Press Releases & Media Information

Thousands of young people, aged 15 to 25, are set to provide an international dimension to the millennium celebrations by taking part in the largest ever Tall Ships^® event. The Tall Ships 2000^® event, announced in November 1996 and dubbed the "Race of the Century," is expected to bring together a fleet of more than 120 sail training vessels from across Europe, South America and the U.S. for a four month trans-Atlantic adventure. The event is being organized by the UK-based International Sail Training Association (ISTA) in conjunction with the American Sail Training Association (ASTA), which will coordinate the North American ports.

"There are many celebrations planned for the turn of the century, but few will have the international appeal of the Tall Ships 2000^® event," said Brigadier Robin Duchesne, Chairman of ISTA. "With the support of ASTA and the contacts established by other national Sail Training Associations over the last 40 years, we expect a fleet of ships in excess of 120, with representatives from continental Europe, Asia, South America, as well as the UK and USA, and a crew of many thousands of young people from around the world."

According to ASTA Chairman Bartlett Dunbar), the event will provide a much-needed opportunity to highlight ASTA's mission of encouraging character building through sail training. "So much of our sail training activity takes place at sea and out of the public eye," said Dunbar, "we need the focus of a truly international Tall Ships^® Race to build support for our routine, every day educational work with youth aboard ships at sea." Dunbar added that a "tall ship" is not necessarily one of the great square riggers, although many of those will be competing in the "Race of the Century." Sailing vessels of a more modest size -- a minimum of 30 feet at the waterline with at least half the crew falling between the ages of 15 and 25 will qualify for entry.

THE COURSE

The Tall Ships 2000^® event will begin from the dual ports of Southampton, England and Genoa, Italy, with race starts on April 18 and April 23 respectively. Both fleets will sail to Cadiz, Spain and are expected to arrive by May 4. On May 7, the combined fleet will start their trans-Atlantic racing leg to Bermuda, where they are expected to arrive by June 8. In Bermuda, the young crews can change vessels to mingle with their international contemporaries. Set to depart Bermuda on June 11, they will put their competitive drive on hold to cruise en route to their first North American Race Port, Boston, Massachusetts. During the month-long cruise in company, individual ships will visit dozens of East Coast communities and participate in the July 4th celebration planned for New York.

Boston Designated as Official U.S. Port
Boston will be the Official United States Race Port for the Tall Ships 2000^® series. From July 12-16, Sail Boston ^SM 2000 will host over 120 tall ships that have completed their cruise in company from Bermuda. In addition, over 100 of ASTA's historic member vessels will join in Sail Boston 2000's celebration, which is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators and far exceed the $750 million economic impact generated from Sail Boston 1992.

Halifax Hosts Second North American Stop
On July 16 from Boston, the Tall Ships 2000^® fleet and ASTA member vessels will begin racing again, this time with a destination of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the second North American stop for the "Race of the Century." After a five-day stay from July 20-24, the fleet will depart Halifax for the final race leg across the Atlantic to Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

---END---

Back to Press Releases and Media Information

Home