Tall Ships Race 2009 in Finland

A big Event to aim for,The Tall Ships Race,The last real beauties of the seas,come together for the public to view them and in some cases board and look aroundI had chance to visit in 1997.Fortunately my Godfather was the Lieutenant Commander of the Shabib Oman,a still then, active sailing ship of war belonging to the Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said

 

The Shabib Oman

She was a beautiful ship,lovingly cared for by her professional Omani Royal Navy crew.I was invited on board as a family member and served a fabulous lunch.After ,I was offered the opportunity to climb the rigging on the main mast.Looking up at it;I thought,then uttered”Fat chance in hell”Suffice to say,I was encouraged,or rather ordered to get to arms and climb.Bernie started up the rigging,obviously having had 3 years experience on the ship.I tentatively made my way up to the first yard arm,approx 15 metres.The next obstacle was more difficult.Getting over the yard arm and climbing still further.At the time I believed rock climbing to be easier.

I was looking down on the viewers who had come to Turku to see these Graceful Old sailing ships,and they were getting smaller every step I inched up the mast.All the time I was aware that the crew had to do this in rough weathers.I got to the top yard arm and said to Bernie,”That’s it ,I cannot go any further”

We slowly made our way down and I once again began to feel safe.T ime has now passed,but looking back on it,I would estimate the climb was to a hieght of 30 metre.It was and will remain an experience I shall nevern forget.

How to get to The Tall Ships in Turku

Should you be in Finland,try to get to Turku,which is easily reached by train from Helsinki,travelling time about 2 hours.The Tall Ships Race ,a sailing competition held every year,The Tall Ships themselves only visit the shores of The Baltic Seas every 4 years.

The big sailing ships will be berthed along the Aurajoki River’s banks from Thursday to Sunday 23-26 July 2009. The vessels will start racing from Gdynia in Poland to St. Petersburg and will then arrive in Turku. The vessels will continue racing from Turku to Klaipeda in Lithuania.

This year Turku is expecting about 100 magnificent sailing ships to arrive .It is a real flotilla when they set sail and put out to sea.The vessels are some of the greatest sailing ships in the world, and even nostalgic small size boats will participate in the event.

Until now 124 vessels have confirmed their arrival to Turku. 21 of them are great  A-class sailing ships.Click on a Link to view details of a particular ship:The Tall Ships race is an event not to be missed,Happy sailing,Greg

List of Tall Ships,registered to arrive in Turku

Kaliakra	Bulgaria	A	52,05 m	1984
Estelle	Finland	A	53,00 m	1922
Alexander von Humbolt	Germany	A	62,60 m	1906
Roald Amundsen	Germany	A	50,20 m	1952
Loa	Denmark	A	30,50 m	1922
Astrid	Netherlands	A	41,36 m	1918
Eendracht	Netherlands	A	58,80 m	1989
Morgenster	Netherlands	A	49,00 m	2008
Thalassa	Netherlands	A	47,00 m	1980
Christian Radich	Norway	A	73,00 m	1937
Sorlandet	Norway	A	64,15 m	1927
Statsraad Lehmkuhl	Norway	A	98,42 m	1914
Dar Mlodziezy	Poland	A	108,80 m	1982
Fryderyk Chopin	Poland	A	55,47 m	1992
Kapitan Glowacki	Poland	A	30,70 m	1946
Pogoria	Poland	A	47,00 m	1980
Mir	Russia	A	109,60 m	1987
Sedov	Russia	A	117,50 m	1920
Shtandart	Russia	A	32,25 m	1999
Tre Kronor Af Stockholm	Sweden	A	45,00 m	2005
Lord Nelson	UK	A	54,70 m	1985
Aglaia	Austria	B	15,40 m	1997
Rupel	Belgium	B	22,50 m	1996
Den Store Bjørn	Denmark	B	49,00 m	1902
Jens Krogh	Denmark	B	24,60 m	1899
Skibladner II	Denmark	B	25,92 m	1897
Utopia	Denmark	B	10,46 m	1929
Albanus	Finland	B	29,70 m	1988
Helena	Finland	B	37,09 m	1991
Valborg	Finland	B	30,00 m	1948
Johann Smidt	Germany	B	36,00 m	1974
Seute Deern II	Germany	B	36,00 m	1936
Brabander	Lithuania	B	27,40 m	1977
De Gallant	Netherlands	B	36,04 m	1916
Flying Dutchman	Netherlands	B	39,55 m	1903
Jacob Meindert	Netherlands	B	36,88 m	1952
Astrid Finne	Sweden	B	18,70 m	1937
Constantia	Sweden	B	31,45 m	1908
Gratitude	Sweden	B	28,85 m	1903
Moosk	UK	B	17,70 m	1906
Pegasus	UK	B	17,60 m	2008
Antwerp Flyer	Belgium	C	27,30 m	1991
Ebb Tide	Belgium	C	26,00 m	1986
Williwaw	Belgium	C	14,60 m	1970
St IV	Estonia	C	12,00 m	1991
Mona F	Finland	C	16,30 m	1968
Navigator	Finland	C	16,20 m	1947
Vahine	Finland	C	19,80 m	1972
Esprit	Germany	C	19,91 m	1995
Wanda-Maria	Germany	C	15,35 m	1998
Runaway	Italy	C	16,20 m	1980
Spaniel	Latvia	C	17,06 m	1979
Ambersail	Lithuania	C	19,25 m	2001
Brego	Poland	C	13,30 m	1998
Butterfly	Poland	C	9,85 m	2003
Bryza H	Poland	C	22,88 m	1952
Champion	Poland	C	12,05 m	1992
Dar Natury	Poland	C	13,60 m	1983
Dar Szczecina	Poland	C	17,98 m	1969
Gaudeamus	Poland	C	13,35 m	1986
Gedania	Poland	C	25,50 m	1975
Gdansk	Poland	C	11,95 m	2007
Gwarek	Poland	C	13,68 m	1972
Joseph Conrad	Poland	C	19,97 m	1958
Legia	Poland	C	12,75 m	1968
Purga	Poland	C	11,28 m	1985
Reda	Poland	C	11,95 m	2008
Rumia	Poland	C	11,95 m	2008
Sharki	Poland	C	15,00 m	1972
Sopot	Poland	C	11,95 m	2007
Wejherowo	Poland	C	11,95 m	2008
Zryw	Poland	C	10,57 m	1978
Admiral	Russia	C	10,66 m	1986
Akela	Russia	C	13,60 m	1985
Ariel	Russia	C	13,29 m	1981
Briz	Russia	C	13,80 m	1995
Hortitsa	Russia	C	18,00 m	1961
Malva	Russia	C	15,50 m	1938
Neva	Russia	C	17,00 m	1936
Zvezda	Russia	C	16,80 m	1935
Black Diamond of Durham	UK	C	13,50 m	1972
Flamingo	UK	C	19,20 m	1936
John Laing	UK	C	20,95 m	1990
Maybe	UK	C	22,00 m	1929
Ocean Scout	UK	C	14,94 m	1993
Ocean Spirit of Moray	UK	C	24,23 m	1995
Offshore Scout	UK	C	14,90 m	1997
Hebe III	Czech Republic	D	11,75 m	1999
Anya	Finland	D	23,10 m	1998
Feelings	Finland	D	14,27 m	1977
Henrika	Finland	D	17,43 m	1990
Merisissi III	Finland	D	15,12 m	1982
Merisusi	Finland	D	13,05 m	1971
Theia	Finland	D	14,60 m	2008
TMX	Finland	D	11,40 m	1993
Tokka-Lotta	Finland	D	12,73 m	1989
Villa Mare	Finland	D	12,80 m	1992
Etoile Horizon	France	D	16,94 m	2001
Lady L	Lithuania	D	10,97 m	2009
Lietuva	Lithuania	D	16,40 m	1976
Pegasus	Lithuania	D	14,92 m	1988
Anne-Margaretha	Netherlands	D	23,35 m	1998
Endorfina	Poland	D	12,40 m	2009
Nasz Dom	Poland	D	10,54 m	1978
Qeenian	Poland	D	20,67 m	2007
Sarmata II	Poland	D	11,56 m	1992
Sekstant	Poland	D	11,56 m	1992
Adventure	Russia	D	16,60 m	1972
Argo (Russia)	Russia	D	12,85 m	1966
Aura	Russia	D	12,50 m	2006
Bylina	Russia	D	12,38 m	1975
Diana	Russia	D	12,50 m	1967
Elena	Russia	D	13,54 m	1991
Flora	Russia	D	14,00 m	1979
Forward	Russia	D	12,80 m	1983
Mir (yacht)	Russia	D	13,41 m	1982
Nika	Russia	D	12,40 m	1975
Peter I	Russia	D	16,10 m	1987
Piphagor	Russia	D	14,40 m	2006
Siberia	Russia	D	12,25 m	1997
Variag	Russia	D	12,50 m	1973
Yunga	Russia	D	11,30 m	1975
Osprey	UK	D	12,86 m	2002

 

Popularity: 18%

Tagged as: matitime atmosphere, Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Tall ships race