It was a hoist-the-sails kind of day on the Delta last week for a lucky group of junior sailors aboard the 18th century tall ship replica, The Lady Washington.

The boat that recently portrayed The Interceptor in "The Pirates of the Caribbean - Curse of The Black Pearl" sailed into the Antioch Marina last week and stuck around through Monday for tours, cruises and education in the long-gone maritime way of life.

Despite the fact that nary a cannon was fired nor a pirate spied, the three-hour sail last Friday morning offered the students in Ali Popovich's class at Brentwood's Krey Elementary School a close-up, realistic look at life on the open seas.

For some, it was a little too realistic.

"I was most surprised at the toilets; they were very small," said Ariel Ryan-Threatt.

"Everything was smaller than I thought it would be," agreed Aden Kutsurelis. "But we got to help steer the boat and that was fun."

The living history lesson taught the students that the life of a sailor was one of hard work and severe conditions - very unlike the glamorous adventures portrayed on screen.

"This was a great day for the kids, because it fits in with what we are studying right now about the explorers," said Popovich. "They were treated just like the real sailors were, and saw how hard the life was."

Sierra Brys was intrigued by the financial opportunities for sailors. "Lots of times the sailors got paid in tea," said Sierra. "I thought that was interesting."



www.maritimeheritage.net.