Today is the 125th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York harbor was designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886 as a gift to America from the people of France. In addition to the ceremonies on Liberty Island there will be a parade of ships this morning around 10:30 which will will travel down the Hudson River from 42nd St. to the Statue of Liberty where they will sound their horns. (Thanks to Bowsprite for the heads-up.) Fireworks are scheduled for this evening.
While the statue is typically referred to as the “Statue of Liberty” or “Lady Llberty,” its given name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.” The National Parks service suggests that on her 125th anniversary that she should be referred to as “Liberty Enlightening the World Wide Web.” They have installed an array of web cams in the statue’s torch which will soon be providing a 24/7 view of New York harbor and the New York City skyline. Click here to see the live Harbor cam, Torch cam, Crown cam, Lady Liberty cam and an Interactive Panorama.
The 
Who needs a haunted house if you can have a haunted ship? Around this time of year, historic and modern ships suddenly become haunted and ghostly. (To be fair, some are reported to be haunted all year round.) Here is a round-up of a lucky thirteen haunted or ghostly ships open to the public around Halloween. Check the links for dates, times and locations.
Sail the Morgan 2014
I was surprised to read that archaeologists had recently discovered only the second Roman port in Britain. Prior to the discovery in excavations near the Roman fortress of Caerleon, just north of Newport, south Wales, the only other Roman port known to have existed was outside of London.
Thanks to 
This week Sable Island became the 
Usually downrigging a schooner involves lots of coiling, carrying, hauling, the breaking down of shackles and turnbuckles, and depending on the rig, attempting to free up the top mast so that it can be lowered gently to the deck, rather than dropping it like an unguided missile. The last time I helped downrig a schooner, I spent hours in the cross-trees, helping those who knew far better what they were doing than I, and generally enjoying the view on a brisk Fall day. A rendezvous at the bar that afternoon ended the day most satisfactorily.
