A fleet of 12 historic and majestic tall ships from harbors across the United States, Canada, Spain and the South Pacific will grace Canalside, Riverwalk and Erie Basin Marina for Buffalo’s inauguration as a host port of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Great Lakes 2019 race from Toronto to Buffalo on July 4-7.
In conjunction with the arrival of the tall ships, Basil Port of Call: Buffalo, a four-day, family-friendly celebration of the city’s maritime heritage, will take place along the downtown waterfront. Offering a unique opportunity for adults and children to view, board and explore the vessels, the festivities will feature family activities, live entertainment, historic exhibits, artisan food and beverages, and a Parade of Sail of the tall ship fleet.
Included in the flotilla are four, three-masted tall ships: Barque Picton Castle, originating from the Cook Islands in the South Pacific and circumnavigating the world; Denis Sullivan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the world’s only replica of a Great Lakes schooner; Toronto-based Empire Sandy, serving as Canada’s largest schooner; and Nao Santa Maria, a replica of the flagship of Christopher Columbus’ exploration fleet, built and based in Punta Umbria, Spain.
Eight two-masted tall ships also will be in attendance: Bluenose II, a Canadian national symbol and goodwill ambassador for the province of Nova Scotia; US Brig Niagara, replicating Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812 and home-ported in Erie, Pennsylvania; HMCS Oriole, the oldest commissioned vessel in the Royal Canadian Navy and based in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Pride of Baltimore, a reconstruction of a Baltimore Clipper from the War of 1812 era representing the people of Maryland; and STV St. Lawrence II, a Kingston, Ontario sail training brigantine operated by a crew of teenagers.
In addition to berthing on the waterfront, three of the two-masted tall ships will be available to leave port for either day or evening excursions: Appledore IV, a gaff schooner from Bay City, Michigan emphasizing environmental stewardship of the Great Lakes ecosystem; Appledore V, a companion schooner from Bay City also offering environmental science programs; and Spirit of Buffalo, the home port vessel host of this spectacular Buffalo waterfront event.
Basil Port of Call: Buffalo is free and open to the public. To tour any or all of the tall ships, Passport Vouchers can be purchased at all participating Wegmans locations throughout WNY and online at www.PortOfCallBuffalo.org. Additional information is also available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PortOfCallBuffalo/.
In addition to the Basil Family Dealerships serving as Title Sponsor of the event, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a Community Partner and exclusive retail ticket outlet. Other sponsors include: OneNiagara, Parade of Sail Presenting Sponsor; Big Ditch Brewing Company, Official Sponsor; and Buffalo Yacht Club and Foundation, Boating Education Sponsor. The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, the Oishei Foundation and the Charles and Ione Arrick Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo have awarded planning grants.
Basil Port of Call: Buffalo 2019 is produced by the Port of Call Buffalo Steering Committee, an organization of the Buffalo Lighthouse Association, in coordination with Tall Ships America’s TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE Great Lakes Series.
The Buffalo Lighthouse Association was formed as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to restore and preserve Buffalo Harbor’s historic lighthouses and interpret the city’s maritime heritage. The Association has restored and relit the iconic 1833 lighthouse and operates Lighthouse Point as an historic site and owns and is restoring the 1903 South Buffalo Lighthouse at the other end of the harbor.
A nonprofit organization based in Newport, RI, Tall Ships America coordinates gatherings of member vessels to promote their education, history and science curriculums with a mission to encourage character building through sail training, promote sail training to the North American public and support education under sail.
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Think summer and the Basil Port of Call, with 12 tallships coming to the Buffalo waterfront this Fourth. This community event is big, needing 800+ volunteers, including some with specific skills.
There are benefits to volunteering!
• A complimentary special event T-shirt which will identify you
• Free commemorative Tall Ships poster
• Free Passport for tall ship boarding
• And best of all … free preferred parking near the event site!
Please visit their website or Facebook page for more information:
PortOfCallBuffalo.org
https://www.facebook.com/PortOfCallBuffalo/
