In days of past it was common to see the Tall Ship in the sleepy harbor picking up supplies for the long journey to the north. They were the transport of choice for explorers and pirates alike, but tall ships are today far from ancient relics of a bygone era.

I’m personally fascinated by these marvelous vessels with their complex rigging and billowing sails. It’s like seeing a live history lesson.

The term “Tall Ship” has been used occasionally since Shakespearian times. Most agree, though, that the term was first used regularly following the organization of the first Tall Ship races. Today, the term is used frequently as a generic description of traditional sailing vessels of all rigs.

The Los Angeles area is home to a number of tall ships. The majority of those Tall Ships are floating classroom for young people in middle and high school.

In San Pedro, the twin brigantines, the Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson are operated by the Los Angeles Maritime Institute. Youngsters in the world of tall ships, the two ships were built in 2002 using both traditional and modern ship-building methods. Like most other tall ships, the Irving and Exy Johnson are also primarily used for youth education programs and are sometimes off traveling to other ports. When they are home the two tall ships can be seen at Berth 78, near the Fish Market at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. (https://lamitopsail.org/about/).

Its one thing to see the tall ships from land, but it’s an entirely different to experience stepping aboard the floating beauties of art and setting sail and leaving normal life on land behind for a short while. Feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair and feeling for yourself what it is like to be powered by nothing more than wind billowing in the sails above your head. So grab your pirate hat, spyglass, patch the eye and give the Captain an “ARRR as you step aboard. But the true highlight is to partake in a live the cannon battle.

The Exy Johnson and Irving Johnson tall ships carrying families and friends meet at San Pedro Harbor to battle firing real cannons. The ships took turns circling each other in the water, blasting cannons. Crew members shouted “fire” before lighting the fuses that would seconds later erupt with loud, roaring cannon fire, billowing plumes of white smoke out of the muzzle and across the deck. The experience you get is what it was like to be ambushed by pirates or enemy vessels as the cannons thunder to left, then to your right then from all around.

It is an eye-opener to see how much work the ship’s crew has to do to get it seaworthy and prepare for battle. You just don’t realize how much work goes into everything. Everyone on the ship has a job to do and if one person is off, everything is off.

The majestic Tall Ships are a spectacle not to be missed. Their billowing sails, towering masts and long wooden hulls continue to draw enthusiastic crowds at an even-growing number of classic sailing events around the world.