Parade of Sail to be Signature Event for Ocean State Tall Ships Festival

Parade of Sail lineup announced for optimum public viewing

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND – July 9, 2012 

The Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival concludes on Monday, July 9th from 12 pm to 4 pm with the awe inspiring Parade of Sail. For the first time, attendees to the festival are given the unique experience to sail onboard one of these historically accurate vessels during the 4-hour Parade of Sail event. Taking viewers on board for the epic sail are The Mystic Whaler, the 19th century reproduction of a New England Schooner; The Lynx, a replica of a War of 1812 privateer; and the 52 foot sailing catamaran, the Privateer.

The Parade of Sail will begin just outside Castle Hill, will make its way by Fort Adams, and will continue on past Goat Island and under the Newport Bridge. It will then make its turn at Gould Island. The ships will sail along the Jamestown coast past Bull Point back to Castle Hill.

At Noon, the flotilla will be led by the Coast Guard cutter, the Chinook, which will be followed by Sloop Providence, Peacemaker, and Bowdoin. Picton Castle will be underway at approximately 12:20 pm, with Unicorn, Gazela, and St. Martin II following. HMS Bounty will be departing the waters outside Castle Hill at 12:40 pm, followed by Lynx, Mystic Whaler, and Adirondack.  Pride of Baltimore II leads the final grouping at 1 pm, followed by Aurorora, Arabella and Tree of Life.

The US Coast Guard has established a temporary regulated navigation area (RNA) as a moving safety zone to control vessel traffic during the Parade, starting at 11:30 am.