Anyone taking a walk down the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail on either side of the river might be surprised to see a giant yellow duck on the land beside the ships. That’s Mama Duck, the World’s Largest Rubber Duck, in Alpena along with the Festival of Sail, which features the Nao Trinidad from Spain, the U.S. Brig Niagara, and the Pride of Baltimore II.

Visitors who purchase an entry pass for $20 can get up close to Mama Duck, which stands a towering six stories high. For $35, you can tour the ships as well. If you plan on going back multiple days, the $49 multi-day pass is the best value. For more information and family ticket pricing, visit alpena.festofsail.com.

Craft and souvenir vendors are on site, as well as live music and food vendors.

Jason Herring and his daughter Ryen, 5, were enjoying a self-guided tour of the Nao Trinidad, a historic replica of the original ship from the 1500s.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Jason Herring and his daughter Ryen Herring, 5, enjoyed touring the ships on Friday, and checking out the giant rubber duck.

“She’s very excited to come here,” said Jason Herring, of Alpena.

“It’s cool,” said a timid Ryen Herring.

Her dad added that this is a great event for Alpena on a beautiful day.

“It’s pretty nice,” he said. “There’s lots of people around, and it’s a great day to come out.”

They were among visitors of all ages touring the Nao Trinidad.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Debbie and Ron Swope enjoy touring the Nao Trinidad and checking out the big rubber duck on Friday in Alpena.

“We came from Spain three months ago,” said Nao Trinidad crew member Carlos Lorente. “We crossed the Atlantic from Spain to Miami, and from Miami to here.”

He explained that they use the sails when the weather permits, but that the vessel also has engines to keep it moving when there is not enough wind for the sails.

Lorente noted that the ship does not have a steering wheel, as that had not been invented when the original vessel was built. Instead, the roughly 150-ton ship is controlled by a whipstaff, which looks like a tall wooden rod coming out of the deck.

“This is different, because the steering wheel is from the 18th century,” Lorente said of the whipstaff. “And this ship is from the 1520s.”

Lorente said sometimes one person can control it, but if the waves are choppy, it usually takes two or three people.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The Nao Trinidad sailed all the way from Spain. Above, crew member Carlos Lorente hangs onto the whipstaff, which is used to steer the 150-ton ship.

“Sometimes, with big waves, it is really difficult to steer,” he noted.

The Nao Trinidad that is here today was built in Spain three years ago, he said.

“It’s pretty close to the original,” Lorente said. “It’s the same length, same kind of sails … the shape is the same.”

He added that the materials for the sails have been updated to ensure safety.

The Nao Trinidad had its maiden voyage on the Great Lakes in 2019, he said.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Here is a view of sleeping quarters on the Nao Trinidad.

“We have been to Ontario, Erie, Michigan, Huron,” and “And this year, we are going to Superior.”

Ron and Debbie Swope, from Ypsilanti, were enjoying the ships and the big rubber duck. They have a second home north of Rogers City on Hammond Bay.

“We’ve been coming up here since 1985,” Debbie Swope said. “I love it.”

They were excited to be able to come to the Festival of Sail.

“I love this town,” Debbie Swope added. “This is the quaintest little town.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Below deck, visitors can view route maps and historic information about the Nao Trinidad.

For more photos, see the photo gallery at thealpenanews.com.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Visitors gather for the Festival of Sail in Alpena, featuring three historic replica ships and one gigantic rubber duck. The festival started Friday and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday.