SAIL Amsterdam, historic tall ships visit Amsterdam | every five years.
The first SAIL Amsterdam was organized in 1975 and since then a SAIL Amsterdam has been organized every five years in which tall sailing ships from all over the globe sail to the port of Amsterdam. The first sail was part of the festivities around the 700th anniversary of the foundations of Amsterdam. SAIL was such a grand success that it became a regular event and is now the biggest free public event in the Netherlands.
SAIL Harlingen, Tall Ships Races Harlingen | every four years
Sail Harlingen is a more than fantastic and impressive boat event. On the first day of this four-day event, enormous sailing ships sail into the harbor of Harlingen. These tall ships come from all corners of the world. Besides an impressive spectacle, the Tall Ships Races is also an event with a mission. Everything revolves around the personal development and education of young people by offering unique sailing training, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender, or social background. Since 2014, the Tall Ship Race is organized once every 4 years in Harlingen. The historic port city of Harlingen is the perfect setting to welcome the mighty ships.
The Tall Ships Races Harlingen is a four-day maritime celebration with about 40 historic sailing ships, spectacular performances, a demonstration of the rescue brigade, spectacular fireworks, tens of thousands of visitors, and hundreds of trainees who have made the journey of a lifetime.
The large sailing ships are manned for six weeks by young people and volunteers and sail from finish to finish. During Sail Harlingen this weekend they will explain sailing on enormous three-masters that are sometimes more than a century old. The Tall Ship Day in Harlingen is a free event.
SAIL | Race of the Classics Rotterdam | Yearly
The Race of the Classics is an annual sailing competition. There are two editions: since 1989 in April for students affiliated with Dutch colleges or universities and since 2006 in October for ‘Young Professionals’ working at leading national and international companies. During the sailing race, classic sailing ships attempt to cross the North Sea to Ipswich, England, and back. The start of the race will take place at the Veerhaven in Rotterdam and the end of the race will take place in Amsterdam.
Race of the Classics Rotterdam
Tall ships, history
Many of today’s large sailing ships were built between 1920 and 2005 for various purposes such as research boats, fire/light boats, training ships, whale hunts, herring luggers, and cruise boats. Most obsolete sailing ships have been converted into modern sailing ships.
The Brik Mercedes was taken into service in May 2005, making it one of the youngest ships in the international tallship fleet. The 50-meter-long ship can take up to 140 people on a day trip. The Mercedes has 2 masts, 18 sails and a total of 900m2 of sail area. The sailing area of the sailing ship Mercedes extends from the Mediterranean Sea, along the entire North Atlantic coast to the North and Baltic Sea. The Mercedes is present at almost all major maritime festivals in Europe.
Tall ships, definition
A Tall Ship is a large ship, often with a lot of sails. A distinction is made between four classes:
Class A: 1e class. All square-rigged vessels (bark, barquentine, brig, brigantine, or ship rigged) with a hull length exceeding 24 meters and all other vessels exceeding 40 meters in length overall, regardless of rigging or sail.
Class B: Traditionally rigged vessels ( gaff rigged sloops, ketches, yawls, and schooners) with a length of less than 40 meters and a waterline length of at least 9.14 meters.
Class C: Modern rigged vessels (Bermuda rigged sloops, ketches, yawls, and schooners) less than 40 meters in length and with a waterline length of at least 9.14 meters and do not carry spinnaker-type sails.
Class D: Modern rigged vessels (Bermuda rigged sloops, ketches, yawls, and schooners) less than 40 meters in length and with a waterline length of at least 9.14 meters carrying spinnaker-like sails.
Tall ships, sailing speed
The average sailing speed of a tall ship is about 6 knots (nautical miles per hour), that’s almost 7 land miles per hour. The maximum speed under sail can be over 10 knots. Under engine, the maximum is actually less: only 5 or 6 knots.
