Day Sail Reservation On The 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA

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 Pensacola as part of the ship's Galveston 250 voyage. As one of the oldest and longest continuously sailed vessels in the world, this special day sail keeps 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 sail training students, participants will experience what life was like for a 19th-century sailor. The program combines both hands-on and lecture-based learning, with a focus on setting sails and navigating the 1498-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:

• 4-hour sail aboard the 1877 Iron Barque ELISSA
• A course of instruction on how to sail a square-rigged ship
• Water and soda

Please Note:

• Due to the historic nature of the ship, ELISSA is non-ADA accessible.
• ELISSA has an onboard restroom.
• 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 Palafox Pier by 1:00 p.m. to check in and sign a release. We will board the ELISSA and depart the dock promptly at 2:00 p.m. The ship will return to the pier at approximately 6:00 p.m.

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.

If the above information does not answer all your questions, please email [email protected] or call us at 409-765-3424.

ABOUT THE 1877 TALL SHIP ELISSA, THE OFFICIAL TALL SHIP OF TEXAS | Galveston Historical Foundation brought ELISSA, an 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, the 1877 Tall Ship 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 250 | As part of Galveston 250’s voyage, ELISSA will make strategic port calls en route to Sail 250 celebrations, engaging a series of high-visibility maritime markets. ELISSA’s presence at Sail 250 not only elevates Galveston’s national profile during this milestone celebration, but also reinforces the importance of preserving authentic historic vessels as active, experiential storytellers—linking past innovation, resilience, and international exchange port celebration audiences.