Tall Ships return to the Redpath Waterfront Festival in Toronto

The fleet’s in, and everyone’s heading to the waterfront! 

TORONTO, (May 06, 2013)  --- You know it’s summer in Toronto when it’s time for the Redpath Waterfront Festival.  The 2013 Festival will run from June 20-23, with a variety of activities for visitors of all ages and interests.

With a four-day feast of nautical history and urban beach fun, the Festival will welcome Tall Ships^® to Toronto’s waterfront. Toronto is the only port on this summer’s TALL SHIPS^® 1812 Tour, presented by Redpath Sugar, to host the entire fleet.

The Redpath Waterfront Festival, including the tall ships, takes over two kilometers of Toronto’s waterfront and will feature War of 1812 interactive theatre, FlyBoard demonstrations, a spectacular after-dark lights and multimedia show along with food, fun and entertainment.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Festival Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, June 20 and take advantage of ship deck tours throughout the four-day weekend.  On Sunday afternoon, June 23 at 4:00 p.m., visitors can witness the Grande Finale Parade of Sail presented by the City of Toronto. The tall ships will continue on their sailing journey to 15 ports in the heart of Ontario, to commemorate the War of 1812 as part of the TALL SHIPS^® 1812 TOUR.                                                 .

General admission to the Festival is free; however, if visitors would like to walk the decks and meet the officers and crews of these magnificent vessels, they can purchase ship deck tour tickets online at towaterfrontfest.com.

Fighting ships, training ships, and even a school ship

Sixteen tall ships will be part of the Festival – schooners and brigantines, brigs and barquentines, many visiting Toronto for the first time.  

Tallest of the Tall Ships^® is Norway’s Sørlandet. This is not the first time Sørlandet has come this way.  Back in 1933, with a full crew of trainee cadets, she sailed across the Atlantic, along the St.Lawrence and through the Great Lakes to Chicago, to take part in the 1933 World’s Fair. She is repeating the trip 

to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of that historic visit, with a special delegation of Norwegian dignitaries onboard sailing into Toronto harbour. 

                                   

Over half the fleet is Canadian – Canadian built and Canadian operated, with home ports on the Great Lakes. The very first sail training school for young people was established in Kingston, and is still proudly sailing the brigantine they built for themselves, 50 years ago.

                                                           

Tall Ships^® of 2013:

Liana’s Ransom          Canada       Topsail schooner

Peacemaker                 USA             Barquentine

Pride of Baltimore II    USA             Topsail schooner

Privateer Lynx             USA             Topsail schooner

Schooner Hindu         USA             Gaff-rigged schooner

SS Sørlandet                           Norway       Full-rigged ship

STV Fair Jeanne         Canada       Brigantine

STV Pathfinder           Canada       Brigantine

STV St. Lawrence II   Canada       Brigantine

STV Unicorn                USA             Topsail schooner

TS Playfair                   Canada       Brigantine

US Brig Niagara          USA             Brig

Caledonia                    Canada       Barquentine

                        Challenge                   Canada        Three-masted schooner *

Empire Sandy              Canada       Tern schooner *

Kajama                          Canada       Three-masted schooner *

                        *These Toronto Harbour ships are an extension to the fleet

                        and will be running daily sails during the Festival.

Get your deck-tour tickets, and see what’s new at the Redpath Waterfront Festival

Check in at towaterfrontfest.com for an update on activities as they are added, and while you’re there buy your deck-tour tickets, so you don’t have to line up at the gang way! Advance online ticket sales are being offered at 30% off the on-site price until Wednesday, June 19.

                                                                       

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The Redpath Waterfront Festival

The Redpath Waterfront Festival, in partnership with the Waterfront Business Improvement Area (WBIA), provides on-water and on-land programming that promotes Toronto locally, nationally and internationally as a premiere waterfront destination. Festival sponsors and presenters include City of Toronto, Toronto Port Authority, Porter Airlines, CTV, and the Toronto Star, among others.