For clarification, the USS Constitution typically does not sail or otherwise maneuver under her own power. Instead, she is towed by a tugboat. I think it has sailed under her own power only three times in recent history, starting back in 1997 when it was towed out of Boston harbor, sailed up the coast unassisted for about an hour, then was towed to Marblehead for a visit before returning to Boston. That was the first time in 116 years that it sailed unassisted.
Source: I was crewing on one of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary escort vessels and had a “front row seat” to the event.
How sad. Most wooden ships run by other navies are used as training ships and visit events like Hamburg’s Hafengeburtstag and Sail Amsterdam under their own steam.
It goes sailing around Boston Harbor sometimes. Mostly it acts as a museum for the public.
For clarification, the USS Constitution typically does not sail or otherwise maneuver under her own power. Instead, she is towed by a tugboat. I think it has sailed under her own power only three times in recent history, starting back in 1997 when it was towed out of Boston harbor, sailed up the coast unassisted for about an hour, then was towed to Marblehead for a visit before returning to Boston. That was the first time in 116 years that it sailed unassisted.
Source: I was crewing on one of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary escort vessels and had a “front row seat” to the event.
Cool
How sad. Most wooden ships run by other navies are used as training ships and visit events like Hamburg’s Hafengeburtstag and Sail Amsterdam under their own steam.
None of those were built in 1797. It’s the world’s oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.