So on a beautiful Sunday afternoon we had a reservation for a sail on Charleston Harbor.Raising the main sail.Calm sea, beautiful warm day!We were the only customers the captain had for this sail, so this was a private sail, which would normally cost a couple thousand dollars, but for us, just 2 regular price sailing tickets – $60 each!The crew.The captain.
Patriots Point is a museum across from Charleston Harbor, the centerpiece is the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.Front of the Yorktown.Rear of the Yorktown.So we got to the deck of the Yorktown…At the end of the runway, looking back at the control tower.Looking at the end of the runway.Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Route 17 connecting Charleston and Mount Pleasant SC.Cool chart showing the action the Yorktown saw during World War II.Key to the chart.USS Laffey, World War II destroyerThe submarine USS Clamagore.Yorktown’s bakeryKitchen breakfast serving lineDinner serving line.Admiral Sea Cabin – containing a bunk, desk, toilet, shower and wash room.Machine ShopRadar RoomCotsCaptain’s BridgeShip’s bell1938 Packard Staff Car, used by senior military officers.F4U Corsair. My dad was a mechanic on these planes during World War II.A6-E IntruderA-7E Corsair IIF-14A TomcatRear of the F-14A TomcatF/A-18A HornetA-4C SkyhawkS-3B Viking, and there are many other aircraft on display on this deck and below.
Fort Sumter is where the first shots were fired to start the Civil War. The fort is located in Charleston Harbor. On April 12, 1861 at 4:30 AM, after weeks of tension as the Confederates demanded the Union forces under Major James Anderson, abandon the fort, Confederate commander P. G.T. Beauregard fired on the fort. By 2 PM the next day, the US forces surrendered the fort.Much of Fort Sumter is in ruins.The first shots were fired from the water directly ahead in this picture.Several casemate cannons12-pounder Mountain Howitzer8-inch (200 Pounder) Parrott15-inch Rodman8-inch Columbiad10-inch mortar, Model 1819This flag flew over Fort Sumter during the bombardment of April 12-13, 1861.
