RDV2017 Tall Regatta

Nine cathedrals of the high seas will be docked at Port Charlottetown and Queen’s Wharf in the City of Charlottetown from June 30 – July 2 as part of the RDV2017 Tall Ships Regatta. On- tours, supporting vessels HMCS Charlottetown and C3, Quebec City cultural performers, and the Pirates of Halifax will add a lively air to this free celebration.

The following is information on each of the Tall Ships:

Bark EUROPA

The Bark Europa was built in 1911 and roams the seas of the world in the best seafaring tradition. With a professional crew of maximum 14 and a complement of 48 voyage crew members of different ages and nationalities, EUROPA is powered by canvas and co-operation. The atmosphere on board reflects an adventurous maritime history. Bark Europa has been crossing oceans and seas on a regular basis and has the reputation of being a ship that really . Bark Europa follows the favourable winds of traditional routes. This has brought her to all continents, sailing the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean, thus earning her nickname ‘Ocean Wanderer’. And every year, from December to March the Bark Europa conducts unique expeditions to Antarctica. The crew and guests are international and of different ages, united in their search for adventure and new experiences. No sailing experience is needed, everyone is welcome to take the helm, set sails, assist with maneuvers, navigation, weather observations, furling the sails on the yards and much more.

More information available at www.barkeuropa.com

OOSTERSCHELDE

The ‘Oosterschelde’ was built in 1917. There are very few truly historic ships left in the world and with lots of hard work and passion, the last “survivors” are kept under . The crew of the Oosterschelde is very proud to be sailing worldwide and is looking forward to visiting Canada. ‘Oosterschelde’ will even be celebrating her centenary in Canada! While in port, the crew will be happy to welcome the public on board and tell stories about the ship and the spectacular voyages they made all over the world. From Antarctica to Spitsbergen and from to , this proud ship and crew are modern day explorers and you can join them! In a typically Dutch casual atmosphere, you will learn all there is to know about sailing and navigation. And you will get a chance to work alongside the crew to get some hands-on experience. It can be a tough job because the Oosterschelde does not use any to hoist the sails, but after the work is done there's lots of time to relax, enjoy good food, music and each other’s company in the spacious salon.

For more information, visit: http://www.oosterschelde.nl/?lang=en

BLUE

Tall Ship Blue Clipper has the capacity for 20 trainees/guests in extensive comfortable accommodation. There are seven twin cabins with ensuite bathrooms, a six berth cabin and crew quarters. There are two large saloon areas which are bright and airy, great places to relax with a good book from the extensive library. There is a large area, air conditioning to make hot summer days comfortable and heating for those colder winter days. There is plenty of seating areas on deck to relax. For more information, visit: www.tallshipsevents.com/vessel/blue-clipper/

USCGC EAGLE

USCGC Eagle is the seventh U.S. Coast Guard to bear the name in a proud line dating back to 1792. The ship was built in 1936 by the Blohm + Voss Shipyard in , , and commissioned as . (Four identical sister ships were also built). Originally operated by to train cadets for the , the ship was taken by the as a war prize after World War II. In 1946, a U.S. Coast Guard crew – aided by the German crew still on board – sailed the from to its new homeport in New , . Eagle returned to Bremerhaven for the first time since World War II in the summer of 2005, to an enthusiastic welcome.

More information is available at: www.cga.edu/eagle/

RONA II

Rona II, an Oyster 68, is one of three vessels operated by the Rona Sailing Project. Rona II was built in 1991 and, since then, has become one of the hardest working and most resilient Oyster in the world. She has taken more than 7,200 young people sailing, has completed 21 international and three Transatlantic Tall Ships campaigns, and has sailed more than 250,000nm in her career to date. Rona II is the Rona Sailing Project’s flagship and is central to the operation. With a financial and in-kind assistance alongside many voluntary hours looking after her, Rona is in excellent condition and is expected to continue taking people to sea on life-changing voyages for many years to come.

For additional information, visit: www.sailonboard.com/vessel/rona-ii/

JOLIE BRISE

Jolie Brise is the truly world famous, 24-metre, Gaff Rigged Pilot Cutter. Built in 1913, some of her many claims to fame include: three times overall winner of the ; daring rescue of the crew of the Adriana in the 1932 Newport- race; the last sailing vessel to carry the Mail under sail; overall winner of 1980; overall winner of Tall Ships 2000 Transatlantic Race programme; overall winner Tall Ships Races 2008; overall winner Tall Ships Races 2011, 2015 and 2016. She has been operated, maintained and owned by Dauntsey’s School since 1977. Over the last 49 years, with Dauntsey’s students, she has sailed 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, travelled as far East as St. Petersburg in , as far South as Western Sahara, and as far West as South Carolina. She has covered in excess of 175,000 nautical miles.

Find additional information at: https://www.sailonboard.com/vessel/jolie-brise/

VAHINE

Vahine is a legendary Nautors Swan 65. The first ever series-built vessel to win the famous Whitbread Round the World Race. She is fast and a very safe vessel. S/Y Vahine sails about 42,000 nautical miles a year, spending the wintertime in Caribbean waters. She sails home to for the summer and turns back to the south in the fall/autumn. Vahine is a comfortable vessel with two-person cabins and one four-person cabin. Her rig, with both a gennaker and a , gives a fair possibility for many sail drills, combined with speeds up to more than 10 knots. It is simply a thrill to sail her.

For more information, visit: https://www.sailonboard.com/vessel/vahine/

BAP UNION

BAP Union is a of the Peruvian Navy. It is a four-, steel-hulled, full-rigged built in 2014 by Shipyard Marine Industrial Services of Peru, known as SIMA. The ship's name honors a Peruvian that took part in the first stage of the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific as part of a naval squadron under the command of Miguel Grau, a hero of the Peruvian Navy. Like other similar ships, Union has been conceived not only for training purposes, but also to be a sailing ambassador for her home country. Due to its features and dimensions, it has been considered (as of the date it was commissioned) the largest sail vessel in .

HMCS ORIOLE

HMCS Oriole was originally laid down as the Oriole IV, the successor in a line of vessels named Oriole that were in service as the flagships for the Royal Canadian Club of Toronto, Ontario. During World War II, she was chartered by the Royal Canadian Navy as a training vessel. In 1949, she was again chartered by the Navy as a new vessel, and subsequently moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1951. She was officially commissioned HMCS Oriole 19 June 1952, and two years later the navy moved her to CFB Esquimalt to become a training vessel to the Naval Training Centre.

For additional info, visit: https://www.sailonboard.com/vessel/oriole/

CANADA C3

Canada C3 is a Signature project for Canada's 150th Anniversary of Confederation in 2017. The centerpiece is an epic 150-day sailing journey from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage. Through this unprecedented journey, Canada C3 will celebrate our environment, share the stories of coastal communities and connect Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Canada C3 ship will be docked in Charlottetown as part of the RDV2017 Tall Ships Regatta and the City’s Canada Day celebrations.

For more information, visit: www.CanadaC3.ca

Media contacts:

Peter Wall, Canada C3 Communications Lead 647-688-3622

Mireille Sylvester, Canada C3 Communications Team 613-513-6424 HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN

HMCS Charlottetown was commissioned in 1995 and awarded the Key to the City in 2015, which symbolizes the freedom of the Ships Company to enter and leave the city at will, as a trusted friend of all city residents. HMCS Charlottetown was the tenth of twelve Canadian Patrol (CPF) to be delivered to the Canadian Navy. Boasting a complex command and control system and an array of advanced weapons and sensors, HMCS Charlottetown is a modernized general purpose that supported Canada's contribution to NATO assurance measures in the Mediterranean on Operation REASSURANCE from July 2016 to January 2017.