The highly anticipated tall ships sailed into Buffalo's port for the first time ever on Thursday. As thousands come to tour the decks this weekend, we wanted to know what goes on below to keep these ships running.

Spectrum News reporter Madison Elliott got to tour the Blue Nose II — which is a remake of a famous Canadian ship.

"The ship is a replica of a 1920's fishing schooner,” said Captain Phil Watson of the Blue Nose II. “We were racing the best Canadian against the best American and the Canadians won — and they continued to win. It’s a great story of man against nature and country against country.”

Watson says it hosts one of the largest working sails in the world, held up by a 125 foot mast. Because its size, it requires hefty maintenance. A 20 person crew lives aboard the vessel for six months out of the year.

"You can never predict what comes next,” said Megan Milette, a deckhand.

"A normal day is breakfast is at 7:30, we put up the national flag of Canada and set up for the day. So every brass is polished, every surface is scrubbed with fresh water.  

[We] do any little ship work that has to be done and then we welcome people on board. Overnight, deckhands [work to ensure] we are all safe. So the work cycle runs 24 hours a day," Watson said.

They also live in close quarters and Watson says they work 12 hour shifts, seven days a week. While it’s a hard job, Milette says it’s worth it.

"We just get to see so many new things. One day you are climbing up to top of the mast, [or] you get to helm every once in a while; everything is new and exciting and [that] keeps things interesting."

"I really enjoy watching the young people grow and change,” Watson said. “It's really difficult work for them and it pushes them to see what they can achieve in their lives."

Watson adds it is exciting for them to show people how much work goes into keeping this ship sailing.

"It's an incredible thing,” Watson said. “We refer to ships as living and breathing things. And so any people in Buffalo can come down, step on the deck, feel her move under your feet, you can talk to people, see where things are being used, it's a neat thing."