June 1, 2007
GODSPEED TO PARTICIPATE IN ‘SAIL VIRGINIA 2007’
WILLIAMSBURG, Va.--Jamestown Settlement’s Godspeed, recently returned from a “Journey Up the James” voyage honoring America’s 400th Anniversary, will participate in Sail Virginia 2007, Norfolk’s signature event commemorating the 1607 founding of America’s first permanent English colony. Jamestown Settlement is a state-operated museum of 17th-century Virginia.
Sail Virginia, June 7-12, coincides with the 31st annual Norfolk Harborfest and features more than 50 tall ships and military and character vessels from 10 countries. The Godspeed, a re-creation of one of the three English ships that arrived in Virginia in 1607, will lead a group of vessels representing the 13 original American colonies in a parade of sail starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 8. Following the parade, the Godspeed will dock at the Norfolk waterfront and will be open to the public from noon to 6 p.m., June 9-11. Visitors will be able to board the ship and talk with historical interpreters about the 1607 voyage and 17th-century sailing, navigation and shipboard life.
The Godspeed will cross the Elizabeth River to Portsmouth on June 12 and will be open to visitors at High Street Landing from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13.
The Godspeed has had a central role in events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, beginning with a goodwill tour to six East Coast ports last year. This spring the Godspeed sailed with the re-created Susan Constant and Discovery from Jamestown Settlement to Virginia Beach to mark the 400th anniversary of the original ships’ first Virginia landfall, at Cape Henry on April 26, 1607. The Godspeed stopped in Hampton, Newport News and Surry County before returning to Jamestown Settlement.
All three ships sailed in the James River on May 12 during America’s Anniversary Weekend, docking at Jamestown Settlement amidst musket and cannon salutes and commentary. The Godspeed completed its “Journey Up the James” with visits to Henricus Historical Park and Richmond during the second half of May.
This fall the Godspeed will participate in 400th-anniversary events at Onancock (September 13-15), Mount Vernon (September 20-22), Quantico and Prince William County (September 23-24), Urbanna (November 1-3), Charles City County (November 9-10) and New Kent County (November 16-17).
While the Godspeed is at other ports, visitors to Jamestown Settlement will have the opportunity to see and board the Susan Constant and Discovery. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and located at Route 31 South and the Colonial Parkway adjacent to Historic Jamestowne, Jamestown Settlement also features a re-created Powhatan Indian village and 1610-14 English fort and extensive indoor exhibits that chronicle 1600s Virginia and the cultures that converged there.
For more information, call (888) 593-4682 toll-free or (757) 253-4838.
