• Monday-What'sUP July 11 - 11:21 pm

A three-masted, 137 foot schooner is quite the sight passing under the Portage Lift Bridge, making you think you've stepped back in time, right here in Houghton! Daryl Laitila was on hand and treats us to a slideshow, which is almost as good as being there in person! The S/V Denis Sullivan sails the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean and the tropical waters of the Caribbean, as an educational platform, scientific research vessel, and for nautical training in sailing. She has a professional crew of 10, but there's additional space for 15 overnight passengers, as she often has guest scientists aboard. A modern day schooner is a sailing vessel with two or more masts, with the second mast back from the bow being 'as tall' or taller than the first mast. I'm thinking that has something to do with them also being called 'Tall ships'. Davey, one of the Portage Lift Bridge operators posted a message the other day saying that the main mast of the Denis Sullivan is 95 feet tall and the bridge can open to 100 feet, so she didn't have much headroom sliding under! :->

Very cool. Glad it fit! Later, Skylar.

Great pics & slideshow!

Great pics & slideshow!

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. Beautiful ship!

Daryl, Thank you for your wonderful slideshow of the scooner :) For those of us who can't be 'home', your photography allows us to be 'home'. Thanks again.

Reflection of a time of wooden ships and iron men. Good shots, Daryl!

Great to have science and history wrapped up in one.

Thanks for sharing the slide show with us. I was having dinner Saturday night at the Library when the crew came in. It turned out a very good friend of mine is on the crew for this voyage. They are certainly having a great time sailing this beautiful three masted ship.

I love that bridge... It's my new wallpaper now. It almost looked as if a draw bridge might have been needed!

Are there any "traditional" brigecam shots with the tall ship under it? I would like to add it to my coolection of bridge shots.

Thanks for a terrific slideshow, Daryl! As Mary says, it's ALMOST as good as being there in person.

Why the change from a swing to a lift bridge?

I just added 14 more photos to the slideshow/album. This morning the ship left the dock and went back under the bridge at 10:07 am.

Thank you for your kind words.

Marg,

Of course a good friend of yours is on that ship. You know simply everybody! Including me.

Great Photos. I was actually in a kayak at the south entry lighthouse when this ship rolled in. I thought Pirates were coming to invade.

Now my vacation is over and I'm back in Phoenix but thanks to your pictures I can keep the memory alive.

Thank you so much for the slide show......it was wonderful.....Boy would I like to be on that ship !!!!....I have sailed on a 60ft Sailing Yacht out of the Detroit Yacht Club and loved it....but this ship would be the ride of all rides....there is nothing like sailing on the open water......the sounds and peacefulness are beyond words......sigh

leigh, san antonio: why a lift bridge instead of a swing bridge? Because a swing bridge takes way longer. with the lift bridge up, most vessels can go through, and for taller ships, it does not take nearly as long to raise the bridge.

Gee, today's image looked awfully familiar. I saw the very same ship anchored off of Fayette two weeks ago! I couldnt make out the name from shore though, thanks for the info.
Here's my pic of the ship taken Sat June 25th.


Bob G.

Those were absolutely incredible pictues. What a close fit!!! I remember the days when I was little and my dad was at Tech and we would watch the ore freighters pass through. I miss those times. Why don't the newer ships pass through the Portage anymore, or did they only pass when they were loading up the copper ore?

8:00 EST

S/V Denis Sullivan dropped anchor in Bete Grise Bay, facing westerly for a sunset over Horace Greely, most probably observing dinner at this time.

Tried inviting a "raiding party" ashore for aperitifs, but they are not monitoring CH 16.

Maybe next year ...........

You can see the Tall Ship here:


http://www.mwpr2005.com/Advertising_Subpages%5CDoc7.htm

Yeah, Maija is back!

Great slide show. I spent many hours on the Sullivan and miss it.
Keep sailing!

The Sullivan is always a beautiful sight to behold --- fair winds and good food to the crew --- Steve Books