U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle to lead Grand Parade of Sail, arrival of tall ships for Sail Boston

BOSTON — The U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle, "America's Tall Ship," will begin the Grand Parade of Sail into Boston Harbor at 9 a.m. Saturday when 56 sailing ships from around the world arrive for Sail Boston 2017.

Led by Eagle, the parade of majestic tall ships will arrive in flotillas beginning from Broad Sound into the main channel of Boston Harbor, along the Boston waterfront, turning at Charlestown, before proceeding to their assigned berthing areas.

The Eagle will be moored at the Charlestown Navy Yard and open for free public tours June 18-21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Built during the twilight era of sail, the design and construction of Eagle embody centuries of development in the shipbuilder's art. 

Originally operated by Nazi Germany to train cadets for the German Navy, the ship was taken by the United States as a war prize after World War II. In 1946, a U.S. Coast Guard crew – aided by the German crew still on board – sailed the tall ship from Bremerhaven to its new homeport in New London, Connecticut. 

To maneuver Eagle under sail, the crew must handle more than 22,000 square feet of sail and five miles of rigging. Over 200 lines control the sails and yards, and every crew member, cadet and officer candidate, must become intimately familiar with the name, operation, and function of each line. 

A permanent crew of eight assigned officers and 50 assigned enlisted personnel maintain the ship year round. They provide a strong base of knowledge and seamanship for the training of up to 150 U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets or officer candidates at a time. 

Eagle is scheduled to depart Boston June 22. From Boston, the ship will head north to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. 

Thousands of people are expected to view the ships within the harbor, and the U.S. Coast Guard has issued timelines and guidelines that apply to all spectator vessels during the Grand Parade of Sail and the traffic pattern for the event from June 17-21.

Countdown To The Return Of The Tall Ships

The long awaited Grand Parade of Sail to kick off Sail Boston 2017

Boston, Ma. March 8, 2017- Today, Sail Boston officially began its 100 day countdown to the Return of the Tall Ships. On June 17, more than fifty majestic sailing vessels from around the globe, led by US Coast Guard Barque Eagle, will parade into Boston Harbor under sail for the first time since 2000. It will be a dramatically different harbor than the one that welcomed the ships nearly twenty years ago. The waterfront has successfully reinvented and adapted itself to 21st century uses, and the Seaport District is teeming with an eclectic combination of modern residences, world class hotels and restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and up-to-the-minute start ups that are creating dazzling innovative products and services.

 But, from June 17-22, the harbor will also belong to the ships, their crews, and the more than 4 million visitors that are expected to view them and stroll their historic decks. "We have been working diligently with the City, State, Massport, the US Coast Guard and other key public and private agencies to ensure a successful event and a memorable experience for all," said Dusty Rhodes, President of Conventures and Executive Director of Sail Boston 2017. “We are looking forward with great enthusiasm to the return of the Tall Ships and to embrace and celebrate the cultures of the countries each represents," added Rhodes.

The festivities kick off with the Grand Parade of Sail, a stunning maritime spectacle that is truly the greatest show on surf. Over fifty magnificent vessels including Union from Peru, Europa from The Netherlands, Alexander Von Humboldt II from Germany, Spain's El Galeon, Nadezhda from Russia, Guayas from Ecuador, United Kingdom’s Blue Clipper, Canada's Bluenose II, and Chile’s Esmeralda will follow the USCG Eagle into Boston Harbor on Saturday, June 17. The Parade launches a five day nautical themed celebration featuring educational, cultural, interactive, and reenactment events and activities as well as daily free public boarding of the ships. A colorful Crew and Cadets Parade from The Seaport to Downtown Crossing highlights the land side activities. --Visit www.sailboston.com for a list of participating ships.

"We are extraordinarily pleased with the response and commitment of so many country owned and private vessels to Sail Boston 2017’s roster of Tall Ships. An event of this magnitude provides a significant boost to the local economy resulting in incremental revenue for restaurants, hotels, attractions, and harbor and land side tour operators to name a few. It also serves to showcase Boston on an international stage, as a welcoming, capable and desirable destination brimming with culture, attractions, innovation, and history," said Patrick Moscaritolo, President and CEO of Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Ramping up for the Tall Ships June event, Sail Boston will be hosting the Mexican tall ship Cuauhtémoc from March 15-20. The 220 foot barque will be docked at Fan Pier in the Seaport District, and will be open for free public boarding on March 15, from 11AM – 4:00PM, and March 16–19, from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Also, from April 11- 14, the 220 foot Norwegian tall ship Sorlandet will be making a Boston port of call. It will be docked at Fan Pier and it will be open for public boarding. For information and updates: sailboston.com Sail Boston 2017

Partners and Sponsors
Sail Boston 2017 is the only US port of the international Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta. Sail Boston is produced and managed by Conventures, New England’s premier special events company, in partnership with the City of Boston, Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Massport, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and Tall Ships America. Private funding is generously provided by Bank of America, The Coca-Cola Company, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, Downtown Boston: Business Improvement District, Boston Harbor Cruises, Gourmet Caterers, PwC, Sam Adams Beer, Engie, Entertainment Cruises, The Hampshire House Corporation, Bay State Cruises, Boston Harbor Hotel, Massachusetts Bay Lines and more. To view a full list of supporters please visit www.sailboston.com/sponsors.

For More Information Visit www.sailboston.com for a complete list of events, participating ships, and latest updates, or follow on Facebook, @SailBoston2017 on Twitter, or @SailBoston on Instagram and join the conversation using #SailBoston.