This is the port city’s fifth time as home base of the event, which kicks off to the public on 10 July. Organised by Sail Training International (STI), the Tall Ships Race was designed to train young people in the art of sailing, while bolstering international friendships. Members of the crew on every ship come from different European countries.

Some 100 vessels will be at the waterfront, including an absolute record of 25 Class A ships, which are ships longer than 50 metres. Previous editions in Antwerp – the last was in 2006 – attracted between 500,000 and one million visitors, and the port thinks that, if the weather holds out, they could break that record, too.

The Class A and B ships will be open to the public during the day, free of charge, with hospitality and corporate business activities taking place in the evenings. Practical on-site organisation of the event depends on a loyal network of 250 volunteers. “We’re happy to see that so many people are reacting to our appeal to help us out during the race weekend, from drivers to liaison officers,” says Annik Dirkx, press officer of the Antwerp Port Authority.

The Tall Ships will dominate the city, with the Class A cathedrals of the seas moored on the river Scheldt quays and the other vessels in the Eilandje docks. Related activities will take place, including an exhibition of ship and harbour equipment, a maritime market, kids’ village and a parade of ships. Boat trips will weave you in among the tall ships, and fireworks light up the port and cast a shine over the innumerable masts and riggings.

The ships will already begin arriving by 7 July, and depart on 13 July, when the ships leave the port and quays and prepare for a massive sail parade on the River Scheldt. They then head to Zeebrugge, where the actual race starts on 14 July.

“For me personally, the impressive sail out is the highlight,” says Dirkx.

Walking tall

“Although the Tall Ships Races are a nautical event, they go beyond the sailing experience,” says Jan Stalmans, a 28 year old designer, who raced in the event four years ago and has since travelled over 10,000 nautical miles on tall ships. He’s part of the group of Antwerpenaars who meet weekly in the countdown to the start of the 2010 Tall Ships Race.

“The motto of Sail Training International is ‘international friendship and understanding’, and that’s what it’s all about,” he continues. “Getting together with young people from all over the world, in a relatively small space, and making it to the next port of call.”

Propelled by the enthusiastic public reception when ships enter a new port on their journey, young people from all kinds of backgrounds and nationalities respond to STI’s appeal. “Apart from seasickness, the true challenge lies in living together on a ship,” says Rob Leye. “Getting to know yourself and your fellow crewmembers – running away isn’t an option. The big bonus is that you get to meet people from all over the world.”

Another challenge is the duty schedule on board the tall ships. “When we boarded the ‘Antwerp Flyer’, the officer on duty assigned us into three crews, working in four hour shifts, ’round the clock,” says Stalmans. “A huge difficulty for some of us, but you really learn to live within the system and to get the most out of your eight hours of time off.”

The officer on duty also takes into account the experience of crewmembers – every team is a mix of “veterans” and new trainees. “Contrary to what you may expect, an open mind and zeal to sail are more important than a swimming certificate,” laughs Chuck Lauwers. “That’s lesson number one: when you fall off the ship, don’t try to swim – just wait until they pick you up.”

Stalmans survived his first high seas storm soon after the start of the 2006 Tall Ships Race, off the coast of La Coruña, Spain, with gale force winds of eight to nine in the Gulf of Biscay. “There’s a proverb saying ‘Red sun at night, sailor’s delight; red sun at morning, sailors take warning’, and we really lived through that,” he remembers.

As members of the STI Belgium branch, the former trainees meet on a regular basis – for some of them, participating in a Tall Ships race was the key to a maritime career. Maarten Vrebos, for instance, worked on an offshore support vessel before signing on to a Tall Ships Race. From there, he decided to go to the Maritime Academy in Antwerp and now works with Redwise marine recruitment for offshore assignments. This year, he charted his own boat, the D-class “Osprey” to participate in the race. All these 20-somethings are racing this year, competing against each other on the “Antwerp Flyer”, the “Wylde Swan” and the “Osprey”.

10-13 July
Along the Scheldt River
Antwerp
www.tallshipsrace2010.be