Six Host Ports Announced for The Tall Ships Races 2024
Sail Training International is delighted to confirm the six European Host Ports of The Tall Ships Races 2024 as Klaipeda, Helsinki, Tallinn, Turku, Mariehamn and Szczecin.
The Tall Ships Races 2024 will take the majestic Tall Ships fleet back to the Baltic Sea for the first time since 2017, following the cancelation of the planned race series in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During our last visit, over four million visitors came to see the Tall Ships, and we’re sure that 2024 will be just as spectacular.
The event will start on Thursday 27 June and continue through until Monday 5 August, with four exhilarating races and a scenic Cruise-in-Company. With Host Ports from five countries – Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, the Åland Islands and Poland – The Tall Ships Races 2024 will take in all the Baltic region has to offer.
Tall Ships Races International Ltd.’s Chief Operating Officer, Alan James, welcomed the news of the confirmed Host Ports:
“It is with great pleasure that we announce the host ports for The Tall Ships Races 2024 and our return to the Baltic Sea.
“We are confident these ports will embrace the International Tall Ships fleet, with their maritime legacy, commitment to youth development and adventurous spirit which goes hand in hand with our values of international friendship and understanding.”
“Following the unfortunate cancellation of The Tall Ships Races 2021, which was due to take place in the Baltic Sea, we’re delighted to be able to return after seven years and bring the majestic and unique spectacle of Europe’s largest, free, family festival to the region.”
Chief Operating Officer, Alan James
The Tall Ships Races always provide the perfect opportunity to take part in some great sailing and embark on the adventure of a lifetime at sea. They bring together people of different nationalities, religions and cultures and visit a range of international ports, promoting international friendship and understanding.
Klaipeda
Klaipeda is the third-largest and oldest city in Lithuania. It’s situated on the Baltic Sea, is the country’s biggest port, and it’s one of the only ice-free ports in northern Europe. It first hosted the Tall Ships Races in 2009, and it’s quickly becoming a regular fixture in the sail training calendar. The port’s new passenger cruise terminal has helped bring increased traffic to the area and make the Lithuanian city a true tourist attraction.
Helsinki
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, last hosted The Tall Ships Races in 2013 and will welcome the fleet for the fifth time in 2024. With a rich maritime history, unique urban culture and stunning natural landscape, the city is sure to offer a stunning welcome to the international fleet of Tall Ships as they return for the first time in over a decade.
Tallinn
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland and is home to one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is the political, financial, cultural and educational centre of Estonia and proved to be an irresistible attraction for the Tall Ships Fleet in 2017 when over 44 ships chose to visit the city during the Cruise-in-Company leg of the event.
Turku
Turku is situated on the banks of the River Aura, and was previously the capital of Finland. The vessels will travel on a spectacular route through the archipelago, before arriving right in the middle of the city. The Tall Ships Races 2024 will mark the sixth time that the Host Port city has welcomed The Tall Ships Races since 1996.
Mariehamn
Located in Åland, an autonomous collection of islands at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, the town of Mariehamn is no stranger to Tall Ships events. Its rich maritime history is married with a warm and welcoming nature from its 11,700 inhabitants and visitors can expect a relaxed and picturesque town to explore. A particular highlight is the unique museum, the Tall Ship Pommern – the only four-masted barque in the world in original condition, never having had any large structural changes made.
Szczecin
Szczecin is one of the largest cities in the north of Poland. It’s known as Poland’s “green city of ecology” and it’s famous for its yachting. It was the final port for the Tall Ships Races in 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2017 where over two million people came to see the world’s magnificent Tall Ships during the event.
This fantastic race series will offer a wide range of festivities, attractions and crew activities during Europe’s largest, free, family festival. All of which is sure to make this edition of The Tall Ships Races a truly unforgettable experience.
