Sailing Out of Time

 

A two-masted vessel from the age of sail heads south off Asbury Park Friday morning. The square spaces along the side suggest gun portals, which were once indicative of military (or pirate) vessels. Though it flies the United States flag, the ship's identity and purpose are unknown. Spectators on the boardwalk guessed it could be a historic reconstruction or a training vessel. NOTE: Apparently this is the schooner Mystic Whaler on its way to its new home port at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum in California. The ship was formerly owned by Mystic Whaler Tallship Cruises of New London, Connecticut,  which recently went out of business. Mystic Whaler Tallship Cruises said on its Facebook page that the ship left port for California on Oct. 20.