Last weekend, The Tall Ships Races once again came to Antwerp. Combined with the Bollekesfeest beer festival, it attracted huge crowds. The sailing event will return to Antwerp in 2026 and 2030.
Organiser Sail Training International (STI) named Antwerp the very first ‘Anchor Port‘ because of the mutual historical bond. This means that the city and STI are committed to coming to theRiver Scheldt again with the event, whereby the agreements for the next two editions have already been made. This agreement provides assurance to both parties that they can develop the event in a way that is beneficial to all stakeholders.
The international sailing competition is currently calling at Antwerp for the seventh time. After passages in 1993, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2016, 2022 will once again be a year in which hundreds of thousands of visitors come to marvel at the cathedrals of the sea.
Anchor Port
Antwerp has the ambition to host The Tall Ships Races every four years in the future. Due to the long and intense historical link between The Tall Ships Races and Antwerp, STI, the City of Antwerp and Port of Antwerp-Bruges worked together developed the concept of an ‘Anchor Port’, which results in a win-win situation for all parties. In the case of Antwerp, this already applies for the next two editions, in 2026 and 2030. The idea of the Anchor Ports will be rolled out even further by STI to other successful host cities from the past.
Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA): “Antwerp carries the cathedrals of the sea in its soul. Thanks to The Tall Ships Races, our rich maritime history flows effortlessly into the story of the second largest port in Europe of which our city can be really proud. I am particularly honored that Antwerp will become an Anchor Port for this wonderful event, which will also delight hundreds of thousands of spectators in the coming editions in 2026 and 2030.”
Harbour Alderman Annick De Ridder (N-VA): “This is very good news for all fans of The Tall Ships Races, but also for Antwerp. Because with this we can further restore the link between the Scheldt and Antwerp, but also put our maritime history and position as a world port in the spotlight. I am therefore delighted that the cathedrals of the sea and their crews will visit Antwerp again in 2026 and 2030.”
Alan James, CEO of Tall Ships Races International Ltd: “We are delighted to be launching our ‘Anchor Port’ program together with Antwerp. We have a long and fruitful partnership with the city and Port of Antwerp-Bruges in terms of events and look forward to continuing this in 2026 and 2030. Our shared principles of international friendship and mutual understanding, and youth development through sailing training, will help us improve the lives of young people, now and in the future. With its rich maritime heritage and connection to the oceans, Antwerp is perfectly positioned to continue developing The Tall Ships Races with us as a globally renowned event.”
Rich maritime history
“The arrival of The Tall Ships Races continues to highlight the rich maritime history and the intense bond between city and port. It also offers the city of Antwerp and Port of Antwerp-Bruges an excellent platform to show important innovations and sustainable initiatives”, a press release states.
“Most importantly, the Races have a crucial positive social impact: they promote mutual understanding between young people from different cultures and countries, and through sailing training, offer them personal development and experiences that they will carry with them for life. For example, after an inclusive selection, about a hundred Belgian young people also participate as members of the Antwerp Crew.”
Ongoing commitment
By means of an ongoing sail training program in collaboration with maritime partners, the city of Antwerp and Port of Antwerp-Bruges commit themselves to make and keep the event visible, even in the years when the Races do not call in Antwerp as a stopping point.
The aim is to increase public support for Antwerp as a port city and the port of Antwerp.
2023 and 2024
In 2023, The Tall Ships Races sail to the Netherlands, Norway and England. In 2024 to Latvia, Finland, Estonia and Poland.
The Tall Ships Races
22-25 JULY | Antwerp prepares The Tall Ships Races 2022 and presents Antwerp Crew.
Tall Ships Races 2022 + Bollekesfeest in Antwerp from 22 to 25 July.
From Saturday 11 July to Tuesday 14 July 2026, The Tall Ships Races will come to Antwerp again! The city and Port of Antwerp-Bruges have a long history with the world-famous sailing race. That is why the city may host the ships as Anchor Port in both 2026 and 2030.
Starting in Denmark in June 2026, The Tall Ships Races 2026 will see events taking place across 4 countries in Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, before coming to a close in Denmark in August 2026.
With Host Ports from five countries – Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, the Åland Islands and Poland – The Tall Ships Races 2024 will take in all the Baltic region has to offer. The Tall Ships Races always provide the perfect opportunity to take part in some great sailing and embark on the adventure of a lifetime at sea.
The Tall Ships Races 2025 will take the majestic fleet through the English channel and North Sea to Le Harve, Dunkirk, Aberdeen, Kristiansand and Esbjerg. There! We are excited to welcome the races back to Aberdeen from 19 to 22 July 2025.
The races are held annually in European waters and consists of two racing legs of several hundred nautical miles, and a "cruise in company" between the legs. Over one half of the crew of each ship participating in the races must consist of young people.
The Armada will be back in 2027! For 10 days, hundreds of sailors take over the city for this unique event. Every edition, thousands of visitors will once again invade the quays to admire the most beautiful and largest sailing ships in the world moored in the city's port, just a few steps from Rouen's historic centre.
The world's largest sailing ship is coming soon to an ocean near you. The 720-foot Orient Express Silenseas—unveiled today by French hospitality giant Accor, the storied brand's parent company—will take to the high seas in the spring of 2026, offering an arguably unprecedented luxury travel experience.
According to the official organiser, this event will take place in Sète, France, from Tuesday, March 26th to Monday, April 1st 2024. Whilst we're unable to confirm details at this stage, it's expected that at least one tall ship will take part in Escale à Sète 2024.
From historical replicas right through to charter ships, schools ships and even newly built naval training vessels, the world of tall ships is a diverse one with every single vessel unique in its own right. Among them you'll soon find that many deliver something known as 'Sail Training'.
Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Star of the Seas, will be the largest cruise ship in the world, according to the Canaveral Port Authority. The ship will start sailing from Port Canaveral in July 2025. “This is tremendous news, and we are very proud to be the homeport for this remarkable new ship.
The Golden Horizon is a steel-built, five-masted barque that, at 162-metres long, is the largest sailing ship in the world. Designed by Polish naval architect Zygmunt Choreń, the Golden Horizon is based on a famous cargo ship the France II that was built in 1911.
Our average sailing speed 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. But sailing is more fun than motoring, so even in light winds we often sail – albeit rather slowly!
Opportunities to participate in a day sail in the USA are more widely available than you might think. That's partly because “tall ship” includes topsail and two- and three-masted schooners, barques, and other sailboats smaller and less grand than the Matthew Turner.
Starting in Lithuania in June 2024, The Tall Ships Races 2024 will see events taking place across 4 countries in Europe including Finland and Estonia, before coming to a close in Poland in August 2024. It's believed that more than 10 tall ships will take part in The Tall Ships Races 2024.
However, the biggest one that we organise is the Tall Ships Races. This spectacular, annual event is aimed at young people (16-25 years old) and it takes place in European waters over the summer months.
The Vendée Globe pits the sailing elite against one another in a 24,300-mile race. Often referred to as the Everest of the seas, the yachtsmen and women who partake in the maritime epic every four years must sail solo around the world with no stops or assistance.
Officials say the event's grand fleet will include seven replica and restored ships docked near the north side of FirstEnergy Stadium at North Coast Harbor. These ships – which include vessels from the United States, Canada and Spain – are listed as follows: Appledore IV. Inland Seas.
Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.