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.