crews from around the world and partake of 

 nautical skills' demonstrations, music and other 

 activities. 



Some of the showiest events require no 

 tickets; only a vantage point from which to 

 watch. These include the July 1 "Parade of 

 Sail," when the ships are officially escorted to 

 their berths; a "Parade of Pride" by Carteret 

 County's commercial fishing fleet, July 2; a 

 race among the smaller vessels, also on July 2, 

 visible from Atlantic Beach as the ships cover 

 the 15-mile course offshore; and fireworks on 

 July 4. 



Smooth sailing for the whole show 

 depends largely upon a battalion of local 

 volunteers. North Carolina Sea Grant's Barry 

 Nash of Beaufort is among them. The allure of 

 tall ships, combined with the desire to help his 

 small community host an international event, 

 brought him aboard. 



Nash, a seafood marketing and technology 



"Indirectly," he explains, 

 "we'll be able to promote local 

 seafood to the tourists participating 

 in events this year." 



An overall rise in tourism is 

 another of the expected economic 

 offshoots. The Maritime Museum 

 is using the opportunity to promote 

 Olde Beaufort Seaport. The living 

 history complex featuring a late 

 19th-century maritime village is 

 in the early stages of construction. 

 Profits from the event will go 

 toward its development. 



The Minges Bottling Group, 

 a Pepsi distributor based in Ayden, 

 is the main financial backer of 

 the North Carolina portion of the 

 sailing event. Hence, the official 

 name for the Beaufort activities is 

 Pepsi Americas' Sail 2006. 



specialist based at the North Carolina State 

 University Seafood Laboratory in Morehead 

 City, also sees potential to market the area's 

 fish and shellfish. He is leading a broad effort to 

 "brand" the local catch as a means of increasing 

 its appeal. 



PETER PAN IN A PIRATE HAT 



Sinbad will defend his Americas' Sail 

 trophy in his 54-foot half-scale replica of a 

 1 7th- century brigantine in the July 2 regatta. 

 The Meka II is armed with six cannons, which 

 will sound liberally throughout the weekend. 



LEFT: Horatio Sinbad says his seafaring ways were 

 inspired by a elassic tale: Ireasure Island 

 ABOVE- Sinbad lives aboard iWeka II, which be built 

 in his Michigan baayard and launched in 1967. 



Sinbad, 62, is the role model for many a 

 dockside dreamer. He has been described as a 

 sailing version of Peter Pan. His pirate persona 

 is permanent — his long white-blonde hair 

 hangs in a braid down his back, his front teeth 

 are rimmed in gold, and his wardrobe includes 

 a cutlass for formal occasions. 



He lives aboard the Meka II, anchored off 

 the waterfront of the soon-to-be Olde Beaufort 

 Seaport, with his companion and crew of 28 

 years, Terry Brown — he calls her Lt. Brown. 



His seafaring ways were inspired by a 

 classic tale. "In 1950, 1 saw Disney's Treasure 

 Island" he says. "It was boats and water from 

 then on." 



16 Coastwatch I Winter 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 



