More vessels sign up for Tall Ships
Oriole, Cutty Sark, and old favorites set to attend
November 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Nov. 20, 2007
CONTACT: Matthew Erlich, 253.284.0015
merlich@tacomagoodwill.org
www.tallshipstacoma.com
More vessels sign up for Tall Ships
Oriole, Cutty Sark, and old favorites set to attend
TACOMA – More tall ships are signing up to participate in the Tall Ships event in Tacoma next summer. Recent agreements have been reached with vessels from across the region and from Canada.
State Farm presents Tall Ships Tacoma 2008 July 3-7, 2008, along the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma. For information about the event, along with updates as more vessels sign up, go online to www.tallshipstacoma.com.
“The vessels we sign are the core of the Tall Ships event,” said Joe Jadwin, Tall Ships board chairman. “These classic ships provide a real grace and charm that highlight other festival events around Tacoma.”
Five ships recently confirmed they plan to attend the event. They join nine other vessels that previously signed agreements to come to Tacoma. Among the most recent additions:
· Cutty Sark, a 52-foot long vessel that is the first of 10 sister ships of the Mayflower class designed by Hugh Angleman and Charlie Davies. Based in Washington, the ship normally cruises Puget Sound.
· HMCS Oriole, the oldest commissioned ship in the Canadian Navy. The ship was launched in 1921 and is an annual participant in the Switfsure Classic Race from Victoria, Canada, to the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and back.
· Zodiac, a 127-foot-long vessel built in 1924 for the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company. Based in Seattle, she normally cruises Puget Sound and the Canadian Gulf Islands.
· Lynx, a 78-foot-long schooner operated as a training vessel under the auspices of the Lynx Educational Foundation.
· Charles N. Curtis, a 78-foot former U.S. Coast Guard cutter that now is a training vessel for the Sea Scouts at Tacoma’s Youth Marine Center.
Vessels already confirmed for the event include the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle, The Lady Washington, Hawaiian Chieftan, Amazing Grace from Gig Harbor, Mary Ellen, Resolute, MyciaLocal, Odyssey and Adventuress.
A Tall Ships event in 2005 in Tacoma drew 30 classic sailing vessels from around the world to the Foss Waterway. Tacoma won Port of the Year honors from the American Sail Training Association, which organizes vessels for Tall Ships festivals.