Final preparations are being made for Tall Ships 2023

The world’s finest tall ships set their course to arrive in Falmouth for the start of the prestigious race, ‘Magellan Elcano’ from Tuesday 15th to Friday the 18th of August.

This will be the sixth time Falmouth has hosted the significant occasion, the previous one taking place in 2014.

The vibrant Cornish port is a perennial favourite of captains and crew alike, as the whole town comes alive with events, live music, receptions and parades as it welcomes around 750 international captain and crew members, and 100,000 visitors over four days.

Across the event, there will be numerous, free portside events including music concerts, a crew parade and light and laser displays.

Purposefully low-priced ticketed access to the ships themselves will be available on the first three days before the free, showcase finale – the Parade of Sail – on Friday 18th August.

Tall ships races are organised globally by Sail Training International. Following the race start in Falmouth, the other legs in the Magellan Elcano series are A Coruña in Spain, Lisbon in Portugal and Cádiz, in Spain.

The local delivery team for Falmouth is headed up by the award- winning Falmouth Town Team – the proactive partnership between Falmouth Town Council and Falmouth BID who together with a host of organisations, will facilitate this showcase once again.

Around a dozen vessels are expected to sail into Falmouth including five of the world’s most impressive Class A square rigged ships.  It will be a truly international event, with ships in attendance from Mexico, Denmark, Poland, Uruguay, Spain and Italy.

The five impressive Class A vessels taking part in the race are Cuauhtémoc, Georg Stage, Dar Młodzieży, Fryderyk Chopin and Capitán Miranda.

The largest of the fleet is the Polish ship Dar Młodzieży, a magnificent three masted frigate which is one of the largest training sailing ships in the world.

Dar Mlodziezy which means Gift of Youth is referred to as one of the most beautiful ships in the world and is impossible to miss at 94 metres long! 

Visitors should also look out for Cuauhtémoc, the Mexican sail training vessel. She’s 78 metres long and her colourful crew numbering over 100, will likely adorn the yard arms on arrival into port and fly a giant Mexican flag off the stern.

Capitán Miranda is a three-masted staysail schooner of the Uruguayan Navy. Originally acquired by the Uruguayan Navy as a survey ship in 1930, the ship remained in service until 1976 in this role. Destined for the shipbreakers, the vessel was repurposed as a training ship in 1978.

The Class A vessels will be located within A&P Falmouth Docks. Ticketed entry into the Docks to then go onboard these will take place on the first three days of the event – 15 to 17th August.

Gates open for the public from 1pm, with access onto the ships from 2pm and volunteers and liaison officers will be on hand to guide and support members of the public.  

While visiting the docks, people can stop by the food and refreshment areas and keep their ears open for the sounds of local shanty and choral groups.

Tickets to access these ships are on sale and are be priced at £5.00 for adults and £2.50 children and visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase online in advance via the SeeTickets platform.

There’ll be a range of local maritime charities and organisations in the docks and visitors can meet the representatives and find out more about the valuable work they do in Falmouth, Cornwall and further afield.

Organisers have also now revealed the extensive event programme, with a impressive range of day and evening happenings right across Falmouth town and at various venues. 

Events and opportunities include guided tours on historical lifeboats, a lights and laser show on two evenings, live music, an energetic crew parade through the town centre, impressive exhibitions at Falmouth Art Gallery, Pendennis Castle and the National Maritime Museum. 

Look out for free to attend live music from the Will Keating & John Dowling, DM Street and Oasish plus a host of performing shanty groups.

The free to view light and laser show will take place on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings over Falmouth harbour. Vantage points will a host of places along the town waterfront from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall down to the Greenbank Hotel.

Councillor Kirstie Edwards, Mayor of Falmouth said: “It’s been nine years since Falmouth was last in the privileged position of hosting the start of Sail Training International’s prestigious Tall Ships race, when over 100,000 people in 2014 enjoyed the wonderful spectacle of these magnificent vessels in Falmouth. And so, we are delighted to be welcoming the ships once back again.”

Kirstie continues, “Falmouth’s beautiful natural harbour and excellent maritime facilities, coupled with our reputation for hosting amazing events, make our town a natural choice for an occasion such as this.

"Add to this, Falmouth’s unique mix of cafes, restaurants, pubs, galleries, independent shops and stunning coastline and we have all the ingredients for another memorable Tall Ships event.

"A lot of people from our brilliant Town Team and delivery partners, through to dedicated volunteers, have worked very hard to pull this event off, so I do hope you enjoy Falmouth and this not-to-be-missed event.”