More than 125,000 people are expected to watch the annual entry of the tall ships into San Diego Bay and associated Festival of Sail events over the Labor Day weekend.
Leading the nautical procession from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday will be the San Salvador, a newly launched re-creation of the Spanish galleon that carried explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo into San Diego Bay nearly 500 years ago.
The best spots to view from shore include the Maritime Museum, Cabrillo National Monument, local restaurants and businesses on Shelter Island, Harbor Island and the North Embarcadero.
The classic windjammers should be docked by 6 p.m. Friday at the museum and open to the public starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children, seniors and military.
Mock cannon battles will take place on the bay twice daily, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Special tickets are required to board the dueling ships, but you can see and hear the gunfire from the shore.
Altogether more than 20 classic ships will be open to the public over the weekend.