The city of Santander, Spain, is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year and in order to mark the occasion this famous maritime community is to hold a Tall Ships’ Festival during which dozens of ships of all shapes and sizes will be in port and open for inspection. Many of the ships that will be in Santander will be participating in a special race to get there from Torbay in England, ‘The Santander Tall Ships Regatta 2005’.
 
Before the race, the ships will gather in Torbay, on the south coast of Devon, England, from 1 to 3 September, where the multinational crews will get a chance to visit some of the many tourist attractions that makes Torbay the second biggest tourist resort in Britain, including the 22 miles of stunning English Riviera coastline, 20 beaches and coves and over 2,000 acres of parks and gardens. There will also be a gala Captain’s Dinner at the Imperial Hotel.
 
It is anticipated that a number of Tall Ships from many countries will take part in the Regatta and be in Torbay prior to the race start.  Entries to the race are currently being gathered, with the Russian sail training Tall Ship MIR and the Dutch SWAN FAN MAKKUM and EUROPA already confirmed, together with a number of smaller vessels. The Race is being organized by Sail Training International who also organize The Tall Ships’ Races
 
On 4 September the Regatta will begin off the coast of Tor Bay with the vessels racing down through the Bay of Biscay to Santander, where they are due to arrive by 8 September when the inauguration of the Sea Festival, Santander 2005 will take place. During the following four days, there will be a wide range of activities taking place along the quayside, including a Colonial Market from 1755, with actors who will re-enact scenes from the period, fireworks over the Bay of Santander and a swim across the bay with David Meca, a popular Spanish swimmer.  In addition there will be a number of workshops on cordage, sailing products, carpentry and model making, and opportunities for visitors to step on board the vessels.
 
On Sunday 11 September an homage to the men of the sea of Cantabria will take place with a sailing parade along the coast, open to all vessels who wish to participate. The Spanish Navy’s 196m aircraft carrier ‘Principe de Asturias’ will also be in the harbour.  A captain’s dinner, a crew party and a closing ceremony will also help to make the Santander Festival a memorable occasion for crews and visitors alike.
 
The city of Santander is hoping that this Festival will be the first of a regular cycle of Maritime and Tall Ships Festivals, perhaps every four or five years, preceded by a Tall Ships’ Race from northern Europe.

Sail Training International is a UK registered Charity (not for profit organization). Its purpose is the education and development of young people of all nationalities, religions and social backgrounds through sail training worldwide.