Tall Ships Sail Into San Diego Bay for Festival of Sail

Friday, 02 September 2011
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6222, (619) 686-6461

A parade of tall ships sailed into San Diego Bay on Thursday, September 1, 2011, beginning the annual Festival of Sail that draws thousands of visitors to the downtown waterfront.

Public tours of the ships began on Friday, September 2, at 9 a.m. at the Maritime Museum of San Diego and continue through Monday, September 5.

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Pacific Voyagers

For the first time, traditional ocean-going Polynesian double hulled canoes are part of the festival. Called the Pacific Voyagers, the seven boats and their crews are on a 15,000-mile journey to reconnect with their ancestors and to raise awareness for environmental issues facing the Pacific Ocean.

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Courtesy: Pacific Voyagers

The Pacific Voyagers have sailed across the Pacific Ocean, guided solely by celestial navigation and powered by energy from the wind and the sun. They arrived in San Diego from San Francisco.

This is the first time in modern history that a voyage like this has been made.

“We are thrilled to have these canoes sailing with the tall ships this year and are delighted to host the Pacific Voyagers,” said Robyn Gallant, Maritime Museum of San Diego project manager for Festival of Sail.

General admission

Tickets for a 2011 tall ship pass to tour all of the ships are $15 for adults and $10 for children (12 and under), senior citizens (62 and over) and active military (valid identification required). The tickets are valid for the four days of the festival.

• Purchase Festival of Sail tickets
• Festival of Sail event schedule

In addition to touring the boats, guests can purchase separate tickets to experience cannon battles at sea and in the bay. The event also features live entertainment, refreshments, a family activity area, a petting zoo and shopping opportunities at vendor booths set up along the North Embarcadero.

The nautical celebration is hosted by the Maritime Museum of San Diego and sponsored by the Port of San Diego.

“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,” said Scott Peters, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners.

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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—San Diego, Chula Vista, Coronado, National City and Imperial Beach.

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.