World’s fastest tall ship to sail to Norway

The races, which started in 1956, will be held from July 12 to July 15, and will feature some of the world's most majestic tall sailing ships. 

 

Despite ongoing tensions over the Ukraine, some of the most impressive ships this year will come from Russia, with Kruzenshtern, the world's second largest tall ship and MIR, the fastest, sailing from their respective home ports of Kalingrad and St Petersburg.

 

Fredrikstad, the first port of call for the 2014 races, was once Norway’s largest schooner town, home to 180 vessels.  And visitors will be able to regain some of the sense of the city's heyday when the 67 tall ships participating in the race moor up  the city's quayside, just like they used to a hundred years ago. 

 

The town is also planning a lively street party to greet the sailors. 

 

The Tall Ships Races started in 1956, and are organised by Sail Training International, a charity based in the United Kingdom.  Fittingly, given the Russian involvement, the theme for the 2014 edition is ‘Peace’.