2026 ELISSA DAYSAILS

Join us for a one-of-a-kind outdoor adventure aboard the 1877 Iron Barque ELISSA! 2026 sees the Official Tall Ship of Texas return to the Gulf Coast's waters for her annual day sail series. As one of the oldest and longest continuously sailed vessels in the world, the yearly day sails keep her where she works best, with her sails set, sailing.

GHF is able to offer a limited number of ELISSA daysail spots on board as a sail training student. As a sail training student, participants will experience what life was like as a 19th-century sailor. The program combines both hands-on and lecture-based learning, with a focus on setting sails and navigating the 148-year-old ship through the Gulf. Join us on this journey through the past and discover your own piece of history.

Sail Trainees must be:

• Ages 10 and older. A parent or guardian must accompany children ages 10-17.
• Ambulatory without aids and comfortable with outdoor exposure for up to 6 hours. Trainees with disabilities must advise before the sailing date.

What is included:

• 6-hour sail aboard the 1877 Iron Barque ELISSA
• A course of instruction on how to sail a square-rigged ship
• Lunch (Dinner on April 5)
• Water and soda

Please Note:

• Due to the historic nature of the ship, ELISSA is non-ADA accessible.
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. All trainees must sign a waiver of release to sail.
• Smoking, vaping, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed on board ELISSA.
• Should weather force the cancellation of that day's sail, we will attempt to honor your reservation on another day, subject to availability.
• If the sail dates are canceled, GHF will hold your ticket and reschedule your RSVP on the next approved sail date.

*****

DEPARTURE AND RETURN SCHEDULE: The schedule for check-in and sailing is critical! You should arrive at Galveston Historic Seaport, Pier 22, by 9:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. on April 4 and 11, noon on April 5, and 8:00 a.m. on April 17) to check in and sign a release. We will board the ELISSA and depart the dock promptly at 10:00 a.m. (11:00 a.m. for April 4 and 11, 1:00 p.m. for April 5, and 9:00 a.m. on April 17), then proceed down the Galveston Channel. Soft drinks and bottled water will be available at all times. A light lunch will be provided. The ship will return to the GHS pier at approximately 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on April 4 and 11, 7:00 p.m. on April 5, and 3:00 p.m. on April 17).

ATTIRE: Dress comfortably for the day's weather, wearing clothing that can be easily added or removed. If there is the remotest possibility of rain, bring an appropriate rain jacket (no umbrellas, please, as many sailors consider them bad luck, and they can be dangerous even in moderate seas). Wear flat, rubber-soled, closed-toed shoes. Hats and sunscreen are always a good idea. So is a refillable water bottle. If you are concerned about motion sickness, check with your physician or pharmacist about Medic*tion and test the effects before the day of sail. You must bring your Medic*tion, as we cannot dispense it.

CELL PHONES AND PAGERS: Since a ringing cell phone or beeper sounds similar to some of our electronic alarms, please help us avoid confusion by placing these devices in the “vibrate” mode.

PARKING: The closest parking is in the lot off Harborside Drive; enter at 21st Street. Additional parking lots are available behind Starbucks at 22nd and Harborside, as well as the parking garage at 21st and Market. GHF doesn't operate these lots, and they are paid parking. Please allow ample time for parking. ELISSA cannot wait for late attendees.

If the above information does not answer all your questions, please get in touch with Valerie Smith at 409-765-3432 or via email at [email protected].

*****

ABOUT THE 1877 TALL SHIP ELISSA: Galveston Historical Foundation brought ELISSA, a 1877 square-rigged iron barque, from a scrapyard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece, to Galveston to begin restoration work in 1978. By 1982, GHF staff and volunteers completed restoration and transformed this rare, historic vessel into a floating museum that would actively sail. Today, ELISSA is one of only three ships of her kind in the world to still actively sail and welcomes over 40,000 visitors annually. She also serves as the Official Tall Ship of Texas, a National Historic Landmark, and a symbol of the Gulf Coast’s historic beginnings as a seaport and active waterfront.

ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION: Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last seventy years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, museum development, and heritage tourism. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life, and continues to lead on local, state, and national levels with research-driven programs that build awareness of preservation’s role in cultural identity and stewardship across generations.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Galveston Historical Foundation