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The Queen of the Tall Ships has docked in Solomons and will be accessible to the public this weekend. The Dutch-built merchant ship the Kalmar Nyckel docked at Watermen’s Wharf early Friday, June 22. The wharf is located next to the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory’s Visitors Center.

The original Kalmar Nyckel was built during the 1600s and brought Finnish and Swedish settlers to North America in 1638. The replica ship was re-launched in 1997 in Wilmington, DE, thanks to 11 years of fundraising work by a private foundation.

The replica vessel is manned by a crew of volunteers, and has eight sails and eight miles of rigging.

The ship was available for “pirate sails” Friday and those excursions will continue to be offered Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 24 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. the pirate sails are $60 for adults and $40 for youth ages 17 and under.

Free tours of the vessel will be offered Sunday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information visit www.kalmarnyckel.org.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com