Tall Ships in Bermuda

From June 11 - 15, 2009, the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 will be in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda to help celebrate Bermuda's 400 years of permanent settlement.

The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, otherwise known as TSAC, is a major tall ships race involving seven ports on both sides of the Atlantic.  It is organized by Sail Training International and the American Sail Training Association. The fleet will cross the Atlantic twice and at least half of the crew on board the ships will be trainees between the ages of 15 and 30. 

The TSAC starts in Vigo, Spain on May 3^rd and the fleet races to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. On May 14^th the fleet leaves Tenerife and sails to Bermuda.  During Bermuda’s official Tall Ships Festival (June 11^th – 15^th) the fleet of approximately 45 to 50 tall ships will be berthed in Hamilton and Front Street will become Festival Central with events for both the visiting trainees and local residents. The ships will depart in a magnificent Parade of Sail on Monday, June 15^th and will race to Charleston, South Caroline (June 25 – 29), Boston (July 8 – 13), Halifax (July 16 – 20) and then back across the Atlantic to Belfast in Northern Ireland (August 13 – 16) where the race will conclude in a grand finale of activity.

The "Atlantic Challenge 2009" begins from Vigo, Spain and ends in Belfast, Northern Ireland - a true race around the Atlantic and the first since 2000. Each port will host the fleet, with various festivals and activities taking place at every stop along the route.

SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL