The Tall Ships are Coming

Twenty-one tall ships have been confirmed to date for Halifax's biggest celebration this summer, Tall Ships Challenge 2004 - A Salute to l'Acadie.

The largest gathering of tall ships in the Americas this year will take place from July 29 to Aug. 2. Ships from the U.S., Mexico, Romania, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Cook Islands, Poland and Canada will be sailing into Halifax Harbour and calling the waterfront their home for the five-day event.

"We are very pleased with the number and class of ships that have already confirmed they will be visiting," said Eric Thomson, chair of the Waterfront Development Corporation. "Their participation, along with the exciting activities planned for Tall Ships Challenge 2004, guarantee this will be a world-class event."

The ships will be berthed along the waterfront, from Tall Ships Quay to Casino Nova Scotia Hotel, and include square-rigged barquentines and brigantines, traditional-rigged schooners and ketches. Between 12 and 14 A-class vessels are expected, including Eagle from the U.S., Cuauhtemoc from Mexico, Mircea from Romania, Caledonia from Canada and Tenacious from the United Kingdom.

B-class vessels will include Canada's Bluenose II and Silva, Spirit of Massachusetts, Unicorn and Pride of Baltimore II from the U.S. Several C-class ships will also participate including Appledore V from the U.S., and Raindancer II from Canada.

Class A vessels include all square-rigged vessels, and others, that are more than 40 metres in length overall. B-class vessels are traditional-rigged vessels that are less than 40 metres in length and have a waterline length of at least 9.14 metres. C- class vessels are modern-rigged vessels that are less than 40 metres in length, have a waterline length of at least 9.14 metres and do not carry spinnaker-like sails.

More information about Tall Ships Challenge 2004 and about advance boarding passes for the event is available on the website at www.novascotia.com/tallships, and on CBC's website at www.cbc.ca/tallships2004 .

Tall Ships Challenge 2004 - A Salute to l'Acadie is presented by the Waterfront Development Corporation. The event is sponsored by the province, Halifax Regional Municipality, Grou Tyme Acadian Festival, Aliant, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, Alexander Keith's, Sobeys, Ford, Casino Nova Scotia, Captain Morgan, The Herald, McCain, Pepsi, Trade Centre Limited, CanJet, Halifax Port Authority, Bishop's Landing, Atlantic Photo Supply and Peller Estates and Ombrelle. CBC is also a sponsor and the host broadcaster for the event.

Note: Below is the fact sheet about the ships visiting Halifax for Tall Ships Challenge 2004 - A Salute to l'Acadie.

Vessel Flag Sparred Length

Eagle USA 295 feet Cuauhtemoc MEX 270 feet Mircea ROM 269 feet Caledonia CAN 245 feet Tenacious UK 214 feet Europa NETH 185 feet Bluenose II CAN 181 feet Gazela Philadelphia USA 178 feet Picton Castle COOK 176 feet Pride of Baltimore II USA 170 feet Iskra POL 161 feet Pogoria POL 154 feet Silva CAN 130 feet Westward USA 125 feet Spirit of Massachusetts USA 125 feet Unicorn CAN 118 feet Grand Nellie USA 75 feet Raindancer II CAN 75 feet Fritha USA 74 feet Appledore V USA 65 feet