Standing on deck, soaking in the masts, rigging, and other nautical necessities* was extra thrilling after seeing Elissa’s history video.  Built in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1877, she sailed the seas for 90 years and was bound for a scrap yard in Greece when the Galveston Historical Foundation bought her.  It took 4 years just to strengthen her enough to survive the tow ‘home.’  Had the Foundation known how many volunteers, historical craftsmen, and donations her makeover would take, she’d have probably stayed scrap.  Little wonder that Elissa is one of the world’s oldest sailing hulls still in operation. Galveston has to be proud of her as well as their fortitude in seeing the restoration through.

If you’d love to try your hand at sailing a tall ship, Elissa’s team trains a crew every year to sail to nearby ports in the Gulf of Mexico.  I don’t know that I’m brave enough to put that on my bucket list, but I’m still thinking…

deckprism-sandemanyachtcompany-co-uk

* I’d been reading about prisms set in ship decks to channel light below and was excited to stumble on one in Elissa’s deck.