Is this a normal tour in the Navy? Interested as n hearing any stories.
Normal in what sense?
Well is it 3 or 4 years and what exactly are the roles since it rarely sails?
If you’re just a run of the mill junior enlisted Sailor you train on marlinspike seamanship, get the ship underway, do light work on the sails, give tours, do COMRELs, and teach Chief selects how to be seamen for the most part.
What Tolstoy said. I was a friend of a friend to the XO back in 2013. Got a personal tour when she was closed to the public for refitting.
Just saw her again a few months ago. Currently, her main mast is off due to a crack and is being repaired. She does still sail with tugboat help a few times a year.
Most of the crew are junior Sailors. They have the unique opportunity to learn the roots of the Navy, how the old jobs were performed, and how to actually sail a tall ship. They know the process to load and fire the cannons, muskets, pikes, etc. They do interact with the public when the museum is open.
The unfortunate thing about it is it's very expensive for junior Sailors in Boston for housing.