Organised by Sail Training International
The Historical Seas Tall Ships Regatta took place between 9 May and
7 June and involved four ports new to hosting Tall Ships events.
Each of the ports has its own charm and character that ensured a new
experience for ships and crews alike. The route took the fleet
through the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus into the
Black Sea and back through the Cyclades, visiting ports in Greece and
Bulgaria as well as the exotic city of Istanbul.
The Regatta was made up of three races with no cruise-in-company.
Leg one followed the route which, according to legend, was taken by
Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. The fleet gathered in Volos, Greece with the start area established due south of the
island of Skiathos, some 30 miles from Volos. With the Sporades Islands
to port, the fleet headed, via a number of waypoints, to a final
waypoint to the west of the entrance to the Dardanelles, some 160 miles
distant. Ships recorded their time at this waypoint and stopped
racing. They were allowed to pass through the Sea of Marmara and the
Bosphorus under engine and had about two days to get to the
starting waypoint for the second leg of the first race in the Black Sea
about 170 miles away. During this period, they could stop where they
pleased, taking on provisions - but not crew - and relaxing. The race was
restarted from a point north of the entrance to the Bosphorus and, via
another waypoint, finished in Varna, Bulgaria by 21 May.
Varna is a city of contrasts with ancient, medieval, renaissance and
modern cultures mingling and coexisting throughout the city and offered
the crews an interesting four days. The fleet then left the city
on 24 May, Bulgarian National Day, for the start of the second race.
This race took the fleet via a number of waypoints, covering about
200 miles, to the northern entrance to the Bosphorus, where it finished late in the evening on 26 May, allowing the fleet to transit
through the Bosphorus and arrive in Istanbul by 27 May.
The fleet stayed in Istanbul, Turkey for another four days of
festivities where the crew had ample time to explore this
exceptional city. As Istanbul will be the European Capital of Culture in
2010, the crews were given an interesting cultural programme to
make the most of this opportunity, where Europe and Asia meet.
The fleet left Istanbul on 30 May and made its way through the Sea
of Marmara and the Dardanelles to the race start area. The third race started on 1 June and headed south towards Lavrion, Greece leaving the
Cyclades islands of Myconos and Naxos to port. The third race was
about 220 miles in length and finished off Lavrion by 4 June. The
fleet were alongside until 7 June when ships dispersed back to their
home ports or on to other events. As Lavrion is close to Athens, there was a wealth of historical and cultural sites for the crews to visit and
enjoy while in the port.