009 at 1:36 pm |
You and Mike would get along well 🙂 We had a model of the Constitution sitting in our living room for years until I finally banished it to the basement…it was huge! I would love to see the tall ships up close and I know he would, too. Maybe when he retires.
January 26, 2009 at 1:52 pm |
Beautiful So Beautiful! I was always told that you won’t know if you don’t ask, so why is an Italian ship in Norfolk, Virginia? Not that I’m complaining, by no means!!!
Are you guys forecast bad weather tonight & tomorrow? We’re suppose to be getting a bad Winter Storm here in SE MO!
January 26, 2009 at 5:31 pm |
Tricia, the Italian ship was taking part in a race of tall ships which involved ships from over two dozen countries. While there I toured ships from the U.S., Germany, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Chile and Poland. It really was interesting.
We, too, are ‘looking forward’ to bad weather.
January 26, 2009 at 3:32 pm |
I share your love of tall ships! My father had been a sailor for 40 years, and my husband had also been a sailor, only for 6 years, but he never lost his love of ships and especially tall ships
January 26, 2009 at 3:36 pm |
That is an awesome photo. I would love to see some of the Tall Ships!!
Take care and thanks for all the nice comments you have left on my blog.
January 26, 2009 at 4:29 pm |
Wow, what a magnificent ship!
January 26, 2009 at 4:35 pm |
That’s a neat picture. I must admit that the ship looks top heavy. There must be a lot of it below the water.
January 26, 2009 at 5:15 pm |
I think the tall ships are awesome. Would love to actually be able to tour one. Bet you can talk Betsy into this easier than the bicycle for 2.
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January 26, 2009 at 5:40 pm |
I think sailing on the tall ships are very fun! There was one I would go sailing on in Northern Michigan and they would provide you lunch and it was a wonderful way to be out on the Great Lakes!
January 26, 2009 at 6:16 pm |
I discovered I get sea sick on boats/ships, as we went on one on Lake Ontario, and I sat there the whole time looking very green!!
Gill in Canada
January 26, 2009 at 6:33 pm |
Hi George,
That’s a beautiful ship!! I’ve never seen one in person! It must be a thrill to see them! Thanks for stopping by my place. Have a great day!!
sherrie
January 26, 2009 at 7:06 pm |
I would like to have a better view of this ship…I would have had a hard time getting on one to sail across the ocean!
January 26, 2009 at 7:07 pm |
Nifty photo of this tall ship! I always make it a point to go see them when they come to the west coast. While I taught 5th grade, we used to do a six-week social studies unit culminating in an overnight field trip on the Brig Pilgrim in Dana Point Harbor … and I have stories I could tell.
Hugs and blessings,
January 26, 2009 at 7:55 pm |
I have seen these from a distance in NYC. Must be amazing up close like this. Thanks, George!
January 26, 2009 at 8:10 pm |
George,
I just love tall ships and always wanted to go on one of those bare-foot cruises…but that never came to be…so instead I found Windstar cruise lines. We have sailed with them twice now. They have 3 ships, 300 passenger and two smaller ships that cater to about 148 passengers. All three are masted and beautiful. We sailed from Nice, Fr. to Rome one summer on one of the smaller ships The Spirit and this past Spring we sailed on the largest one, The windsurf. They advertise it as casual elegance…no suits, no ties, no big entertainment in the eve. Great food, no assigned seating, Great rooms and greater excusions…and when the captain opens up those sails…ahhhh how nice and so beautiful!
January 26, 2009 at 8:59 pm |
There is something so awe inspiring about tall ships..but I always remember that sailing on them probably was very challenging..
January 27, 2009 at 1:23 am |
Wow, what a ship!
I love those tall ships and some times I see them in my country also. Last summer I saw “Gothenburgo”.
When my father was young he was about to sail onboard our national tall ship “Finnish Swan” to South America. He had bad luck because he came seriously ill before that voyage and so he was left onshore. That is life.
Best regards from Finland.
January 27, 2009 at 7:00 am |
I also love the tall ships. I collect and sell tall ship models, model sailboats, and many other wooden ship models.
I would love to see your hand made model.
Bob
January 27, 2009 at 7:12 am |
Lovely image. We don’t have tall ships here now, well once in a blue moon, but I do know the Star Of India called the Euterpe now was built in Ramsey.
January 27, 2009 at 6:51 pm |
Thank you so much George for your kind words on my blog! Love this post, by the way….Norfolk so often has such great visiting ships, and you have captured a particularly nice one to share with the rest of us!
Marie
January 31, 2009 at 10:14 am |
I am a lover of tall ships too. I saw the USCG Eagle a couple of years ago in Miami – it was awesome! I am saving for a cruise with the Star Clippers – I’m thinking Betsy would even go for that!