The Tall Ships are Coming

The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) has announced that the 2008 Tall Ships Challenge, slated for the North American West Coast, will add San Francisco as a port of call from July 23 – 28, 2008.

ASTA holds a Tall Ships Challenge Series every year but alternates between the Great Lakes and the North American East and West Coasts. Each Challenge includes a series of races in which barques, brigs, brigantines, schooners, sloops, barkentines, full-rigged ships and more participate, along with the general public. Founded in 1973, ASTA fosters youth education through their programs at sea with more than 250 tall ships and sail training vessels as members.

The entire 2008 Series begins in Victoria, British Columbia on June 25, then sails on to Tacoma, Washington and Port Alberni, B.C. before heading to the Bay. For further information visit www.tallships.sailtraining.org.