Tall Ships Challenge Atlantic Coast - Great success reported

by Kirsten Ferguson on 9 Aug 2012 This year, Tall Ships America set out with the goal of making it’s Tall Ships Challenge Atlantic Coast 2012 Series a success that would be remembered for years to come, and with the help of local organizers, the non-profit organization achieved its goal in superb fashion.

More than 20 member tall ships, representing six nations, traveled up the Eastern Seaboard this summer, participating in one or more maritime festivals in Savannah, Ga., Greenport, N.Y., Newport, R.I. and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Public participation trumped all expectations, as visitors thronged the waterfront to tour the ships and join a bi-national celebration of maritime heritage.

'The Tall Ships Challenge 2012 series was a fantastic experience, and each port event was executed without a hitch,' said Tall Ships America Executive Director Bert Rogers (Newport, R.I.), adding that between ports, participating Tall Ships Challenge vessels were able to compete in four offshore races: from Savannah to Cape Fear, N.C.; a sprint from Greenport; a sprint out of Newport; and a sprint along Nova Scotia to Halifax Harbor. 'The ships raced and sailed safely, each vessel fulfilling her own particular mission of youth training, leadership development, and historical preservation. The Tall Ships Challenge series allows us to showcase for the general public the outstanding work that these vessels do every day.'

The festivals were all very well attended, but Halifax was the largest. Though the actual numbers are still being analyzed, event organizers anticipate that it will closely resemble the 2009 festival, which had over 600,000 attendees and $32.8 million in economic impact. 'Our vision was to showcase the best of Nova Scotia and ensure that the captains and their crew had the opportunity to experience Halifax at its best,' said President and CEO of Waterfront Development Colin MacLean. 'The ships were magnificent, and the crew members graciously received tens of thousands of visitors aboard for public tours. We believe that the 2012 event was the best one yet.'

At press time, Newport’s Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival had disclosed actual numbers for 2012 of 115,000 for total attendance and 23,000 tickets sold. According to Savannah officials, this closely mirrored the impact of its own city’s festival, which kicked off the series in May with an estimated 24,500 tickets sold and over 75,000 people in attendance.

'The fleet of domestic and international tall ships that graced Savannah’s riverfront reflected a special time in our city’s maritime history,' said Visit Savannah President Joseph Marinelli. 'Kicking off the Tall Ships Challenge series in our historic southern city made for a unique and authentic way to start the event. The Savannah Tall Ships Challenge Festival was a success on many levels with visitors and locals alike looking forward to its return in the future.'

The Greenport event also saw strong attendance with an emphasis on visitors from New York City and surrounding areas. 'The tall ships event did exactly what was intended,' said The Village of Greenport’s Mayor David Nyce. 'It showcased our village for new visitors from near and far, provided a family-friendly event that kick-started what is turning out to be an extremely successful summer season, and celebrated the unique maritime history that is an invaluable part of Greenport’s story.'

The 191-foot barquentine Dewaruci, from Indonesia, was one of the international tall ships participating in the program. 'On behalf of KRI Dewaruci, the Indonesian Navy and my country, I would like to convey the deepest thanks to all of you for supporting us in the Tall Ships Challenge 2012,' said CDR Haris Bima (Jakarta, Indonesia), commanding officer and captain of Dewaruci. 'Dewaruci has good memories from every city where she berthed, and everybody loved her.'

The 159-foot topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II was the only tall ship to compete in all four offshore races between the maritime festivals, taking first place in the first three.

'Each of this year's Tall Ships Challenge ports embodied the best of their distinct and proud regional maritime heritage,' said Jamie Trost (Baltimore, Md.), captain of Pride of Baltimore II. 'The races connecting these ports along the historic sea roads help continue the best traditions of seamanship, sportsmanship and ship-improving competition that Tall Ships America has promoted for decades.'

The 295-foot barque U.S. Coast Guard Eagle won the final race of the series. 'It was a privilege to participate in this year's Tall Ships Challenge series,' said Eagle’s Commanding Officer and Captain Wes Pulver (East Greenwich, R.I.). 'We look forward to the next opportunity to sail alongside our fellow tall ships as we work collectively to achieve the shared goal of leadership and character development through sail training.'

Tall Ships America’s Tall Ships Challenge series of races and port festivals is an annual series that rotates on a three-year cycle between the Atlantic Coast, Great Lakes, and Pacific Coast. Over the past decade, Tall Ships America has coordinated more than 60 Tall Ships Challenge events in 32 cities, stimulating strong tourism and economic development though these family-friendly festivals. Tall Ships America website