Festival of Sail Comes to Port of San Diego Labor Day Weekend

Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Contact: Barbara Moreno (619) 686-6216

Maritime history will be celebrated along San Diego Bay this Labor Day weekend when an armada of tall ships unfurls their massive sails and cruise around the bay.

The public is invited to the 2011 Festival of Sail, sponsored by the Port of San Diego and hosted by the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

The maritime celebration will feature more than 20 tall ships from all over the world. In addition, there will be self-guided tours of the San Salvador construction site at the Port's Spanish Landing Park, 4126 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego.

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"The San Diego region has a rich, maritime history and we are proud to be home to such a great waterborne event and a great maritime museum," said Scott Peters, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. "One of the missions of the Port is to activate the waterfront. We hope residents from all across San Diego County come to experience the Festival of Sail."

The event begins Thursday, September 1 at 11 a.m. with a parade on San Diego Bay of tall ships, including the Californian, and the HMS Surprise, which was recently featured in Pirates of the Carribbean: On Stranger Tides. The ships will sail around San Diego Bay. The best views of the parade will be in San Diego along the Embarcadero, from Harbor Island, Shelter Island and Coronado, as well as the Cabrillo National Monument.

"The North Embarcadero will be transformed into a nautical theme park," said Robyn Gallant, marketing manager for the Maritime Museum.

Public tours of the ships begin on Friday, September 2, at 9 a.m. at the Maritime Museum, with the purchase of a 2011 tall ship pass. The festival wraps up on Monday, September 5.

"Each participating ship has its own unique stamp and guests can get their tickets stamped at each vessel," said Gallant. "It's a great souvenir to document your travels."

Admission also includes a visit to the San Salvador construction site. Guests can tour the construction site where master shipbuilders are creating a replica of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's 16th Century galleon. The San Salvador village also includes demonstrations by the Kumeyaay tribe, blacksmithing and sail making.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children (12 and under), senior citizens (62 and over) and active military (valid identification required). Tickets are valid for all four days of the festival.

Guests can also purchase separate tickets to experience cannon battles at sea and in the bay. Tickets are $65 for adults and $40 for children 12 and under. It is not recommended for children younger than 5. The cannon battles are popular, so tickets should be purchased early.

Add a little more adventure by taking part in a 60-minute pirate ship adventure cruise aboard the Treasure Seeker. Tickets are $49 for adults and $46 for children.

During the festival, visitors can also enjoy live entertainment, food and drinks. There's also a family activity area, a petting zoo and 150 vendors.

Parking will be limited. Festival visitors are urged to use public transportation and walk from the trolley or the bus to the event. For more information, visit SDMaritime.org.

This event supports one of the key missions of the Port of San Diego, which is to encourage recreation on the tidelands. The Port of San Diego was created by the state Legislature to manage San Diego Bay and surrounding waterfront land in December 1962. The Port has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities.

The Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 17 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub-tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.