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Festival Of Sail Brings Battle To San Diego Bay

James Anderson from the Maritime Museum of San Diego lights a cannon on San Diego Bay during the Festival of Sail on September 3, 2010.
Jose Luis Jiménez
James Anderson from the Maritime Museum of San Diego lights a cannon on San Diego Bay during the Festival of Sail on September 3, 2010.
Festival Of Sail Brings Battle To San Diego Bay
In the shadow of modern Naval vessels, two old warships exchanged cannon fire on San Diego Bay Friday afternoon. The sailing vessel the Californian was defending its home port from the invaders on the Spirit of Dana Point.

In the shadow of modern Naval vessels, two old warships battled each other on San Diego Bay Friday afternoon. The sailing vessel the Californian was defending its home port from the invaders on the Spirit of Dana Point.

Or so the organizers of the Festival of Sail would have you believe. The two ships exchanged cannon fire on the bay. The cannons fired loud blanks heard all along the shoreline.

The faux battle took place in the shadow of the USS Carl Vinson as the aircraft carrier returned to Naval Base Coronado.

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The crew of the Californian was supported by a battery of cannons located at its home port at the San Diego Maritime Museum along the Embarcadero.

Two of the cannons date back to the 1860s and were used during the civil war. The Army donated them to the maritime museum.

During the Festival of Sail, visitors can board nine tall ships docked along the Embarcadero. The Festival of Sail runs through Labor Day.