Celebrating OpSail 2012 Virginia at Skipjack Nautical Wares

On the horizon lies a historic American milestone, an extraordinary occasion for the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, the writing of the Star Spangled Banner, planned together with the spectacle of OpSail 2012. OpSail 2012 Virginia is collaboration between Operation Sail Inc. (OpSail) national, the United States Navy, Norfolk Festevents and the 36th Annual AT&T Harborfest events, and hundreds of national, state and local organizations.

From June 1 -12, 2012, the Port of Virginia will once again host an impressive fleet of tall ships, navy and military war ships representing the world. OpSail 2012 Virginia  and Harborfest is planned to illuminate the community with spectacle and festivity, and will place our Commonwealth front and center on the world stage.

Tall ship 'KALMAR NYCKEL'  will be participating in OpSail 2012 and along  the
Portsmouth, Virginia waterfront.  Photo by Joe Elder.

This will truly be a memorable maritime event, with exciting activities taking place throughout the region.  OpSail 2012 Virginia is a $65 million production, projected to have an attendance of 1.5 million people during the 12 days. In addition, 4000 U.S. and foreign officers, cadets, crew and diplomats will be in town. Though the largest concentration of the ships will be available for boarding along  the Norfolk waterfront,  the City of Portsmouth will host the tall ship 'GAZELA' located next to the High Street Landing and  in front of Skipjack Nautical Wares as well as the tall ships "HMS BOUNTY' and 'KALMAR NYCKEL' just a short walk down the seawall at Ocean Marine. Also, the USCG Cutter, the 'WILLIAM TATE' will docked along the seawall near the High Street Landing.

The tall ship 'GAZELA' will be next to the High Street landing and in front of
Skipjack Nautical Wares during OpSail 2012. Photo by Joe Elder.

Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery will be presenting their annual Marine Folk Art show concurrently with OpSail 2012 Virginia, opening Thursday, May 31st, 2012 and running throughout the month of June. This years show is titled "Don't Give Up the Ship"  in celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Original 19th century folk painting  of "the Battle of Lake Erie" is part of Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Galleries  annual folk art show titled "DON''T GIVE UP THE SHIP" celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and OpSail 2012 Virginia. Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery is located on Portsmouth, Virginia's waterfront next to the High Street Landing. Photo by Joe Elder.

Folk carvings by Jac & Patricia Johnson  will be on
display during  "Don't Give Up the Ship" folk art show
celebrating the Bicentennial of  the War of 1812 and OpSail 2012.
Photo by Joe Elder.

Some of Skipjack's associate artists will be on hand, Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10 to demonstrate different maritime skills, such as scrimshaw carving, knot-tieing, wood carving and other sailor and folk art skills.

OpSail 2012 Virginia is the perfect opportunity to visit Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery where you'll discover one of the finest collections of marine artwork, nautical antiques and decor, Chelsea marine clocks, authentic ship salvage, nautical lamps, lighting and furnishings, marine instruments as well as our own Skipjack Nautical Wears yachting apparel and jewelry. Skipjack is also the best place for nautical gifts too!

The tall ship 'KALMAR NYCKEL' during the parade of sail. Photo by Joe Elder.

For a listing of OpSail 2012 Virginia events to be held along Portmouth's downtown/Olde Towne seaboard, go to  http://www.opsail2012virginia.com/events-schedule/portsmouth .  For information about OpSail 2012 Virginia, go to http://www.opsail2012virginia.com/.

Skipjack nautical Wares & Marine Gallery is an Official OpSail 2012 Virginia Certified Business.  http://www.skipjacknauticalwares.com. 

Great New Affordable Nautical Decor for Your Yacht & Home at Skipjack

Cotton signal flags are great for both indoor and outdoor nautical decorating.

Dress up your nautical home with a line of three or six colorful cotton nautical signal flags. Each signal flag measures approx. 9" X 17" and the line of three signal flags measures 3 feet in length and six feet for six. The line of signal flags can be hung vertical or horizontal, perfect for decorating the nautical room, dress up your yacht and other coastal home applications. These are even suitable for framing! Set of three retails for $15.95 and a line of six for $29.95.

Line of three or six flags- perfect for your nautical interior.

You can follow this link for a line of three signal flags and the link here for a line of six signal flags.  The line of  signal flags is also available in forty feet for your yacht or larger nautical applications. Follow the link here for forty feet of signal flags.

Add a splash of color indoors or out with these vintage painted wood buoys. Great to use in clusters on a hook in your nautical room, by the pool and deck, or anywhere you can use a little splash of color. Most of our painted wooden buoys are from Nova Scotia.

Painted wood buoys make a great nautical accent, both indoors and out.

Here's the link to the painted wood buoys. You'll want to call to find out what is currently in stock.

Ad a splash of color with these netted glass float balls.

Another way to add color to your home is with these netted glass float balls. These are approximately the size of a softball with hand-tied rope netting and are available in shades of red, blues, greens and sometimes yellow. Great to hang in your window or Florida room-wherever there's a source of light! The small netted float balls retail for $24.95 and are imported from Thailand. We also have these available in larger sizes and jugs too! Here's the link to our netted glass float balls.

Hand-tied monkeys fist knob is a great way to dress up your cabinet doors.

Our small hand-tied rope monkey's fist cabinet or furniture knob is a perfect way to dress up your yacht or nautical home interior. Use them on kitchen cabinets and drawers, bathroom fixtures, as chest of drawer pulls or box knobs. Our monkeys fist rope knobs are also paintable so you can achieve the perfect look for your environment. Measures 1 3/8 inch in diameter. Hand-tied here in Portsmouth, Virginia.  Here's the link to our rope monkey's fist knob.

Add a touch of nautical  with our navigational chart nightlight.

Our Skipjack nautical themed nightlights are made from NOAA navigational charts and trimmed with a muslin colored grosgrain ribbon. Shade height: 4"; width: 4". Geographical area depicted on individual shades will vary. Looks great in any nautical setting...makes a wonderful nautical gift too! Retails for $18.95 and is handmade in our Skipjack studios. Here the link to our nautical navigational chart nightlight.

\Nautical navigational chart lampshades will certainly be a standout in your nautical room.

Since we're on the topic of nautical charts,  you may also want to add some nautical design to your interior with one of our navigational chart lampshades. We stock three standard sizes as well as offer custom sizes. You can also choose to select the navigational chart from you favorite coastal area! Mad with authentic NOAA navigational charts and the shades are handmade here in our Skipjack design studio. Here's the link to Skipjack's nautical lamp and lighting department. Just scroll down until you find the navigational chart lampshades. 

A nautical themed brass lamp finial is the perfect accompaniment to your nautical lamp.

A great nautical accessory to top off your lamps are nautical designed brass lamp finials. Made of high quality brass, our finials are solid cast and polished to a mirror finish. Choose from a variety of nautical designs that will compliment your nautical lamp. Here's the link to Skipjack's nautical lamp and lighting department. Just scroll down until you find the selection of lamp finials.

Cast brass crab door knocker.

Feeling a bit crabby? You can warn your guests at the front door with this cast brass crab door knocker. Designed after the famous Chesapeake Bay blue crab, this brass door knocker will look great hanging from your front door. We have over a dozen nautical/coastal themed door knockers to choose from starting from $24.95. The crab door knocker pictured above retails for $44.95.  Follow the link here to our nautical hardware department and scroll down to the selection of door knockers.

Custom made nautical lamps made from authentic nautical items.

One of our most popular items that we produce is our buoy lamps made from vintage painted wooden buoys. Available in different widths and a multitude of colors, there's sure to be one for you. Our buoy lamps retail starting at $69.95. You'll want to call or write for our updated inventory. Here's the link to our nautical lamps and lighting department where you can preview some of the lamps currently available as well as other nautical lamps to choose from. Give us a call at (757) 399-5012 and we'll be happy to discuss with you your lamp and lighting needs.

Authentic nautical antiques and decor are always available at Skipjack.

Okay. So we've shown you a smidgen of what's available at our store in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia where you csn shop in our waterfront showroom and gallery and on our web store at http://www.skipjacknauticalwares.com.  You'll want to visit regularly to see what's new and JUST ARRIVED section of our web store for the latest arrivals. Items sell fast at Skipjack, because the majority of our inventory are authentic one-of-a-kind items. So if you are shopping for nautical items for your home, yacht or office, Skipjack is the place to be. We're simply everything nautical!