Navigating A New World May 8, 2010

From the first days of the settlement, sailing ships were vital to the colonists at Charles Towne. Trade with Barbados, Virginia and England kept the colonists supplied with manufactured goods and gave them a market for raw materials leaving Carolina. Those ships also served as the line of communication between England and the settlers in Charles Towne. But what was it like to be a sailor in the late 1600s? Visit the trade and wharf area to find out. Board the "Adventure," Charleston's only reproduction 17th century wooden boat. Step into a colonial sailor's shoes and learn about all things nautical. Help lift a sail to the rhythm of a sea shanty. Learn to tie knots. Use a backstaff, a sounding lead and a windless. Hear about the colonists' stormy passage to Carolina. The wharf area will be alive with stories, sailors' skills, shanties and more. There's always more to do at Charles Towne Landing. Visit the museum, enjoy an audio tour along the History Trail, or walk through the Animal Forest to encounter the animals that roamed Carolina when the early sailors plied the waters. Make a day of it. Pack a picnic lunch, or enjoy fine-dining taste in a picnic setting with food provided by L & B's Caribbean Food.