Bermuda To Host Tall Ships Fleet In 2017

Sail Training Association Bermuda [STA Bermuda] announced  that Bermuda will help Canada celebrate its 150th Anniversary of the Confederation when the Island hosts a fleet of tall ships in early June 2017.

“The tall ships event will add to the excitement of the America’s Cup Races that Bermuda will also host in 2017,” a spokesperson said.

“The tall ships fleet will be part of the Rendezvous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta being organized by Sail Training International in partnership with the City of Quebec, in association with Le Rendez-Vous Naval de Quebec.

“The planned four-day stopover here [June 1 – 5] will provide the ships crews and trainees with rest and relaxation before they head north for the Canadian celebration.”

Sail Training Association Bermuda officials, Bev Morfitt and John Wadson [4th & 5th from left] pictured in La Coruna, Spain with Sail Training International members

“John Wadson, Chairman of STA Bermuda said that having the majestic sailing ships of the past gracing Bermuda with their beauty in the same period that the America’s Cup will be here will see history meet the future. “It’s a perfect lead up to the America’s Cup event as tall ships are the sailing machines of the past.” He noted that the America’s Cup Races will offer magnificent spectator opportunities while a tall ships festival in Hamilton will provide an exciting and fun-filled atmosphere for everyone to participate in and to enjoy. In addition, young people from Bermuda will have an opportunity to actually sail on ships in any leg of the race.

“Bermuda has been host to several trans-Atlantic tall ships fleets – the most recent being in 2000 and again in 2009 when STAB placed over 150 young Bermudians as sail trainees and was voted Best Host Port by Sail Training International. Sail training uses the sea and tall ships to help young people learn about themselves, discover their hidden strengths and talents and understand the value of working as a team.

“Mr. Wadson said that STA Bermuda is pleased to have the support of the Bermuda Tourism Authority and in the coming months they will be working with the Government, the Corporation of Hamilton and other relevant organizations to plan and prepare for what promises to be yet another exciting event in Bermuda for the summer of 2017.

“Mr. Wadson noted that hosting a major event of this kind is not without its financial challenges but in order to ensure that Bermuda is once again voted the best Tall Ships Host Port, he is hopeful that the event will be supported by the business community, sports organizations and the Government. “The key factor is to ensure that every young person in Bermuda who wants to join a tall ships crew in this event is able to do so, regardless of their financial ability or physical challenges. We appreciate that the America’s Cup event will require major financial resources, but we will also require support, funding, in-kind services and creative ideas to make the tall ships festival accessible and fun for all.”

“The itinerary for Rendezvous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta has been organized by Sail Training International which is based in the United Kingdom. The race will begin in Royal Greenwich, UK on 16 April 2017 with the ships sailing to Sines, Portugal; Hamilton Bermuda; Boston; various ports in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and importantly Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where the articles of Confederation were signed On July 1, 1867 before proceeding to Quebec City. The final leg will see the fleet sailing back across the Atlantic to Le Havre in France. Mr. Wadson expects that the fleet will be significantly enhanced in Bermuda with the arrival of vessels from South and Central America along with vessels that normally winter in the Caribbean and some from the East Coast that wish to join the race to Boston and the Canadian event that will follow.

“As a general rule, young people between the ages of 15 and 25 are eligible to join a tall ship crew for any leg of the 2017 race and it is likely that the upper age limit will be increased for those legs that will take place during the school year. STA Bermuda offers partial financial assistance to eligible young people up to the age of 25. For further information, interested persons may contact Mr. Wadson: info@tallships.bm.

Mr. Wadson noted that Bermuda and Bermudians have enjoyed a long and warm relationship with Canada over the years and he welcomed this opportunity for Bermuda to pay homage to Canada as it celebrates its important historical milestone.”

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