PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- MEDIA ADVISORY --
WHEN: Wednesday June 18, 2003
4:30-5:30pm
WHERE: Returning to her berth at
The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing
Delaware River at Market Street.
Philadelphia, PA
WHAT: The Gazela will return to her berth after her first official
sail to Norfolk and Alexandria, Virginia, where she appeared
as the "goodwill ambassador" of the City of Philadelphia and
its surrounding region. The Gazela will be docked at Penn's
Landing, except when she is sailing to visit other ports.
She will be officially open for tours beginning July 4, 2003.
The tour hours will be from 10 am to 6 pm and on July 5 from
10 am until 2 pm. Additional summer tour hours are soon to be
announced.
BACKGROUND: As part of its annual Sailing Program, the historic
Portuguese Tall Ship Gazela will visit Sailfest in New
London, Conn., from July 8-11 and then from August 4-8
visit Fall River, Mass. for the City of Fall River
Birthday Celebration.
Built in 1883 and brought to Philadelphia from Portugal in 1971, Gazela is maintained by volunteers of the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild ("Guild"), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with its home port at Penn's Landing, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a living laboratory of maritime history and a "floating ambassador" of the City of Philadelphia and its Port. Gazela, a joint treasure of Portugal and Philadelphia, is the oldest, largest square-rigged wooden ship still actively sailing. Her keel was initially laid in Portugal in 1883 and she sailed as part of the Portuguese White Fleet (the cod fishing fleet that sailed to the Grand Banks) through 1969. Programs for children and other groups bring the proud sailing history of this ship and the age of sail to life. The ship has participated in OpSail events, appeared in movies, and represented Philadelphia at maritime events from Florida to Nova Scotia. For more details on Gazela see the Guild's website www.gazela.org.
The Penn's Landing Corporation logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=349