The waterfront already has a couple of Tall Ships year round
in the MAR and Silva, the first ship "from away" arrived on Tuesday
and since then they have trickled in culminating with the arrival of the USCG
Eagle at 10.30 this morning. I have
visited the waterfront a couple of times
over the past two days, the latest this morning with my buddy Darrell.
It is always nice to visit the waterfront at 5am I have
always felt safe there thanks in part to a small unobtrusive security
presence. The waterfront area now boasts
a number of "tents" to host
the crowds and other activities.
Security has also been stepped up which I can understand given the
international flavour of the event.
There are roving patrols and a guard stationed at each of the access
points to the floating docks at 5am the security compliment far outnumbered the
couple of photographers willing to get to the site before sunrise (although
they have apparently just finished controlling the night time revellers so
essentially we are the second shift). As
a photographer I haven't encountered any problems with overzealous security and
Canadian Security personnel are courteous but I am not too fond of the ugly security
barriers that surround access to the floating docks as they are no more
effective than the rope barrier normally used. I do understand their use when the ship
gangway connects directly to the wharf. In
addition Sackville wharf was blocked off for some reason? Again I am not too sure why the only Tall Ship moored there was the Lynx on
the one side and the HMSC Sackville on the other others have since arrived. By 6am the barrier was removed so it seems arbitrary
and more than a little disappointing that there is no access to that area
during the best light of the day. Having said that the Wharf area to HMS Bounty
was also blocked off after the ship arrived, there is also talk that security
would be stepped up over the weekend which might entail making even more areas inaccessible
outside the ship visiting times (the Canadian equivalent of DEFCON 1, I jest it
is currently at MARSEC Level 1 which is the
security level for which minimum security procedures are maintained at all
times by vessels, ports and marine facilities, as defined by the Marine
Transportation Security Regulations (MTSRs) whatever that
means) which I hope doesn't happen. Anyway enough whinging, I have heard that the event is small compared to 2000, but it doesn't matter, the tall ships are works of art and should be seen, they hint at bygone eras where men where men (i.e. they had little idea where they were in relation to anything else, these ranks have been joined by a crew made up of just woman, they are probably in the same boat - so to speak).
There have been some nice folks at the docks taking photographs one of the first people I met was Peter Spence who has a Nikon Podcast - http://blog2.nikonians.org/northernexposure/ . I also met a photographer from Sri Lanka who was far more interested in talking than taking photographs and a couple from Moncton who had travelled through to have a look. There are a lot of big lenses around and a lot of photogs.
The big ships themselves are a mixed bag, I only shoot in the early morning which is a bit limiting in terms of light, however I don't like big crowds and I prefer not to have hoards of people in my shots, but that is just me. As a consequence certain tall ships are better positioned than others to be photographed. I cannot say that I am happy with the results but it has been fantastic walking the docks in the early morning, soaking in the tall ships atmosphere.
The Roseway
STV Unicorn
CSS Acadia
The Gazela
The Larinda (my favourite small tall ship with a history)
A modern traveller in the midst of the tall ships the Nashira II has the tallest mast of all the yachts in harbour although she may have competition from the Eagle.
There are still a couple of days left and then the Parade of Sails on Monday before the ships head out to Lunnenburg and various other destinations I am hoping to get in a couple more shoots during this time period.
