Bermuda Tall Ships Festival Set For June 2017

The Bermuda Tall Ships Festival will take place from June 1 through June 5, 2017 and The Sail Training Association of Bermuda [STA Bermuda] is looking for sail trainees, volunteers, and corporate and public support to help make make the event a success.

The Tall Ships Festival will see Bermuda serve as a host port in the Rendez-Vous 2017 [RDV2017] Tall Ships Regatta – a 7,000 nautical mile transatlantic race to six countries that is being organized by Sail Training International [UK] and Tall Ships America in partnership with the city of Quebec and in association with Le Rendez-Vous Naval de Quebec.

Some 20 Tall Ships have already confirmed their intent to visit port Bermuda and it is expected that at least eight more Tall Ships will join the fleet.

RDV2017 Tall Ships Regatta will mark the 150th Anniversary of the Canadian Confederation through its founders and founding provinces.

A spokesperson said, “Bermuda is hoping to place a minimum of 50 young sail trainees on various legs of the voyages. RDV2017 will begin in Royal Greenwich UK on 13 April 2017 with a fleet of 40 Tall Ships. The fleet will race to Sines, Portugal before racing across the Atlantic to Bermuda.

“It is expected that South and Central American Tall Ships and those that normally winter in the Caribbean will make Bermuda their first port of call on route to Boston and the Quebec celebrations.

“After the Bermuda festival, the Tall Ships will race to Boston and various Southern Gulf [of St. Lawrence] guest ports, Northern Gulf guest ports and St. Lawrence River ports on route to Canadian celebrations in Quebec on 8 – 23 July.

“The Guest Ports have invited the fleet and trainees to explore the maritime provinces of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, as well as the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

“After Quebec City, the fleet will sail to Halifax before racing back across the Atlantic to Le Havre France arriving for their festival which will take place 31 August – 3 September 2017. [See below for full race dates and port schedule]

“STA Bermuda is once again aiming to place a minimum of 50 young people from Bermuda between the ages of 18 and 25 to participate in one or more legs of this race and, as in the past, will be offering financial aid to assist with the costs of participating on one of these Tall Ship voyages.

“Persons over the age of 25 are expected to pay their own way. Sail trainees are not required to have any prior sailing experience but the experience at sea allows young people of all nationalities, cultures, religions and social backgrounds to make friends, to learn about themselves and each other, to discover their hidden talents and strengths and to understand the value of working as a team.

“Persons who are interested in a sailing adventure on a Tall Ship; businesses who are looking for unique team building events for their staff or to host corporate events such as parties and receptions on board a ship while it is in port; businesses who may wish to offer sponsorship of trainees and festival events, and persons who are interested in volunteering their time for the Bermuda Tall Ships Festival are invited to contact Tall Ships Bermuda via email: hello@tallships.bm for further information and to follow us on Facebook: Tall Ships Bermuda.

“Noting that Bermuda successfully hosted Tall Ships Festivals in 1964, 1976, 1984, 2000 and in 2009, STA Bermuda said the Bermuda Tall Ships Festival and other significant maritime events scheduled for Bermuda waters in June 2017 would provide an amazing backdrop for the America’s Cup event.

“We are tremendously excited that Bermuda will be the venue where the world’s Tall Ships will grace the same port at the same time as an America’s Cup event. This has never happened before and is guaranteed to attract the attention of media from around the world and provide everyone – viewers, visitors and locals alike – with spectacular photographic opportunities and a fun-filled atmosphere.

“Tall Ships Bermuda organizers also thanked the Bermuda Government, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the Corporation of Hamilton and ACBDA for their continued support.”

The event’s race date follow below:

• Royal Greenwich, UK Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 April
• Race 1 [Torbay, UK] Wednesday 19 April
• Sines, Portugal Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May
• Race 2 Monday 1 May
• Bermuda Thursday 1 June to Tuesday 5 June
• Race 3 Tuesday 5 June
• Boston, USA Saturday 17 to Thursday 22 June
• Race 4 Thursday 22 June
• Southern Gulf Guest Ports Friday 30 June to Monday 3 July
• Northern Gulf Guest Ports Friday 7 July to Sunday 9 July
• St Lawrence River Ports Friday 14 July to Sunday 16 July
• Great Lakes Flotilla Friday 30 June to Monday 17 July
• Quebec City, Canada Tuesday 18 July to Sunday 23 July
• Outport Programme Friday 28 July to Sunday 20 August
• Halifax, Canada Friday 28 July to Monday 31 Jul
• Race 5 Monday 31 July
• Le Havre, France Thursday 31 August to Sunday 3 September

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