Seven tall ships set to race around the Island MIKE CARSON The Guardian
SUMMERSIDE — History will be made in September as seven tall ships arrive in Summerside in preparation for a race around the Island.
The seven vessels will arrive in the western capital on Sept. 10 and this will mark the first time these majestic vessels encircle an island in a competitive format.
The event has been the dream of Ron Casey, executive director of Downtown Summerside Inc., who began working on the project 11 years ago.
“It takes a long while to get these ships,” Casey said. “You can get one or two in at a time maybe three or four but to get a large number of ships to race around the Island is really tough. You have to get them when they’re in the area. This year just happened to work out with the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables we used that as a draw point to try an attract them to come.”
The seven vessels will be racing for cash prizes with a total of $115,000 up for grabs. The winning vessel will receive $40,000, $26,000 to second place, $13,000 to third place and $9,000 for any ship that completes the race.
Casey said organizers are estimating the economic spinoff from this four-day event to be between $4 million and $5 million.
The ships will arrive at dockside following a grand parade of sail into Summerside Harbour at 2 p.m. on Sept. 10 and the ships will be open to the public from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Thursday, Sept. 11, the race begins at noon at the mouth of Summerside Harbour by the Indian Head Lighthouse.
Participating ships:
Pride of Baltimore —157 feet
Spirit of Bermuda — 112 feet
Spirit of South Carolina — 140 feet
Virginia — 126 feet
La Revenante — 65 feet
Mist of Avalon — 100 feet
Roseway — 137 feet.
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Really Exited from from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Wait a go Ron!! What a great event for PEI. Can't wait to see the ships.
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Darryl from PEI writes: Reminds some of us Im sure of the Round the Island yacht race they was held many years ago. Too bad that couldnt have been tied together with this one.
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Larry from pe writes: Will people be able to see the tall ships from the shore? Or better yet can I go out in my boat to see them pass by. I'll keep my distance and won't interfere.
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Capt. Kidd from Ctown, PEI writes: Any room for the black flag, matey, or do I have to blast my way in.
Shiver my timbers, no Canadian flags either. Good opportunity for some freebooting, if yous gets my drift. Aye.
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