Boston’s history stretches beyond the land to the sea. Boston has a wealth of maritime history—both past and present. Bostonians welcome crews and cadets from all over the world to their harbor on a continual basis as part of the Visiting Ship Program and are gearing up to greet the return of the Tall Ship fleet for Sail Boston 2017®!
Known as America’s Walking City, Boston is home to many historic sites that date back to the American Revolution. Visitors to Boston are encouraged to stroll the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red brick walking trail that passes sixteen nationally significant historic sites. The Freedom Trail begins at Boston Common and ends at Bunker Hill, near the Charlestown Navy Yard and the home of the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world.
Boston is an official port of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta. The trans-Atlantic regatta will start in Royal Greenwich, UK. From there the fleet will race to Sines, Portugal, followed by Bermuda. The fleet will then race to Boston, for Sail Boston 2017®. From Boston, the fleet will cruise in company north to Quebec City, Canada.
Sail Boston® will entertain its younger audience with educational programs focusing on US and international maritime history. Cadets and crewmembers will be available to educate children of all ages of their personal experiences at sea, home countries and more.
Events Schedule
Parade of Sail Saturday, June 17, 2017
Sail Boston Festival Saturday, June 17, 2017 – Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Public Boarding of Ships Saturday, June 17, 2017 – Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Crew & Cadet Street Parade Presented by Downtown Boston BID Downtown Crossing Monday, June 19, 2017
Tall Ships Depart Thursday, June 22, 2017
All events are free and open to the public
Parade of Sail
Boston Harbor Saturday, June 17, 2017 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Grand Parade of Sail will highlight the day’s activities as vessels parade in flotillas from Broad Sound into the main channel of Boston Harbor turning at Charlestown, before proceeding to their assigned berthing areas. Public viewing of the parade will be spectacular from Castle Island, the Seaport District, the Boston Waterfront, East Boston, the North End and Charlestown.
