DAR and Lady Washington from Karen E Lile on Vimeo.

Tall Ship Battle between Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain

On the 100th Anniversary of the Pacific Inter-Club Yachting Associations Opening Day on the Bay. Yachts, Tall Ships, Power Boats and Vessels joined in a parade that filled the San Francisco Bay.  Karen Lile private chartered two Tall Ships, the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain for cannon battles at the start and end of the parade on April 23, 2017, coordinating with PICYA, the US Coast Guard, Grays Harbor Historical Seaport and the San Francisco Police Department to arrange the details.

PICYA elected a Grand Marshall and had over 400 delegates on the Super Yacht Committee boat the Hornblower Californian.

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain Battle Sail Starts the Parade

The Lady Washington Tall Ship and the Hawaiian Chieftain had a ceremonial battle sail in front of the P.I.C.Y.A. committee boat before the opening of the parade. Cannons were fired as the two ships fire at each other with the authentic replication of cannon and old fashioned gunpowder, (without the cannon ball).

A Challenge between Yacht Clubs and Heritage Organizations:

For the morning battle, which took place between 10:40am-11:10am in front of the shores near Sausalito, Karen Lile of the Daughters of the American Revolution and of the Los Angeles Yacht Club, challenged Patti Brennan, of the Native Daughters of the Golden West and the Berkeley Yacht Club to a battle to open the start of the parade in front of the committee boat. Karen was aboard the Lady Washington with Postmaster Daryl Trujillo and Patti was aboard the Hawaiian Chieftain. Each of them with  about 40 passengers per ship, with members from their organizations, some in historical dress, representing our Nations’ history and patriots.

This event was a private charter and Karen Lile is the demise charterer for both ships. Patti Brennan has sub-chartered the Hawaiian Chieftain for the start of the parade battle sail against Karen Lile.

For the afternoon battle, which took place between 2:30pm-3:30pm between the city front between Pier 25 to Pier 39 and Blossom Rock, Karen Lile challenged Past Commodore of South Beach Yacht Club Milt Smith to Battle, and he accepted the challenge. He was joined by Rear Commodore John DeSousa of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians San Francisco Fleet and members of the Rotary Club of Walnut Creek.  The two ships did a running battle along the city front, with cannon fire, ending with a cannon salute (shot) under the East Bay Bridge, which echoed across the water.  Permission to fire cannons was obtained by a special permit from the San Francisco Police Department, who governs the discharge of Cannons within the city limits.