A share of the spotlight
June Casagrande
Too often, the Hawaiian Chieftain plays wallflower to belle of the
ball the Lynx. But cast a spotlight on this tall ship, and it’s clear
that she, too, deserves some attention.
“She’s a beautiful vessel,” said Lynn McFarlane, a spokeswoman for
the San Francisco-based Hawaiian Chieftain.
Like the Lynx, the Chieftain is in town for educational tours,
cruises and a battle reenactment. The Lynx usually gets more ink,
especially in these times of heightened military awareness, because
of her role in the war of 1812 as a privateer -- basically a legal
pirate ship.
The Chieftain recalls a less turbulent time in history. A replica
of a 1790s European trading vessel, the Hawaiian Chieftain is a
snapshot of an unusual moment in nautical history just before square
sails went out of vogue in favor of speedier sails.
“She stands out from other ships largely because of the square
sails that recall that other era,” McFarlane said.
The 103-square-foot Chieftain was built in Hawaii in 1988. The 11
sails that comprise the topsail ketch make up 4,200 square feet of
sail area.
The Hawaiian Chieftain was last in Newport Beach in January 2002
as part of a West Coast Tall Ships Tour, during which she won several
awards: The Perry Bowl award for the top-finishing tall ship member
of the American Sail Training Assn. and the Black Pearl award for
best sportsmanship among crew.
“The crew alone make her really special,” McFarlane said.
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