Greenport plans Memorial Day spectacle

When the Tall Ships sail into Greenport Harbor on Memorial Day weekend after an eight-year break, the spectacle is expected to generate the excitement that always accompanies the sight of the courtly vessels.

Village officials are betting the ships will generate much-needed tourism and revenue. "What we are trying to do with this event is to make as much money locally and regionally as we can," Mayor David Nyce said.

He said the village has a budget of $175,000 for the event and hopes to make that back, and then some. He also said the event would be an occasion to show that Greenport is "open for business."

"We have inexpensive electricity and sewers. We want to take this as an opportunity to showcase our village for economic development," he said.

In 2004, the last time the Tall Ships were in port, they drew 50,000 visitors to the tiny North Fork village.

Nyce and others say this year's event will showcase Greenport's many restaurants and stores. To that end, parts of Front and Main streets will be closed to traffic -- both sections are within walking distance of the ships -- and shops will sell goods on sidewalks. The use of public transportation will be encouraged.

The village will hold a festival focusing on its maritime culture and history, Nyce said. Tickets are needed to board the ships and talk with crew members.

The village will have bands, roving musicians and entertainers, and its famous carousel will be open. The festival will run during daylight hours from May 26-28. The local fire department plans to hold its carnival that weekend with fireworks Friday and Saturday nights, Nyce said.

The six ships set to come to Greenport are members of the Tall Ships America organization, and are participating in the Tall Ships Challenge that begins in Savannah, Ga., on May 3, and moves up to Greenport before heading north to Rhode Island and Nova Scotia.

Among the ships to sail into Greenport Harbor will be the HMS Bounty, which was built for the 1962 movie "Mutiny on the Bounty" and appears in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Greenport is considered the ship's home port.

"People build careers in these ships," said Erin Short of Tall Ships America. "It's to help maintain our tradition. Many of these skills are lost," she said about the knowledge needed to sail Tall Ships.

And the Challenge race is a true competition, Short said. Ships can't use their motors, and there are bragging rights for those who arrive first in port.

Advance ticket prices -- adults $7, seniors $5, children 12 and younger free -- were kept low so families could afford it, Nyce said. More information is on the village's website, greenportvillage.com.