Kalmar Nyckel will sail up the Hudson River into Newburgh for the first time in its history this July, for a weekend of day sails, pirate adventures and guided deck tours from July 24-26.

Kalmar Nyckel is a faithful recreation of the original ship that brought the earliest settlers from Sweden to Delaware in 1638, just a couple of decades after the Mayflower. During the same period when the Dutch were settling New Amsterdam in what is now Manhattan, Kalmar Nyckel made four successive round trips to supply the colonists of New Sweden, a record unchallenged by any other colonial vessel.

Kalmar Nyckel will take on passengers for two-hour day tours of the Hudson River, sailing through some of the most scenic parts of the Hudson Valley. Sails will depart from the Riverfront Marina at 40 Front Street, Newburgh, NY. Each day the ship is in port, the crew of the ship will offer guided deck tours during specific times. The deck tours are $10/adults and $6/children age 17 and under.

Kalmar Nyckel offers two distinct sailing experiences. On “day sails,” passengers are invited to work alongside volunteer crew as they haul the lines, raise the sails, and learn first-hand just how hard it was to cross the Atlantic in the 17thcentury … unless they’d rather just bring along a picnic, enjoy the sights and sounds of the water and watch the crew do all the work.

Younger sailors might prefer the more spirited “pirate sails,” where the crew get into character with pirate tales, scavenger hunts and the raising of the Jolly Roger. (The original Kalmar Nyckel was never a pirate vessel, serving instead as a trader, warship and colonial vessel, but today’s crew love playing the part.)

For public sail tickets and more information about specific sails and times, visit www.kalmarnyckel.org or contact the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation office at (302) 429-7447. Ticket prices are $50 for adults and $45 for children and youth ages 17 and younger.To book a sail online, visit http://www.kalmarnyckel.org/BookASail.asp.The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation preserves and promotes the cultural and maritime heritage of Delaware for the education and enrichment of all