USS Constitution sets sail before 3-year overhaul
World's oldest commissioned warship prepares for dry dock renovation
BOSTON – The U.S.S. Constitution is setting its sails for the last time before the warship heads to dry dock for a three-year repair project.
The Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat, is scheduled to leave its berth at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston at 10 a.m. Friday, set and strike three topsails, and then fire a 21-gun salute off Castle Island in South Boston.
The Constitution will get underway for the final time before the repair job on Oct. 17, but will not set its sails at that time, because they will have already been removed.
Constitution crew members have spent the past week training 150 U.S. Navy chief petty officers on sailing techniques utilized aboard Old Ironsides since the 1790s.
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