American East Coast & Canada

Rhode island - the capital of yachting in America

Bermuda – Charleston, South Carolina USA.

Join sail training Ship ‘Prince William’ in Bermuda for a 700 mile blue water passage to Charleston, South Carolina USA - open to all nationalities and ages 18-75- see sailing schedule for prices and other voyage options)

Blessed with coral pink sandy beaches lapped by turquoise seas, Bermuda stands in splendid isolation and is a unique place to join a tall ship. In the 19th and 20th Centuries Bermuda was a crossroads between North America, England, and the sugar colonies in the West Indies. Consequently it has a fascinating nautical heritage and a long standing reputation for good local sailors and boatbuilding. The voyage begins in St George – the oldest English speaking colonial town still in existence and now a World Heritage Site. Bermuda was the base for many a famed Blockade Runner during the American Civil War and a safe haven for Confederate Raiders. In St Georges harbour you will undergo full training and a chance to go aloft before departing through the narrow channel where your ship is likely to be the major tourist attraction!

Join the tall ships fleet and take part in a parade of sail into Charleston where tall ships are gathering from as far afield as Oman and India for the American Sail Training Challenge Race.

Wooden Tall Ship Launch in Charleston

During the celebrations in Charlestown a new wooden ship, ‘Spirit of South Carolina’ will be launched. Classic Sailing invites any budding journalist or photographer booking this trip to let us know how the launch ceremony goes. This is a similar occasion to the eventual launch of our own Privateer. Ring us for a briefing of what we want to know, and you might find yourself lured into an exciting project in the UK.

American Sail Training Challenge

The 2007 Tall Ships Challenge Race is a series of sailing races, cruises, and maritime festivals organised by the American Sail Training Association. This year gives a fantastic opportunity for Europeans to sail the Eastern Seaboard of America and Maritime Canada, and Americans and Canadians to explore their own heritage by signing on as crew on the Brig ‘Prince William’. Join Prince William as she sails on 11-14 day legs between crew rallies and port festivals. Racing is a key part of the challenge and with such a variety of sailing vessels taking part, all the vessels are handicapped to ensure parity between competing ships
Southern States to Chesapeake Bay – (Youth Race Legs 1 and 2)
Starting in Charleston, competing ships include ‘Tarangini’ from the Indian Navy; Brazilian ‘Cisne Branco’ – a magnificent tea clipper replica; blockade runner ‘Pride of Baltimore II’; ‘Picton Castle’ and many more sailing ships that rarely visit the Europe. The fleet will also include the new ‘Spirit of Bermuda’ -built to bring white and black Bermudians closer together and learn about their sailing roots
Ashore in Charleston are pirate camps, live music, wooden boat building demonstrations and crew events for competing ships.
The coast of the Carolinas is famous for its bloody history with dispute between early settlers establishing a foot hold to battles of the War of Independence and Civil War. Tall ship racing is an altogether more friendly affair and with young people from all over the world taking part it promises to be a summer to remember… crowding on sail and fighting to maintain your place with other sailing ships breaking the horizon all around you.
If you are frustrated in college or university studying American History there is no better educational excuse for a leave of absence.

Norfolk, Virginia to Philadelphia

Race leg 3 is open to people of all ages, not just the under 25s. The Voyage Starts in Norfolk, Virginia on the Hampton Roads and the entrance to Chesapeake Bay and the James River. Inland is Jamestown, founded in 1607 and the first British settlement on American soil. In 2007 Jamestown celebrates its 400th Anniversary so the gathering of tall ships on the Norfolk waterfront is part of the State of Virginia festivities. What a great reason to be there on a British Ship!. After a few days in port and some intensive training you sail out through the biggest naval port in the world– home to the huge American Aircraft Carriers (although we suspect they may be busy elsewhere), through the historic Hampton Roads past ‘Old Point Comfort’ – the oldest lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay, up the coast to the Delaware River and on to the definitely grown up city of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia to Newport, Rhode Island

Following the mighty Delaware back to the sea this voyage continues then further north, nipping the eastern end of Long Island. The voyage finishes in Newport, Rhode Island -the ‘capital’ of yachting in America. For 132 years the America’s Cup races were held here before the Australians wrestled the cup away in 1983. Still a major sailing venue and the destination of many single-handed and trans Atlantic races Newport is a sophisticated point to finish your sailing experience.

Newport – Halifax, Nova Scotia

Leaving Newport, you will sail over the original America’s Cup defence course and eastward towards Nantucket Island. Famous for many years as the capital of the American Whaling industry and home to the Pequod of Moby Dick fame, Nantucket is a remote outpost and a corner point in the voyage. From here the course veers north east and the waters become cooler as the fleet passes Maine and approaches Nova Scotia. Famed for the Grand Banks schooners of legend including ‘Bluenose’ herself, Nova Scotia is also home to the Bay of Fundy, renowned for having the biggest tidal range anywhere in the world. The fleet is bound for Halifax, capital of the island and a town steeped in history. Founded in 1749 Halifax owes its strategic importance to being an ice free harbour in winter months. Consequently it was heavily defended by British Governments and the historic citadel remains the focal point of this city. Elsewhere, modern developments lie in consort with the more traditional idea of Canadian life to form a dynamic and exciting city to visit.