The Tall Ships Are Coming!

Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta, an exciting transatlantic race of 7,000 nautical miles, began Thursday, April 13. Over the course of five months, the Tall Ship fleet will visit ports in six countries across the globe—and Boston, Massachusetts, is an official port.

For the first time in 17 years, Tall Ships are returning to Boston Harbor for Sail Boston 2017.

Boston has a rich maritime history, past and present. Sail Boston 2017 offers a unique opportunity to view and board Tall Ships. From June 17 to 22, groups will find 50 Tall Ships from 13 countries, docked in Boston Harbor. Ships range in length from 38 feet to 10 times as much: The largest—Union, a Peruvian naval ship—docks in at 380 feet.

"It is really, truly rare to see all these ships from another age to converge all at once," said Robin Reibel, spokesperson for Boston Sail 2017.

Sail Boston 2017 begins with the Parade of Sail on Saturday, June 17. All events are free and open to the public, but for the best views, consider purchasing grandstand tickets.

For $125 apiece, your group members will receive premium seating on Boston Fish Pier, unbeatable views of the Parade of Sail, a Tall Ships narrator and live entertainment. Grandstand seating is handicapped-accessible and offers additional covered patio seating, food and beverage available for purchase, and plenty of restrooms.

Throughout the festival, groups will be able to board the Tall Ships for free tours and viewings. Check Sail Boston 2017's website for public boarding hours, and plan in advance. An event of this magnitude took five years to plan, and Sail Boston 2017 is expecting a lot of visitors. Leave plenty of time to access the ships, as there will be road closures throughout the weekend.

If your groups are looking to dive deeper into Boston's offerings, Sail Boston 2017's partners offer information on local attractions, restaurants and hotels.

For more information, visit www.sailboston.com.

Written by Cassie Westrate, staff writer for Groups Today.

Photo courtesy of Sail Boston 2017.