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Fewer ships, but as tall as ever

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 11, 2009 08:15 PM

By Michael Corcoran, Globe Correspondent

Fewer tall ships sailed into Boston Harbor this year than for the last festival nearly a decade ago, but that didnТt seem to matter to the visitors who boarded the moored vessels Saturday.

ССI love the ships,ТТ said Abi Heaton, 5, of Mansfield, who was exploring the seven boats tied up near the Charlestown Navy Yard and the Seaport World Trade Center. ССI love the flags and the pretty colors.ТТ

Her father, James, agreed. ССI did this in 2000 and always wanted to do it again,ТТ he said. ССIt has been a great event. We have been here for awhile and been entertained the whole time. It is great to see things from all over the world.ТТ

This yearТs event had 40 ships, compared with 100 in 2000. Sail Boston projected between 300,000 and 500,000 people would visit them in Boston and Winthrop between Thursday and Sunday. The 2000 event drew 7.5 million people.

Boats were also displayed at Battery Wharf, Rowes Wharf, the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina in East Boston, Moakley Courthouse Dock at Fan Pier, and at Outer Harbor at Cottage Park in Winthrop.

Sail Boston first brought ships to Boston Harbor in 1992. This yearТs fleet, which is part of the 2009 Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, arrived in Boston from Charleston, S.C., after visits to Spain, the Canary Islands, and Bermuda. When the ships depart Boston they will head to Halifax, Canada, and then to Belfast.

The fate of the festival had been in doubt because of financial and public safety concerns, but organizers were eventually able to raise enough money to hold the event. Chase Withrow, 15, of Waltham, who went to the display with his father, said this was one of the reasons he wanted to attend.

ССThis could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance,ТТ he said. ССThe event almost didnТt happen this year ... so I figured it would be a good thing to get out of the house and see these ships.ТТ
Others saw the festival as a chance to educate themselves and their children about a different type of lifestyle.

"We wanted to teach our son to appreciate sea fare and all things maritime," said Susan Yospin, 32, of Brighton, who attended with her husband and 5-month-old son. "It is a great event filled with all walks of life and a lot of kids."

Joe Wi, 31, of Boston, brought his whole family to the event and spent more than five hours looking at the ships.

"I wanted them to see that sailor dream Ч to instill in them an appreciation for a lifestyle that is so different from them," he said as his son, Dan, 2, slept in a stroller nearby.

Wi also appreciated that the event was free and the refreshments inexpensive.

"I got a soda for $1 and a hot dog for $3," he said. "That is the best part. Compare that to a Red Sox game!"

The viewings were relatively free of problems, said Joseph Lawless, head of security for Massport.

"We had no problems with arrests or major medical problems," he said. "Some people were dehydrated and we took care of them. It was a fun-loving crowd."

On Sunday, the ships will be open to public viewing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Charlestown Navy Yard and from noon to 8 p.m. at the Seaport World Trade Center. Seaport Music in the Park will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the South Boston Maritime Park.