The Tall Ships Challenge® is a series of sailing races, cruises, crew rallies and maritime festivals organized by Sail Training International (STI) in collaboration with the American Sail Training Association (ASTA). 

 

Atlantic Coast Series in 2009 

The Tall Ships Challenge 2009 ® Atlantic Coast series will include traditionally rigged sailing vessels from Canada, the US, Germany, Netherlands, France, Uruguay, Italy, Spain and Poland. It will be broken into seven races, with stops at Vigo, Spain; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Hamilton, Bermuda; Charleston, South Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; Halifax, Nova Scotia and Belfast, Ireland.

The maritime festivals in each host port give visitors a chance to board the vessels and meet the crew and trainees and learn about the many opportunities to sail and travel on STI or ASTA member vessel.

 

Racing – as sail training programs

The ships are crewed by young people (either civilians or cadets) ages 13 to 25. They are in sail training programs led by professional captains and crewmembers in every aspect of running the vessels. Hand in hand with learning the ropes, the ships promote team effort, responsibility, and personal development.

 

Racing – a living tradition

Racing is at the heart of this event. It brings to life the historical tradition of racing nearby ships home to port or to the best fishing grounds. The competition inspires the young trainees to pay closer attention to the other ships and to the trim of their own sails in the hopes of winning the race.

 

Tall Ships Challenge® - brief history 

The Tall Ships Challenge® Race Series began in 2001 on the Great Lakes, with 30 vessels from 6 countries. Over 1000 sail trainees and cadets participated in the races, sail training rallies and port festivals in 7 US and Canadian ports. The 2002 series, with over 60 vessels, was sailed on the Pacific coast of North America. The 2003 series took place on the Great Lakes, with vessels from 6 participating countries.

 

The 2007 Tall Ships Challenge® Race Series brought vessels together from 8 different countries: Bermuda, Canada, the Cook Islands, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, the Netherlands and India. 

 

See Tradition Come to Life

Across the nautical miles these traditional sailing vessels test their crews in friendly competition. Between segments of the race, the sailors aboard proudly display their ships to fascinated crowds between race segments, helping to re-introduce the past into the present world.