The Tall Ships Races 2007

The Tall Ships’ Races is an annual tall ships’ rally, once known as Operation Sail. Its organiser is sail training International.

In 1938, on the initiative of captain Arnold Schumburg, a few sailing boats gathered in Stockholm, which is perceived as the first the tall ships’ Races rally, though unofficial.
After the war the idea was picked up by a British lawyer Bernard Morgan, who proposed to have regular races, so that sailing boats could prove to be faster than steam ships. The first official rally was held under the patronage of Prince of Edinburgh in 1956, on the route between English Dartmouth-Torbay and Portuguese Lisabon. There were 21 boats in the race. The event was so successful that its organisational committee was turned into a permanent organisation, and then it became Sail Training International with headquarters in Great Britain. Its aim is to educate young people about sailing, both on board of tall ships and during rallies or races. That’s why, according to rules, half of a crew must consist of youth aged 15-25.

Magical 1972

The Tall Ships’ Races became so popular, that in 1972 it was decided to sail in odd years as well. In 1972 a friendly race was run, which is now known as Cruise in Company, during which ships sail in full dress and never compete. The full integration was possible due to the sponsor of the races, a producer of Scotch whiskey with the image of Cutty Sark, a beautiful 19th century tea clipper. That is the reason why the event is called ‘The Cutty Sark Tall Ships’ Races’. In the same year, a Polish training ship Dar Pomorza took part in the competition. It was the first time in the history when a ship from so called East block sailed the race. Unexpectedly, Dar Pomorza in its debut on the route from Solent to Skaw was an instant winner. It resulted in bringing the organisation of the races to Gdynia, Poland, in July 1974. Dar Pomorza won the competition once more, in 1980.

Over the Atlantic

In 1964 the first race of 15 vessels over the Atlantic Ocean was organised, which ran from Plymouth to Bermudas. In Bermudas two more ships joined the fleet, and they all sailed to New York. In 1976 Americans celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and the fleet once more sailed the ocean. It was of great importance to the future of races: American media joined the event and thus it gained in popularity. 5 million spectators onshore watched the ships’ parade on Hudson River in New York!
The next transatlantic races were held in 1984. When the fleet left Bermudas, a white squall hit an English boat Marquess, put him on its side and sank within two minutes. 19 members of the crew died.
In 1988 ships sailed to Australia, which celebrated 200th anniversary of settlement. In 1992, on the occasion of 500th anniversary of discovery of America, another transatlantic rally was organised. The vessels sailed through Cadiz, Puerto Rico, New York, Boston and Liverpool.
The next transatlantic races organised in 2000 under the name ‘Tall Ships 2000’, to commemorate the third millennium.

Polish track

In 1992 races on the Baltic Sea were organised for vessels which didn’t want to sail the ocean. Their final was held in Gdynia, Poland.
In 2000 the situation was similar: those who couldn’t afford to sail the ocean were given an opportunity to compete on the Baltic Sea. The ships then set off from Gdansk, Poland. In July 1997 STA let Gdansk to organise the rally to celebrate thousandth anniversary of the city. In July 2003 The Tall Ships’ Races moored to Polish wharfs for the fourth time; Gdynia was the host then. The rally gathered 87 vessels, including 12 barks, 2677 crew members and over a million spectators on shore. This year Szczecin takes it over. As the Races’ calendar is scheduled in advance, we already know that in 2009 the ships will set off for the race from Gdynia.

Recent years

In 2004 Antwerp became sponsor of the rally, called under its previous name ‘The Tall Ships’ Races’. The races are very popular. The number of partakers and spectators is steadily increasing, and port cities fighting for the right to organise the rally are waiting in long queues. The route invariably leads through different countries and ports. Every time the final changes its place. The golden jubilee fell on 2006. A route starting in St. Malo, France was prepared, leading through North Sea and Biscay Bay to Torbay, Portugal, with its finish in Belgian Antwerp. The first stage of The Tall Ships’ Races 2006 followed the route from 50 years before.
There was a tine difference: 4 times more vessels competed in the race.

Today, The Tall Ships’ Races consists of two races and one friendly stage (exchange of crews). Apart from regular the prizes, the most friendly crews are awarded. The main prize, granded by captains of the participating vessels, is for ‘creating the atmosphere of international friendship’.