Adventure on the Horizon

“Mr. Christian, toss the first mate overboard--and 10 lashes for anyone with a tattoo!”

Feel free to create your own high-seas scenario, whether it involves a mutiny or maybe a shipload of crusty pirates of the Caribbean, for a trip on board the real-life Tall Ships Hawaiian Chieftain or the Lady Washington. The ships, replicas of 18th century merchant vessels, are docked in San Diego through Sunday, and move to the L.A. Maritime Museum in San Pedro on Tuesday (through Jan. 31) and to Long Beach’s Shoreline Village, Feb. 1-2. The tour ends at Alamitos Bay, Feb. 3-9.

The public will have an opportunity to experience a shipboard fantasy by setting sail on one of the ships for a battle reenactment, which includes firing cannons into the drink. Or landlubbers can take a dockside tour that includes the great cabin (the navigation station) and the galley--but no actual traversing of waves. Crews will be dressed in traditional costume to answer questions about the ship’s history and life on board, past and present. On the Long Beach stop, two more ships--the Californian from Long Beach and the Swist of Ipswich from the L.A. Maritime Museum--will join in the battles.

Although adventurers of all ages are invited on board for the sails or for the dockside tours, the program was initiated as a hands-on learning experience for schoolchildren. The ships are in the midst of a multi-month tour of the California coast, retracing the steps of early explorers while giving students lessons in how coastal explorers, sailors and traders lived in the 1700s. The student programs integrate math, science, music and language arts, while the public sails are more adventure-oriented.

On Friday, the public activities continue with a leisurely sunset sail scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. at San Diego Marina Kona Kai. Two Saturday and Sunday sails include battle reenactments, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sails are $35; children 12 and younger, $25. The dockside tours are $3; students and seniors, $2; ages 12 and younger, $1 (or $7 per family).

Information: (800) 356-2972.