Waterfront Festival of Sail Coming to Port of San Diego

Thursday, 12 August 2010

The Port of San Diego's Festival of Sail is returning to town with a bang!

This Labor Day weekend, cannon fire will signal the arrival of 20 majestic tall ships from all over the world as they sail into the bay, arriving at the Maritime Museum of San Diego and the Embarcadero.

Five days of activities are planned, from Thursday, Sept. 2 to Monday, Sept. 6.

The celebration begins Sept. 2 at 11 a.m., when an armada of tall ships and other vessels will parade through the bay, from Harbor Island, past Shelter Island and Seaport Village and the Coronado Bridge. The ships will dock along the North Embarcadero at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

"This event really brings awareness, not only to the museum, but to what San Diego has to offer. And you can't really put a price on that," said Robyn Gallant, Marketing Director of the Maritime Museum. "What makes it unique is that it reaches all different target audiences and families."

Festival visitors can sail into battle on the official Tall ship of the Golden State, the Californian, and battle the enemy with authentic Civil War cannons. The public can also cruise the bay on the replica of the original America's Cup yacht America.

And there's more than just ships to keep everyone entertained. From a petting zoo to music of all genres to food of all types– you can find it down at the Embarcadero.

Other activities include a narrated, twilight cruise of San Diego Bay onboard the 1914 Pilot Boat.

Previously, the festival was held in San Diego every three years, but that is changing.

"We are going to do it annually now because the public loves it so much," said Gallant.

To tour the festival ships, passport tickets must be purchased. The passports allow both ship tours as well as entrance to the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

Upon entrance to each ship, passports will be marked with unique stamps and visitors may keep the passports as a memento.

Passports cost $15 for adults and $10 for children (12 and under), seniors (62 and over) and active military with valid identification. They are on sale now on the Maritime Museum's website at www.sdmaritime.org.

This stately nautical display will be located along the North Embarcadero between Ash and Grape Street. Festival visitors are advised to use the public transportation due to extremely limited parking.

For more information on participating ships and available entertainment visit the San Diego Maritime Museum website.

---