The Tall Ships’ Races 2009 sailing regatta will make a stop in Klaipėda this year
For the first time, Klaipėda will host a leg of the international sailing regatta The Tall Ships’ Races 2009. The Tall Ships’ Races will set off from the Polish city of Gdynia on July 2, then sail on to St. Petersburg (Russia) and Turku (Finland), before arriving in Klaipėda on July 31, where participants will stay until August 3. The main celebrations will take place after the regatta ends. These events will also coincide with the traditional Sea Festival, held in Klaipėda every year.
Segelregatta
Date: 16/04/2009
More than 100 vessels will arrive in Klaipėda, and the city will welcome around 4,000 crew members, most of them young people. One of the main aims of the regatta is to support the physical and intellectual development of young people, encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles, foster their interest in maritime professions, and help them build new friendships with peers from different countries. The event is sponsored by Sail Training International, the international association of sail training ships. One of its requirements is that at least half of each crew must be aged between 15 and 25.
Visitors in Klaipėda are expected to be able to tour the participants’ vessels and attend concerts and sporting competitions. The event will conclude with a parade of participants through the city streets, as well as a parade of ships sailing out of the port into the open sea.
Photo: kalevkevad/www.flickr.com
