Tall ship regattas have been held on a regular basis since 1956. Named in the past as "Operation SAIL" and "Cutty Sark," the events are currently known as the Tall Ships' Races. Soviet and Russian sailing ships have been involved in tall ship regattas since 1978.
This regatta is primarily aimed at the younger generation to assist their physical and spiritual development, to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle, to provide training in maritime occupations, to enhance their stamina, willpower and endurance, to promote tolerance, to establish friendly contacts between young people of various nations and to strengthen international relations.
The regatta is organised by the international non-profit organisation Sail Training International (STI).
In 2006, STI was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its achievements in the sphere of maritime, international and patriotic education of the younger generation.
There are about 300 tall ships in the world. Five Russian tall ships, namely, the Mir, the Kruzenshtern, the Sedov, the Nadezhda and the Pallada, and over ten small ships and yachts flying the Russian flag are involved in the regatta.
Sailing ships with all types of rigging, measuring at least 9.14 metres long at the waterline, are admitted. At least 50% of their crews must be aged from 15 to 25.
All sailing ships are subdivided into the following four classes:
* Class A: All ships with square-sail rigging or ships with any type of rigging and having a maximum length of 48.8 metres or more.
* Class B: Ships with traditional rigging and having a length of less than 48.8 metres.
* Class C: Ships with modern rigging and without spinnakers.
* Class D: Ships with modern rigging and spinnakers.
Note:
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°-180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is primarily used by yachts during regattas.
Every annual regatta involves from 50 to 120 ships sailing along different routes each time. The three-stage regatta is conducted between four ports - the first race from port 1 to port 2, joint cruising from port 2 to port 3, including the so-called crew exchanges under cruise-in-company plans, and the second race from port 3 to port 4. The winners of the first race are awarded at port 2, while the winners of two races are awarded at port 2. Crew exchanges allow 3,000 to 5,000 young people to take part in every annual regatta. A total of 2,000 to 2,500 participants simultaneously sail on board all ships.
Host cities are selected in line with strict criteria three to four years prior to each regatta. As St Petersburg had hosted The Tall Ships Races 1996, it has once again received the honorary right to host the 2009 regatta.
From July 11 to 14, 2009, over 100 tall ships and more than 2,000 young sailors will arrive in St Petersburg.
Shore activities include an official reception in honour of captains of all ships, a disco party for young crew members, a fair, excursions on board ships for the public, crew parades in the city, official award ceremonies on the city's main square, sports competitions, concerts, a fireworks display and lots more.
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List of countries involved in the Tall
Ships Races Baltic - 2009 international regatta
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
The United Kingdom
Germany
The Netherlands
Denmark
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Poland
Russia
Finland
France
The Czech Republic
Sweden