After years of preparation, festivities for the Tall Ships Races 2016 Antwerp, Belgium, began today (Thursday 7 July).
Marking the start of the 60th anniversary of the races, Sail Training International and Antwerp have worked together to ensure that this unique event gets off to the most spectacular of starts. Gulden Leeuw (Class A, Netherlands) was the first to join the party, arriving mid-afternoon on Tuesday 5 July and completed the fleet berthing at noon today, with some 50 ships already attracting large crowds.
The event runs from Thursday 7-Sunday 10 July, welcoming a crew of 4,000 international trainees from more than 30 different countries.
Antwerp is hosting the event for the sixth time since 1993 (other years were 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2010) and has produced the grandest race site to date. With berths stretching over 5 km2, the harbour has taken the races to its heart once again, and the Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS) has provided an iconic backdrop to the event area which is divided into five zoned “ocean areas.”
Activities over the coming days will include competitive crew sports such as beach volleyball, laser shooting, beach football, table tennis, tug of war and Kubb, a crew parade, plus free concerts and live performances, fireworks on Saturday and a grand Parade of Sail on Sunday. And for all the football fans there will also be large screens showing the Euro football championships.
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Knut Western, Race Chairman, Sail Training International made special note of the outstanding efforts made by this diverse Belgian host city.
“Today I wish to congratulate the city and port of Antwerp. Today is not only the opening day of the Tall Ships Races 2016 in this fantastic city, but also the opening of the sixtieth race series since our modest beginning in 1956.
“2016 is a special anniversary year, and we celebrate it in Antwerp, knowing that the support of the Port, City and Province of Antwerp has been particularly valuable to us over the past years.”
Bart De Wever, Mayor of Antwerp said,
“We are looking forward to another successful edition of the Tall Ships Races. After a very rainy period the sun has finally arrived in Antwerp. With this sunny forecast we are looking forward to thousands of visitors enjoying the beauty of the Tall Ships and the diverse pleasures of our city. I wish everyone a very pleasant stay in Antwerp.”
About Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium, is a pocket-sized metropolis and is home to Europe’s second-largest port. It’s a melting pot of cultures, with 164 different nationalities living and working within it.
Antwerp boasts impressive architecture, including a riverside fortress and a dramatic cathedral. Many of the city’s great landmarks, such as its historic zoos and beautiful religious buildings, are open to everyone.
Located in the heart of Europe, Antwerp is Belgium’s second-biggest city, with a penchant for vibrant fashion, entertainment and architecture. It was also voted one of the top 10 most attractive and enjoyable cities in the world by Lonely Planet in 2009.
About The Tall Ships Races
The Tall Ships Races is the jewel in the crown of the international sailing events calendar and one of the biggest opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to learn about the benefits of life on the ocean waves.
It is exactly 60 years since the very first race from Torbay, UK to Lisbon, Portugal in 1956. Since then it has attracted hundreds of ships and millions of spectators.
The Tall Ships Races 2016 will visit four ports racing from Antwerp to Lisbon, Portugal; Lisbon to Cádiz, Spain and then finally racing and cruising in company to the A Coruña, Spain.
See here for more information.
All crews are invited to enter the 2016 Tall Ships Races Selfie competition. Just take a selfie and upload it to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #TSRSelfie and you will have the chance to win a Polaroid WIFI camera. Winning entries will be announced in Lisbon and Cádiz.