The Kalmar Nyckel arrived in Oyster Bay the evening of Thursday, Oct. 17. It came in during the VIP kickoff reception for sponsors and stayed the weekend. It was open for visitors on Saturday and Sunday when crew members in costume lectured to festival visitors aboard ship.

The Kalmar Nyckel is a re-creation of the first colonial Swedish settlement ship to arrive in America in the 17th century, to what is now Wilmington, Delaware. It made four trips back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean bring immigrants here. The replica ship was launched in the fall of 1997.

First Mate Jesse Schaffer said the Kalmar Nyckel has more than 50 hand carved decorations, including those of the current governor of Maryland, on the ship that flies the flags of Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States. Úquot;The ship left Wilmington on Oct. 15 and headed up coast,Úquot; said the first mate. Úquot;The wind and the seas were strong, so we spent the night in Lewes, Delaware. We waited out the storm for 24 hours. We left Wednesday night Oct. 16 and got here in 22 hours. It had been blowing pretty hard with waves of 12 feet to 17 feet the day before.Úquot;

The Kalmar Nyckel has a total crew of 15 made up of the captain and two mates who are full time and 12 volunteers. There is no need for mutiny on this boat since the captain addresses the staff as Úquot;gentlemen.Úquot; As in Úquot;Gentlemen, there is a party going on. We need lights,Úquot; which is how Captain David W. Hiott addressed his crew on Oct. 17 at the VIP Sponsors Reception at Jakobson's Pier. The second mate put on the spotlights, to illuminate the deck area. The Kalmar Nyckel and the HMS Bounty were the Úquot;eye candyÚquot; for the reception at the pier. It was a perfect night to enjoy the waterfront. The two ships made a great backdrop for the festivities.