Tall Ships leave Turku for Mariehamn

More than 60 large ships participating in the Tall Ships Races will leave Turku port for Mariehamn on Sunday.

The ships from 16 different countries arrived Turku from Tallinn on July 18, said the City of Turku.

Turku is the fourth destination after Klaipeda in Lithuania, Helsinki in Finland and Tallinn in Estonia of the Tall Ships races organized by the Sail Training International (STI) where sailing ships, some of which are over a hundred years old are taking part.

The ships, ranging in size from 10 to 200 metres remained in Aura River for the people.

In addition to numerous sailing boats, the maritime summer event offers the audience an immersive program, including crew competitions, music performances, and a parade.

From Friday to Saturday, a music festival called Slot Festival was held in Turku Castle Park.

The largest free family event in Europe, The Tall Ships Races, is held in the Baltic Sea every four years.

The event was held previously in 1996, 2003, 2009 and 2017.

In addition, in 2011, The Culture Tall Ships Races Regatta was organized in honor of the European Capital of Culture year of Turku. The event planned for 2021 had to be canceled due to the covid pandemic. With the anchor port agreement, The Tall Ships Races will be held in Turku next time in 2028 and in 2032.

In addition to Turku, the five other ports hosting the Tall Ships race are Helsinki, Mariehamn in Åland, Klaipeda in Lithuania, Tallinn in Estonia and Szczecin in Poland.

The race will arrive at Mariehamn on July 24 from Turku and stay until July 27.

Earlier on July 7, the Tall Ships Races left Helsinki port for Tallinn.