More than 200 sailors, maritime and environmental educators, preservationists, marine event hosts, and port promoters gathered in Boston last week to participate in the 44th annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships, hosted by Tall Ships America. The theme of the conference was “The Way of a Ship: Linking Our History, Heritage, and Future.
Captain Maggie Flanagan, director of education and outreach for the Waterfront Alliance, traveled to the conference to discuss how to best use our shared maritime heritage to drive opportunities for education and economic development in ports and communities. Capt. Flanagan also gathered feedback on successful waterfronts to inform the Alliance’s Maritime Activation Plan at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Conference sessions included technical training on restoration materials such as wood and iron, advanced weather planning, showcases of innovative ship programs, marketing and branding tips, and HR strategies customized for mariners.
Boston is the place to celebrate maritime heritage this year. On June 17, Sail Boston will open a five-day festival to welcome the Tall Ships Challenge Atlantic Coast 2017, a regatta of more than 40 majestic sailing ships from 13 different countries, as far away as Russia and Chile. Festivities will include a Parade of Sail, dockside tours for the public and school groups, and opportunities to go sailing. Other festival ports this year include Charleston, Bermuda, and Quebec.
Unfortunately, as the grand ships sail north up the East Coast of the United States for the 2017 Tall Ships Challenge, they will pass by the Port of New York and New Jersey.
The metropolitan region is not a welcoming environment for visiting sailing ships, an issue explored previously in WaterWire.
“Mistakenly, many nonprofit historic ships are seen as not contributing to the economy, but they are vital employers and service providers,” said Capt. Flanagan. “Instead of being a drain on local resources, visiting ships and ship festivals can have a positive economic impact on the region. As we look forward to New York City’s next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, let’s also look forward to reclaiming our port heritage and welcoming more tall ships.”
Capt. Flanagan noted that it takes about three years to organize a sailing ship festival, assuming local government agencies are cooperating, financial sponsors have invested, and the necessary maritime infrastructure is in place.
“In the meantime,” she said, “there are some wonderful historic vessels who call the metropolitan area home, and I encourage everyone to visit them and learn about them. You might be inclined to dream about the exploits of pirates and the bravery of explorers when considering tall ships, but today’s fleets are customized to contemporary safety standards and manned by professional captains and crews. On board, you’ll find environmental lessons, art exhibitions, sail training, and all kinds of character-building opportunities.”
The Historic Ships Coalition offers a listing of historic vessels in the metropolitan area.
Photograph by Robert Simko/The Broadsheet.