Tall Ships Coming in September

Historic tall ships race slated for Island in September Race to start, end in Summerside STAFF The Journal Pioneer
The majestic 140-ft Spirit of South Carolina is one of seven tall ships participating in the historic Tall Ships Race Around the Island on Sept. 11. Special to Journal PioneerSUMMERSIDE—Something big this way comes. Ron Casey, executive director of Downtown Summerside Inc., announced seven tall ships will arrive in Summerside in September to participate in a groundbreaking event called “Race Around the Island.” The ships will be competing for a cool $115,000 in prize money. The overall economic spinoff from the four day event is pegged at between $4 million and $5 million. Participants are expected to take 36 to 70 hours traveling 360 nautical miles around the Island. The race starts on Sept 11, with a noon-hour firing of cannons, at Summerside harbour. Ships will sail past West Point, around the reef at North Cape through the Gulf, around East Point down past Cape Bear and Charlottetown, then under the Confederation Bridge and back to Summerside. Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the Island for the event.