Two historic wooden merchant and naval ships -- including one used in the filming of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" -- will be docked in Newport Harbor this week and available for public tours.
The public can board the two late-18th century vessels at the Newport Sea Base at 1931 W. Coast Hwy. One, the Lady Washington, is better known as the HMS Interceptor from the first in the Disney "Pirates" movie line. In the film, Capt. Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, steals the Interceptor with the help of Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom.
The other ship on display, the Hawaiian Chieftain, is a replica of a centuries-old merchant vessel.
The pair are offering Southern Californians a chance to go aboard and meet crew members dressed in period costumes, the Daily Pilot reported.
On New Year's Eve, visitors will set sail with the crew and head off the coast to reenact an epic naval battle, or "Battle Sail," where the ships will maneuver near and around each other, with the crews hurling taunts and exchanging cannon fire.
"We'll fire real cannons with real gunpowder, but no cannonballs," said Joe Follansbee, communications director for the Aberdeen, Wash.-based Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, which is putting on the event. "It's a little loud and really safe."