ashworth associates public relations

EXPERIENCE MORE OF THE WATERFRONT'S CAPTIVATING SHIPS WITH DOORS OPEN ON THE WATERFRONT

As a continuation to the exciting news from yesterday's post that 15 participating ships will open their doors (and their gangways!) for FREE, here are some more ships that will be available for viewing to the public on May 26 and 27.

Mariposa Cruises Fleet:

2012 marks the 25th Anniversary of Mariposa Cruises. Originally operating with three small boats prior to 1987, Mariposa Cruises came into being with the purchase of The Mariposa Belle in that year. The fleet includes: Captain Matthew Flinders, Klancy II, Mariposa Belle, Northern Spirit, Oriole, Rosemary and Showboat.

The Captain Matthew Flinders is the flagship of the Mariposa fleet. Built in 1984 in Port Adelaide, Australia, the 144-foot luxury ship arrived in Toronto in 1989 and boasts the largest passenger capacity (575 people) in Toronto. The ship is named after famous navigator Captain Matthew Flinders (1774-1814). In 1995, the ship sailed to Florida and operated as a floating casino. Since returning to Toronto, the ship is outfitted with new engines and was renovated in 2011. The Flinders has hosted a wide range of events including Mayors from Around the World, NBA Draft Pick, All Star Baseball Legends, and the Stanley Cup. Over the years, celebrities and musicians have enjoyed the Flinders –even Arnold Palmer hit golf balls off the outer deck of this magnificent vessel.

The Klancy II is the most recent addition to the Mariposa fleet in 2011. Built in St Thomas in 1989, the 68-foot Klancy is no stranger to the Toronto Waterfront and holds up to 100 passengers. Last year, the Klancy was chartered by Tourism Toronto to host the Rotary Club convention bid team and played a part in Toronto winning the bid.

The namesake of the company, the Mariposa Belle, built in 1970 in Wheatley, Ontario, is an icon in the Toronto Harbour. The Mariposa Belle is a 68-foot riverboat-style paddle wheeler. With her unique promenade decks, the Belle has hosted thousands of events over her colourful history, including Miss Teen Canada. She is an integral part of the Education Afloat program for many Toronto school children. This boat is steeped in Toronto's waterfront history!

The Northern Spirit was built in 1983 in Warren, Rhode Island, and was formerly the Pride of Norfolk and the Pride of Toronto.  The 138-foot Northern Spirit joined Mariposa Cruises in 1994 after an extensive renovation.  Like the Flinders, the Northern Spirit has the largest passenger capacity in Toronto and is Transport Canada-approved for 575 passengers.  The Spirit has hosted notable events and musical acts over the years.

Built in 1987 in Port Dover, Ontario, the Oriole is a replica of a Victorian era steamship (circa 1880-1920), with a rich oak interior, wrought iron detail and unique shape design. The Oriole is used for our popular Harbour Tour program and has a capacity of 184 passengers. The Oriole is featured in a fictional period painting by Ray Davidson entitled, "The Medora at Port Carling Locks.” Mila Mulroney, Nancy Reagan and the wives of G7 attendees also enjoyed a private afternoon on this boat. The Oriole has its own celebrity status having been featured in film and TV, most recently on CBC’s Redemption Inc.

 

One of the original Mariposa vessels, the Rosemary is the true southern belle of the fleet as she was built in Mobile, Alabama. Constructed in 1960, the Rosemary is 62 feet of style and sophistication and was completely renovated in 2008.  The Rosemary has modern furnishings and still maintains her former corporate yacht appeal.  A long list of celebrities have cruised aboard, including Angelica Houston, Sam Neill, Cicely Tyson, Marylou Henner and Gregory Hines.

The Showboat Royal Grace, or simply the Showboat as she is now called, is a petite version of the grand riverboats that sailed along North America's inland waterways in the 1800s.  Built in 1988 in Port Colborne, Ontario, she was a floating theatre here in Toronto for several years before joining the Mariposa fleet in 1993 and has a passenger capacity of 75

.

Nautical Adventures - Empire Sandy:

Today the Tall Ship Empire Sandy is an historical treasure on Toronto's Waterfront.   She was built in England as an Englishman/Larch class deep sea tugboat and went into service in July 1943.  She sailed on war duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean Seas, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the English Channel.  In 1982, a metamorphous was complete changing a WWII tugboat to a grand 1800 style Tall Ship.  As a Tall Ship she has sailed in all the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Boston, New York, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba and other Caribbean seas. At 200 feet overall, 11,000 square feet of sail and 740 tons, Toronto's largest sailing ship the Empire Sandy offers a unique experience with an historical flare. 

Toronto Brigantine Tall Ships Fleet:

Toronto Brigantine has been a charitable organization since 1962. Their founding tenets were the development of leadership, discipline, and citizenship. They operate two brigantines, the 22m (72′) sail-training vessel (STV) Pathfinder, which was commissioned in 1964, and the training ship (TS) Playfair, which was built in 1972, named in 1973 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Both were built as training vessels by Francis A. McLachlan in Kingston, Ontario. Each year the ships sail over 4,000 miles, spends over 40 nights at sea, and introduce 300 trainees to the tall ship experience.

Don't miss out on the chance to experince some of the Waterfront's most historic, beautiful and interesting ships on May 26 and 27!