Visitors to Shuttle between Shoreline Sites and Floating City at Sea Vancouver, July 6 to 10, 2005
Tall Ships Set Sail from Ports as Far Away as Russia, New Zealand and Mexico
VANCOUVER, April 27 /CNW/ - Organizers of Vancouver's new West-Coast style maritime fun festival, Sea Vancouver, will create North America's first "floating city" in the waters off English Bay where tall ship enthusiasts can view the extraordinary vessels up close.
Tall Ship Island Called Tall Ship Island, the floating city is a series of barges and floats that will be anchored in the middle of English Bay. While a large number of ships will be available for public viewing at docks and marinas in False Creek and English Bay, the floating city will be the temporary home port for a number of the festival's sailing ships that are too tall to sail under the downtown bridges. From throughout English Bay and False Creek, Sea Vancouver shuttles will transport more than 1,000 visitors per hour to Tall Ship Island to take in the magnificent sailing vessels.
Shoreline Sites Two primary entertainment sites along the city's shores will be the main bases of operations for the majority of land and water-based entertainment during Sea Vancouver.
The Edgewater Site encompasses the False Creek area including Plaza of Nations, Concord Pacific Place and Creekside Park (beside Science World).
Here, visitors will enjoy:
- Headliner concert stage
- On and off water boat show and boat swap
- On water demonstrations (water skiing and wakeboarding)
- Flat water races and regattas(kayaking, outriggers, dragon boats and canoes)
- Edgewater Casino
The Maritime Point site includes Kits Beach Park and Vanier Park, as well as the Maritime Museum and features:
- Performances of Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore performed by UBC music department and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra
- Beach Bocce
- Exhibitions about Vancouver's multicultural nautical history; the exhibition is co-produced with Explorasia Society
- First Nations displays and traditional canoe carving
- Tall ship viewing
- The Small Ship Challenge (exhibition and racing of model ships)
Other Sea Vancouver locations include:
- Granville Island / False Creek fishing dock: tall ship viewing and entertainment
- Jericho Beach Park: tall ship viewing
Tall Ships Hoist Sail for Vancouver Every three years (in 2005, 2008 and 2011) the Sea Vancouver TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(R) will anchor in Vancouver's harbours during the Sea Vancouver Festival. The TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(R) is an annual series of sail training races, rallies, cruises and port festivals organized by the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) in conjunction with host ports in the US and Canada. The goal of the series is to promote and support education under sail opportunities for the young and the young at heart.
The Sea Vancouver TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE(R) 2005 is expected to attract as many as 400,000 visitors to the water's edge this year. To herald the ships' arrival, thousands will line the shores to welcome the fleet as it sails into the city during the Parade of Sail on July 7, 2005.
Majestic vessels will navigate their way from ports around the world,
including Russia, Mexico, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. Vancouver will also welcome the Canadian Navy sail training vessel, HMCS Oriole. English Bay, False Creek, Kitsilano Beach and Jericho Beach are among the prime viewing spots.
Among the list of invited vessels are:
- Bill of Rights, 136' gaff rigged topsail schooner (USA)
- Cuauhtemoc, 290' barque, Class A navy sail training vessel (Mexico)
- HMCS Oriole, 102' navy sail training vessel (Canada)
- Lady Washington, 112' Class A, Div. II brig (USA)
- Lynx, 94' square topsail schooner (USA)
- Master, 85' (Canada)
- Munin, 30' replica Viking ship (Canada)
- North Star of Herschel Island, 78' (Canada)
- Pallada, 356' full rigged Class A Brig (Russia)
- R. Tucker Thompson, 88' gaff rigged schooner (New Zealand)
- Talofa, 97' (USA)
- Suva, 63' (USA)
- Zodiac, 127' (USA)
Accompanying the fleet will be two British Columbian heritage vessels:
- Sea Lion
- SS Master
Community Support for Sea Vancouver Along with the almost $500,000 in financing providing by Heritage Canada and the City of Vancouver, Sea Vancouver has found enthusiastic support among the local business community. Edgewater Casino and BC Lotteries Corporation will be the 2005 presenting sponsors. Other contributing sponsors include the Vancouver Port Authority, JJM Group, Concord Pacific, Vancouver International Airport Authority, Tourism Vancouver, Concert Properties and others.
Predictions are that the Sea Vancouver festival will generate as much as
$27.5 million in spin-off benefits for the city. Tickets go on sale May 1, 2005 at Ticketstonight.ca.
Volunteers Invited to Climb Aboard More than 1,000 individuals are needed as deck hands, dock crews, guides and event volunteers. For more information on Sea Vancouver or to volunteer, visit
www.seavancouver.ca.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2005/27/c1544.html