Overview
- The Elissa arrived in Galveston on Saturday, Aug. 15, with a free welcome at Pier 21 midday and an evening ticketed reception and ship tour at Pier 22.
- The three-month voyage represented Galveston and Texas in Sail250/America250 events and included stops in Pensacola, Savannah, Boston and New York, where Elissa led a Class A fleet in the July 4 Sail4th parade.
- Galveston Historical Foundation officials said the ship completed the trip without major incident after roughly 66 days and thousands of miles at sea.
- Preparations for the voyage included recent drydock work — replacement of the jibboom, a new fore-topmast sail and installation of a new diesel engine — and the ship was sailed by eight professional officers supported by trained volunteers.
- Organizers plan to resume daily public tours later in August, run special day sails and hold volunteer orientations as Elissa becomes a focus for Galveston’s heritage tourism and sail-training programs ahead of its 150th birthday in 2027.