UPDATE: Paul Burka, senior executive editor of Texas Monthly had a post on his BurkaBlog this evening about the damages reported by the Galveston Historical Foundation, the owners of the Tall Ship Elissa.
The 1877 tall ship Elissa, restored by GHF in 1982 and a proud symbol of Galveston, seems to have ridden out the storm with little damage beyond the loss of several of her sails. Large steel piles driven deeply in to the harbor bottom allow the vessel to remain attached to the shore even beyond the estimated 18 foot rise of water on Friday.
The Texas Seaport Museum at pier 22, Elissa’s home berth, did not do as well, suffering considerable damage to the brick and wooden pier structure, and a suspected total loss of the wooden workshops which serve the maintenance needs of the ship. The Seaport Museum itself, in the 1990 Jones Building, is suffered little damage.
Original Post:
The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas’ official tall ship, Elissa, survived Hurricane Ike.
Several yards away the tall ship Elissa appeared to have weathered the storm well. Aside from tattered sails that been unfurled in the winds, there was little damage. A flock of seagulls rested on her mooring ropes and the pier where she was docked.
A little bit of good news in an otherwise bleak story for Galveston.
Make sure you also check out: On A Boat In Upper Galveston Bay in the Middle of Hurricane Ike
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Glad to see the ship weathered the storm in good shape but I’m a little suprised about the sails.
Wouldn’t it have been prudent to unbend them and stow them below decks? New windjammer canvas is not a cheap item!
Wow! Excellent find! Thanks for sharing it with Sea-Fever readers.
We’ve received quite a few hits to this post so people are obviously concerned. Great contribution. Thanks again!
Here is a post-Ike sat photo of the Elissa.
Thanks for this post Peter, I was looking for news on ELISSA. Having sailed her as a mate during her annual spring cruises in years past, she has a place in my heart and I would hate to see her destroyed. Great news coverage and thanks!