The Barque Eagle

So here's a cool thing about New London.

The Barque Eagle. America's Tall ship.

Every country -- who participates -- has one Tall Ship and America's Tall Ship is the Barque Eagle. And her homeport is right here in New London, Connecticut.

That's right, people. Ol' Barquie, as we call her, lives right here with us in the Whaling City, usually at Fort Trumbull, but lately, downtown, right at City Pier. So when one walks down State Street, one sees her mighty masts:

Isn't she gorgeous?

Isn't she grand?

The Eagle is from Germany, originally. Wait, let's let the Coast Guard tell us about her:

Originally operated by Nazi Germany to train cadets for the German Navy, the ship was taken by the United States as a war prize after World War II. In 1946, a U.S. Coast Guard crew - aided by the German crew still on board - sailed the tall ship from Bremerhaven to its new homeport in New London, Connecticut. Eagle returned to Bremerhaven for the first time since World War II in the summer of 2005, to an enthusiastic welcome.

Here in New London we also gave the ol' war prize an enthusiastic welcome during OpSail, in 2012:

'Course, we always give Barquie an enthusiastic welcome, all the time, but we especially did that day, when Mistah and I, and MB and MD, and Mumsie and Kelly all got to Ocean Beach by 9 a.m. -- on Sailfest morning, thankyouverymuch -- and were there for hours because the Parade of Tall Ships was delayed by a faulty anchor on a visiting ship.

Amateurs.

Anyway.

No matter where one is when one sees the Barque Eagle, she is magnificent . . .

. . . sharing her homeport with her Tall Brazilian Friend . . .

. . . at the bottom of State Street . . . .

. . . or, maybe most dramatically of all, in front of the cityscape of her homeport, seen from the water:

Right?

Is she not gorgeous?

Is she not spectacular?

How we love you, Barquie.

Bon Voyage!