From 7/8 - 7/16 (7/21), "Sail Boston 2000" transpires, including tours of docked vessels. Then most boats resume their race to the next port of call, Halifax, NS as part of Tall Ships 2000 Race Series.
"The international flotilla in Boston promises to be the finest and largest gathering of tall ships ever in United States history."
56 (fifty-six) tall ships, plus the aircraft carrier USS JFK, are expected. This includes many of the world's largest tall ships plus a few New England tourist boats. Enormous ones from Europe, S. America and Japan will participate, ships carrying 21 or more sails, Wilmington, Delaware's newly & authentically built Kalmar Nyckel, etc., etc.
And of course the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides", newly refitted and still the world's oldest commissioned warship, will lead the parade. (Its double-planked hull at gunports measures 18" thick.)
A few foolhardy souls have expressed interest in joining their Cals to the spectator fleet. Our yacht club happens to be awfully close to the Parade route, at Fox Point on Dorchester Bay in Boston. So we, Bob Larsen and myself, hereby offer as much of our hospitality as we can to host visiting Cals (plus Joe deMers if his boat's not ready) for a Rendezvous, whether at or near our club. Ideas "floated" include a potluck dinner or cook-out or catered cookout at our club or on an outer island.
Date & form to be determined, hopefully the day of the Parade, perhaps a weekend before or after.
Anchorages have been charted for the parade, from Constitution Wharf out past the mouth of Dorchester Bay to Deer Island Light.
Kindly reply off-list to cbarr@mediaone.net and/or blarsen@atex.com if you'd like to participate! Early mooring/slip reservations are encouraged.
-Chris Barr, Cal 31 "Arathorn"
-Bob Larsen, Cal 27 (soon-to-be ex-Cal 25)