Tall Ships organizer, Sail Boston, has released details for the upcoming schedule of events, starting on June 17th:
Sail Boston Schedule of Events Released
Grand Parade of Sail on June 17 Kicks Off Maritime Celebration
On June 17, dozens of majestic sailing vessels from around the globe will enter Boston’s inner harbor under sail for the first time since 2000. The Grand Parade of Sail, a stunning maritime spectacle, kicks off the celebration at 10 AM as the US Coast Guard Barque Eagle, in tandem with a US Navy Jets flyover, approaches the official reviewing stand in the harbor’s North Jetty. The USCG Eagle will be followed by more than fifty magnificent vessels, including Union from Peru, Europa from The Netherlands, Alexander Von Humboldt II from Germany, Spain’s El Galeon, Guayas from Ecuador, United Kingdom’s Blue Clipper, Canada’s Bluenose II, Chile’s Esmeralda, and others.
The Parade launches a five-day, nautical-themed celebration featuring educational, cultural, interactive, and re-enactment events and activities and daily free public boarding of the ships. A colorful Crew and Cadets Parade from The Seaport to Downtown Crossing highlights the landside activities.
“We have been working diligently with the City, State, Massport, the US Coast Guard and other key public and private agencies to ensure a successful event and a memorable experience for all,” said Dusty Rhodes, President of Conventures and Executive Director of Sail Boston 2017. “We are looking forward with great enthusiasm to the return of the Tall Ships and to embracing and celebrating the cultures of the countries each represents,” added Rhodes. There are several free public events related to the Tall Ships visit. The highlights include:
- EVENT: Opening Ceremony
- LOCATION: Boston Harbor Hotel Rotunda
- DATE: Friday, June 16, 2017
- TIME: 12:00 PM
- TYPE: Primarily a press event with limited public access
DESCRIPTION: With Boston Harbor and the Boston fireboat ceremonially spraying water as a backdrop, the Sail Boston Opening Ceremony officially will kick-off Sail Boston 2017. The Blessing of the Sails, an ecumenical service celebrating the return of International Tall Ships, will follow. Sails bearing the flag of each visiting country will be presented at the ceremony.
- EVENT: Grand Parade of Sail
- LOCATION: Boston Harbor
- DATE: Saturday, June 17, 2017
- TIME: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- TYPE: Public
DESCRIPTION: The Grand Parade of Sail will highlight the day’s activities as vessels parade in flotillas from Broad Sound into the main channel of Boston harbor, along the Boston waterfront, turning at Charlestown, before proceeding to their assigned berthing areas. Public viewing of the parade will be spectacular from Castle Island, the Seaport District, the Downtown Waterfront, the North End, Charlestown and East Boston.
- EVENT: Public Boarding of Ships
- LOCATION: Fish Pier, World Trade Center, Fan Pier, Charlestown Pier 1 and Pier 4
- DATE: Saturday, June 17, 2017 – Wednesday, June 21, 2017
- TIME: 10:00 AM- 10:00 PM (at the discretion of the Captain)
NOTE: 3:00 PM start on Saturday, June 17th - TYPE: Public
DESCRIPTION: Following the Parade of Sail on Saturday, June 17th, the Tall Ships will be berthed at various piers for the public to view and board. All piers are open from 3:00 – 10:00 PM on Saturday, June 17th and 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday – Wednesday. The boarding of ships is at the discretion of each ship’s Captain. Note: Fish Pier is tentative.
- EVENT: Sail Boston Festival
- LOCATION: Fish Pier, World Trade Center, Fan Pier, Charlestown Pier 1 and Pier 4
- DATE: Saturday, June 17, 2017 – Wednesday, June 21, 2017
- TIME: 10:00 AM- 10:00 PM
3:00 PM start on Saturday, June 17th - TYPE: Public
DESCRIPTION: Music, food, and entertainment will be available at each of these festival sites that are adjacent to berthing areas.
- EVENT: Sail Boston Official Captains Reception
- LOCATION: State House
- DATE: Sunday, June 18, 2017
- TIME: 5:15 PM
- TYPE: State House steps. Public can view red carpet ceremony from outside the perimeter in the street and on Boston Common. Reception is by invitation only.
DESCRIPTION: The State House Official Captains’ reception is an event to welcome the Tall Ship Captains to Boston. Mayor Walsh and Governor Baker will formally receive captains and officers from each vessel. The red carpet ceremony on State House steps will include delegations from participating countries, Honor Guard, and fife and drum.
- EVENT: Downtown Crossing Crew Parade
- LOCATION: Seaport Boulevard to Downtown Crossing
- DATE: Monday, June 19, 2017
- TIME: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- TYPE: Public
DESCRIPTION: The Downtown Crossing Crew and Cadet Parade is an opportunity for the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to celebrate Sail Boston 2017 and to welcome over a thousand guests from around the world. Marching bands and cadets from the visiting ships will parade along Seaport Boulevard to Downtown Crossing. Following the parade, participants will be treated to a Sail Boston Crew BBQ. There will be an award ceremony for the participants of the Bermuda to Boston race leg of the RDV2017 Regatta.
- EVENT: Crew and Cadet Soccer Tournament
- LOCATION: Moakley Park
- DATE: Tuesday, June 20, 2017
- TIME: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- TYPE: Public invited to watch.
DESCRIPTION: Crews and cadets of the Tall Ships will participate in a friendly competition soccer tournament at Moakley Park.
- EVENT: Sunset Salute
- LOCATIONS: Charlestown Navy Yard, Fan Pier.
- DATE: Tuesday, June 20 – Charlestown. Wednesday, June 21, Fan Pier
- TIME: 7:00 – 9:00 PM.
- TYPE: Public event
DESCRIPTION: Maritime pageant featuring fife and drum, bagpipes, and nautical regalia.
- EVENT: Tall Ships Depart
- LOCATION: Various Venues
- DATE: Thursday, June 22, 2017
- TIME: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- TYPE: Designated Piers
DESCRIPTION: The Tall Ships depart Boston Harbor. The majority of the Tall Ships will continue on the next leg of the Rendez-Vous Tall Ships Regatta to Canada.
Sail Boston 2017 Partners and Sponsors
Sail Boston 2017 is the only US port of the international Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta. Sail Boston is produced and managed by Conventures, New England’s premier special events company, in partnership with the City of Boston, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Massport, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and Tall Ships America.
Private funding is generously provided by Bank of America, The Coca-Cola Company, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, Downtown Boston: Business Improvement District, Boston Harbor Cruises, Gourmet Caterers, PwC, Boston Beer Company, Suffolk Construction, Suez Energy, Entertainment Cruises, The Hampshire House Corporation, Bay State Cruises, T-Mobile, Boston Harbor Hotel, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Faneuil Hall, Boston Private, Cushman & Wakefield, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Nutter, Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center, Charles Riverboat Co, Tishman Speyer, Boston Properties, and more. WCVB Channel 5 is Sail Boston’s official media sponsor. To view a full list of sponsors, host hotels and restaurants, please visit www.sailboston.com/
For More Information
Visit www.sailboston.com for a complete list of events, participating ships, and latest updates, or follow on Facebook, @SailBoston2017 on Twitter, or @SailBoston on Instagram and join the conversation using #SailBoston.
As homeowner in Navy Yard many of us want to know of entry in and out of Navy Yard by car ????