Tall Ship Offers Trips Into the Past

A steady trickle of people explored a bit of 18th century history Saturday when they boarded the latest tall ship to dock at Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor.

The replica of a 1780s American Revolutionary privateer schooner called Pilgrim of Newport will be docked for free tours every morning until Thursday.

In the afternoons, the ship will set sail and for $25 take passengers on a three-hour voyage that includes climbing the mast, steering the ship and hoisting the sails, according to the Pilgrim’s captain, Steve Peckham.

“Most people stop by because they see the masts . . . then we’ll talk about the history and what it was like to live on one of these ships,” he said.

About noon on Saturday, Gene Clarkson from the San Fernando Valley visited the ship with family members.

“You don’t see too many of these,” he said. “They’ve done a nice job with the mast, the shape, the wood. It does look old.”

For more information about the ship, call the Channel Islands Harbor visitors center at 985-4852 or Pilgrim of Newport at (714) 966-0686.