Boston and Newport Harbors will be invaded by an armada of imposing ships from around the world in July. But don't think about fleeing.
Unlike the hostile British vessels that occupied the harbors in the American Revolution, these ships will be friendly.An estimated 125 sailing ships - including more than 20 flagships, the largest of the so-called Tall Ships - will converge on Boston Harbor July 11 as part of an international Grand Regatta that will commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas.
At least 15 to 20 of the ships, including several flagships, will then break away from the main group and sail to Newport on Friday, July 17, answering several years worth of invitations extended by Rhode Island to foreign embassies.
The international regatta will sail from Cadiz, Spain, on May 3 and stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in New York City before arriving in Boston for a week of activities from July 11 to 16.
Tall-masted sailing ships, some well over 300 feet long, will come from 30 countries including Germany, Italy, Uruguay, Norway, Poland, Chile, Australia, Oman and Russia.
They will be joined in Boston and Newport by the Niagara, which was Rhode Islander Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The Niagara, which like the USS Constitution has been restored, normally resides in Erie, Pa.
Tall ships, with their towering masts and dozens of sails, were first built in the mid-19th century as cargo vessels. Those that exist today are used mainly to train cadets in the sailing tradition.
The Boston event, sponsored by 15 corporations, including Fleet-Norstar Financial Group, is expected to attract up to 2 million people to the Boston waterfront July 11-16 and generate up to $100 million in revenue.
Activities will include an International Maritime Pavilion, a fireworks show over Boston Harbor, cultural and athletic events, an international crew parade and free tours of the vessels for the public.
The vessels will be berthed in the EDIC/Marine Industrial Park, the World Trade Center area and the Charlestown Navy Yard.
On July 11, the U.S. Coast Guard barque Eagle will lead a parade of the Tall Ships, including Chile's 353-foot Esmeralda and Russia's 361-foot Mir.
Most of the ships will leave Boston July 16 for the final leg of their regatta, to Liverpool, England.
But more than a dozen, including two ships from Poland, will head south to Newport, where they will be berthed from July 17 to 21.
Vice Adm. Thomas Weschler, chairman of the Tall Ships Newport '92 Committee, said Newport was able to lure the vessels for several reasons. The state has been sending invitations to the various embassies since 1989.
Also, Newport's hospitality apparently goes well remembered around the world. "Many of them were here in 1976, 1982 and 1986, and they had a good time, so they were happy to come back," Weschler said.
On July 21, the Eagle will lead the ships under the Newport Bridge, then across the Bay, rounding Gould Island, and then south and out to sea.
Argentina's 366-foot-long ship Liberdad will stop in Newport July 8-10 on its way from New York to Boston, and the Portuguese tall ship Sagres II will be in Newport July 20-25 after participating in the Boston events and in the Fall River Celebrates America festivities slated for July 17-20.
In August, replicas of Columbus's ships will arrive in Newport for a brief stay.