Tall Ships' Races

The Tall Ships Races are sail-training races for large traditionally rigged sailing vessels, run annually in European waters and organized by Sail Training International. The first race, from Torbay, England, to Lisbon, was held in 1956 and was intended as a farewell gathering of the last great sailing ships; its popularity made it an annual fixture. Entry classes (A through D) span full-rigged ships and barques down to smaller fore-and-aft rigged craft, with at least half of each crew aged 15 to 25. Host ports change yearly and draw large crowds.