Tall Ships Races Mariehamn 2024
Set course for an adventure
Welcome Tall Ships Mariehamn trainee! In 2024, Mariehamn will host the Tall Ships Races, organising a large maritime festival with many Ships in attendance. You will join one of them for a sailing journey of a lifetime!
Step on board
Take part in the Tall Ships Races, an annual event hosting Ships from around the world. Young participants – trainees – come together to sail, compete and make international friends. Do you want to be one of them?
Once you embark on your Ship, you will get the safety instructions and spend the evening getting to know your crew mates. Get a good night’s sleep because the next day will be filled with excitement! You will leave the harbour together with other Tall Ships, in a spectacular Parade of Sail. Then you’ll embark on an adventure, sailing day and night to reach your destination.
No previous sailing experience is required – if fact, for most trainees this will be the first journey ever. But don’t worry – the professional crew on board will teach you everything, from coiling the ropes to climbing the masts, steering and navigating!
Spend the last days of your voyage in port, participating in crew-exclusive events, such as Crew Parade, Crew Party, games and competitions. This is the time to meet trainees from other Ships, exchanging your sea stories, and to say goodbye to your own crew mates.
Cruise in Company 1: Helsinki (FI) - Tallinn (EE), 6-13 July
Depart from Helsinki, waving goodbye to your friends and family in a Parade of Sail, before setting out on a more relaxed Cruise in Company to Tallinn (Estonia).
The Sail Training program is no less demanding than during the Race, but since you're not in a hurry, you are more likely to stop somewhere along the way and explore a small port, or jump from the ship straight into the Baltic Sea for a refreshing break.
Some ships choose to sail along together, or meet each other underway for a stop so the trainees can meet.
Race 2: Tallinn (EE) - Turku (FI), 13-20 July
Sail from Tallinn (Estonia) back to your home in Turku in an exciting Race! Spend a week on board, sailing day and night, trimming the sails and checking the stats to see your current place. Arrive in Turku and celebrate the end of the race in your home town. If you have a strong competitive spirit, this journey is for you!
Cruise in Company 2: Turku (FI) - Mariehamn (AX), 20-26 July
Sail from Turku back home to Mariehamn in a Cruise in Company.
During this leg, you will have plenty of time to learn to sail your vessel, and visit smaller places along the way, while making new friends and discovering your new horizons.
Some ships choose to sail along together, or meet each other underway for a stop so the international trainees can meet.
Race 3: Mariehamn (AX) - Szczecin (PL), 26 July - 4 August
Sail from Mariehamn to Szczecin in Poland in an exciting Race!
Spend over week on board, sailing day and night, trimming the sails and checking the stats to see your current place.
Arrive in Szczecin and celebrate the end of the race with international crews of other vessels. If you have a strong competitive spirit, this journey is for you!
You can sail on the following vessels:
JOHANN SMIDT
Class B
Country: Germany
Type: 2-masted gaff schooner
Built in: 1974
Length: 36 m
Number of trainees: 30
EXCELSIOR
Class B
Country: UK
Type: gaff ketch
Built in: 1921
Length: 23 m
Number of trainees: 12
ASTRID
Class B
Country: Finland
Type: gaff ketch
Built in: 1947
Length: 30 m
Number of trainees: 22
PASCUAL FLORES
Class A
Country: Spain
Type: schooner
Built in: 1917
Length: 43 m
Number of trainees: 12
CONSTANTIA
Class B
Country: Sweden
Type: 2-masted gaff schooner
Built in: 1908
Length: 23 m
Number of trainees: 24
SAEFTINGHE
Class C
Country: Belgium
Type: BM ketch
Built in: 1993
Length: 23 m
Number of trainees: 8
ROALD AMUNDSEN
Class A
Country: Germany
Type: brig
Built in: 1952
Length: 50 m
Number of trainees: 31
VALBORG
Class B
Country: Finland
Type: 2-masted galeas
Built in: 1948
Length: 30 m
Number of trainees: 28
SVANHILD
Class B
Country: Finland
Type: topsail schooner
Built in: 1948
Length: 30 m
Number of trainees: 20
Frequetly asked questions
What is included?
You will be sponsored by hostport Mariehamn. Included is the sailing Journey with full board and a Sail Training program, as well as participation in port activities.
Excluded are travel to/from the ports and a mandatory travel insurance.
Who can join?
Young participants from Mariehamn, who are between 15 and 25 years old (you must be at least 15 on the day the journey begins!)
In order to join you need to fill out the registration and health forms, and provide valid travel documents (passport, ID.) You are also obligated to arrange your own travel insurance.
How will I get to the harbour?
We have prepared some travel suggestions for you – you can download them here.
What do I need to bring with me?
In order to join the Journey you will need a valid passport or international ID, health insurance for your country, and travel insurance.
Closer to the journey date we will send you a full Kitlist, with all of the items you will need on board.
Can I choose the Ship?
In your booking form you can indicate 3 Ships that you like best, in order of preference. You will also be able to name one other trainee with whom you’d like to sail.
We will do our best to make sure you are on your fist choice of a vessel, although it might not always be possible, and could be more difficult if you want to sail together with a friend.
When placing you on a Ship we will also take into account things like medical and personal needs, as well as availability of special diets. It’s a lot of puzzles, but we do our best to make sure you have an amazing experience!
What insurance do I need?
In order to join a sailing Journey, you are required to carry the proof of the following:
1. Medical insurance, for your home country (and the European Health Insurance Card, if applicable),
2. Travel insurance which covers medical expenses abroad, loss of luggage and third party liability. Make sure that it includes sea sailing.
Each Tall Ship has a “Protection and Indemnity insurance” that covers you in the event you’re hurt by actions that the crew take (or fail to take).
Your travel insurance should cover your Journey from home to the ship and back. Make sure to include the travel days in the insurance coverage, not just the days you are actually on board.
Consider adding a cancellation insurance – it’s not mandatory, but it can be useful if you have to change your plans due to unforseen circumstances.
What happens to my personal data at registration?
In order to complete the booking you will need to upload a scan or good photo of your passport or ID. This is needed for crew manifesto presented to port authorities. We will also need to make sure that your documents are up to date.
Our system automatically deletes your passport, as well as the related data, after the journey is finished.
Your medical information will be shared in a safe way with the officer responsible for health on board of your Ship. It will be automatically deleted from our database after the journey.
You can read more about this in our Privacy Policy.