This summer, witness a larger-than-life battleship make history in the Baltimore Harbor at the grand commissioning ceremony of the USS Carl M. Levin.
Coined with the nickname “Baltimore Destroyer,” the USS Carl M. Levin is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built with air and missile defense capability. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission surface combatants that serve a vital role in global maritime security. Built to lead a surface fleet in military protection, the vessel boasts high firepower, quick reaction time and increased electronics for strategic defense.
This June, join the locals, Navy community and sailors to toast the ship with receptions and a celebratory commissioning day. The festivities kick off with “Tin Can Thursday” at McGarvey’s restaurant in downtown Annapolis, home of the Naval Academy. Be sure to head to the Baltimore Inner Harbor for the main events. The ship is set to arrive the week of June 19 and will make Pearl Harbor, HI, its homebase post-commission.
Stay tuned for updates at baltimoredestroyer2023.com
Commissioning Eve
Gala & VIP Reception
Friday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Four Seasons Hotel, Inner Harbor
Commissioning Day
Dignitary & Crew Breakfast
Saturday, June 24 (morning; time TBD)
Baltimore Harbor
Official Commissioning Ceremony
Saturday June 24 (afternoon; time TBD)
Baltimore Harbor
NEWPORT, R.I., April 18, 2023 -- The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) will offer its 2023 Annual National Women’s Sailing Conference at the Sail Newport Marine Education and Recreation Center, Saturday, June 3, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Newport, Rhode Island. The in-person event welcomes women sailors of all levels and ages, offering a range of workshops including the popular “Take the Helm” track, an introduction to sailing for women.
Programming will include a full day of classroom, dockside and on-water workshops taught by experienced female instructors from across the country. There are tracks for all levels plus additional courses to choose from. Sailors can learn the basics of boat electrical systems and sail trim, and practice navigation using either paper or electronic charts, overboard crew rescue, and more. Boats of various sizes will be available as floating classrooms.
An in-person pass to the event is $250 and includes breakfast and lunch, while a virtual attendance pass is $65. Both in-person and virtual attendees enjoy post-conference access to virtual panel discussions that include topics for cruisers, racers and do-it-yourselfers.
A highlight of the event is the announcement and presentation of the 2023 Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award recipient, co-sponsored by NWSA and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS). This award recognizes an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing.
Primary event sponsors include BoatUS, Alexander/Ryan Marine Safety-Lalizas LifeSaving, and Dig Down Media. A scholarship fundraiser brunch will be held Sunday, June 4, in Newport, requiring advance tickets, but conference attendance is not required.
Register at nwsa.quvent.com. Send conference questions to conference@womensailing.org or call 985-247-8919. For information on NWSA membership, visit womensailing.org.
Although the official first day of summer isn’t until June, Memorial Day weekend feels like the ultimate summer kickoff. From boating, BBQs and re-opening of seasonal businesses, it’s also known to many boaters as the start of the season. Each year, we hope for sunshine and clear skies to honor such an important holiday.
If you’re not heading to the beach for Memorial Day, get outdoors and check out the following events featuring food and music festivals, tours of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels, boat parades, shows, fundraisers and honorary celebrations that salute our military services.
Los Angeles, CA, May 24-27
New York, NY, May 24-30
Boston, MA, May 26-28, Location: Harvard Athletic Complex
Lakeville, CT, May 26-29, Location: Lime Rock Park
Wareham, MA, May 28, Location: Main Street
Stonington, CT, May 29, Location: U.S. Coast Guard Foundation Headquarters
Bar Harbor, ME, May 29, Location: Village Green
Chestertown Tea Party Festival
Chestertown, MD, May 26-28, Multiple locations throughout Chestertown such as Roy Kirby Stadium at Washington College, Wilmer Park, Heritage Village and stages throughout town.
Baltimore, MD, May 27-28, Location: Maryland Zoo
Timonium, MD, May 29, Location: Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens
Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony
Washington, DC, May 29, Location: Navy Memorial Plaza
Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Summer
Virginia Beach, VA, May 26-28, Location: 17th Street, 24th Street and 31st Street Parks, and the Heroes’ Walk displayed along the boardwalk
20th Annual Coastal Edge Steel Pier Classic
Virginia Beach, VA, May 26-29, Location: 1st Street Jetty
Coastal Empire Run to Remember
Savannah, GA, May 26, Location: U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Savannah
Palatka, FL, May 26-28, Location: Downtown Palatka’s waterfront
Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 27, Location: Las Olas Oceanside Park and along Las Olas Blvd. Classic Car Show located between Las Olas Blvd. and Seabreeze Blvd.
Air & Sea Show and U.S. Army SaluteFest
Miami, FL, May 27-28, Location: Miami Beach
Green Cove Springs, FL, May 29, Location: Spring Park
Boca Raton Memorial Day Celebrations
Boca Raton, FL, May 29, Location: Ceremony at Boca Raton Cemetery and concert at Mizner Park Amphitheater
Monterey, CA, May 25-28, Location: Monterey County Fairgrounds
San Diego, CA, May 26-29, Location: USS Midway Museum
Simi Valley, CA, May 27, Location: Rancho Santa Susana Community Park
Morro Bay, CA, May 27-29, Location: Morro Bay Park
Memorial Day Sunset Sail on Freda B
San Francisco, CA, May 28, Location: Sausalito Yacht Harbor, Slip 465
52nd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival
Seattle, WA, May 26-29, Location: Seattle Center
Brinnon, WA, May 27-28, Location: 251 Hjelvicks Road
Constructed in Sweden, the Vasa was launched on August 10, 1628, but unfortunately, it didn't sail very far before it capsized due to strong winds, taking on water through its open gun ports within a mile of its departure.
However, the hull of the Vasa has been remarkably preserved thanks to the use of the preservative agent, polyethylene glycol, since its excavation from the seafloor in 1961. This exceptional preservation has allowed researchers to access valuable information that would have otherwise been lost. Now, with the aid of DNA testing, researchers are gaining even more insight into the identities of those who perished when the Vasa sank.
By utilizing bones retrieved from the vessel, as well as those exhumed from their burial sites, the Vasa research team has successfully employed nuclear DNA testing to uncover evidence that women were present on the ship. Considering the rarity of women being aboard a ship at sea during the year 1628, this discovery is quite significant. Beginning with one woman in particular, the researchers are gradually uncovering more information about why she, as well as other women, were aboard the Vasa.
The research project on the Vasa and its enigmas is spearheaded by Fred Hocker, who serves as the director of the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. According to Hocker, the spine of the woman found on the ship appeared to exhibit signs of having undergone arduous physical labor. Although it is unclear why the woman, known only as G., was on board the Vasa, researchers have suggested that she may have been the wife of a sailor or possibly disguised herself as a man. Despite this lingering uncertainty, the researchers are committed to conducting further investigations to uncover the complete story of who was present on the Vasa.
For the full story visit The New York Times.
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