31 July to 3 August 2021, this date must be recorded in the calendar. This is when Szczecin will become the sailing capital of the world. The biggest sailing ships will once again moor in the capital of Western Pomerania.

An important event is coming – the fourth finale of the Tall Ships Races in Szczecin. The largest and most important regatta in the world returns to the Baltic, with participants sailing right into the capital of West Pomerania. We are waiting and following the world events with bated breath. We are ready to welcome beautiful sailing ships and celebrate the race finale. The years 2007, 2013 and 2017 abounded in dozens of accompanying events and concerts by world stars. Whoever has been to Szczecin before for the Rally of Great Sailing Ships knows that there is no other event like it anywhere in the world. For a few days, our city turns into a vibrant island where the world’s best sailors, the most beautiful ships, the most interesting events and the largest number of tourists arrive. It is an event that cannot be missed.

The whole city will celebrate

Next year’s final will be different. But we can guarantee that it will be just as interesting as the previous ones. The circumstances in which we find ourselves have forced the organisers to change the formula of the event to make it even more secure. Having experience from previous editions we can prepare not only the most interesting and largest outdoor event but also a very safe one.

“We will carry out this event on a slightly different basis than before. We want the whole city to live by this event. We want to go deep into the city with the events and create stages with a lot of action but in a smaller format. In this way, we will avoid having a lot of people gathering in any one place at the same time. We want to extend our finale in time and space,” says Krzysztof Soska, Deputy President. “I think we are all waiting for these beautiful sailing ships to arrive in Szczecin. They are also expected by the economy, which must catch its breath after the pandemic. The Tall Ships will undoubtedly be a very positive impulse from the city for entrepreneurs.”

The most significant changes will be introduced in the artistic space. During next year’s finale of the Tall Ships Races regatta, instead of large mass concerts, we will offer several smaller ones.

“We have decided that we won’t use the main stage. This is quite a revolutionary thing, but instead there will be 9 smaller stages in different parts of the city. The area of Jasne Błonie will be the furthest from Wały Chrobrego. There will be small stages devoted to concerts, workshops and animations for children. Companies from Szczecin, which are now in a difficult situation, will be involved in the programme,” says Anna Lemańczyk, director of the Szczecin Art Agency. “Such a formula has been tested on the occasion of the Good Life Festival and we know it works.”

In total, at Łasztownia and at Jan z Kolna Street, there will be 2 to 5 stages, which will host concerts of classical, jazz or pop music, animations for children and lectures. The decks of sailing ships themselves will turn into stages where shanty concerts will be organised. Apart from that, 5 stages will appear in various locations of the city, which will be vibrant with life throughout the finale. We will find them, among others, on Jasne Błonie or White Eagle Square. Thanks to this, we will offer the participants of the event a wide range of musical genres and avoid tens of thousands of spectators gathering in one place.

“There will be food trucks, an amusement park and many attractions on land that will make this event big. All over the world, it is the sailing ships that are the biggest attraction, and Szczecin is famous for having events involving the whole city. And this year we will be pursuing it even more. We want to encourage Szczecin’s entrepreneurs and inhabitants to participate - and not only for two or three days on the shore. Together we will try to make this event as important as the previous ones. Once again, we will fill both banks of the Oder River with sails,” says Leopold Korytkowski, director of events and tourism at Żegluga Szczecińska Turystyka Wydarzenia Sp. z o.o. “In fact, the pandemic will be nothing more than another challenge for us. Based on our experience and our ability to react to the changing situation, we will do everything to ensure that the event is safe and that everyone is willing to take part in it.”

The event will be carried out in accordance with the applicable sanitary restrictions. All play areas and attractions will be organised in a way that meets all guidelines and is safe for the participants.

Regatta on the Baltic Sea

Registration of ships participating in next year’s regatta is already underway. Daily, the list of crews is growing. We already know that over 35 ships will arrive in Szczecin. In fact, the applications are only now starting to flow in. We hope that after the new year we will see the well-known names of ships on the list of participants.

“We witnessed that it is possible to carry out this regatta in August this year. Szczecin was one of the few European cities to have undertaken a maritime event. We have hosted several ships in Szczecin. The regatta was also held on the Baltic Sea, so we already have experience in the safe organisation of such events,” says Jerzy Raducha, deputy director for event organisation and international cooperation in the Sailing Centre. “We are already receiving the first applications or refusals to participate. We already have 37 ships on the list. We are very pleased with the application from a very much awaited ship, which in 2017 resigned from coming to Szczecin and this year has already confirmed its participation, the French sailing ship Belle Poule.”

The race itself will start on 26 June and will take place on the route: Kłajpeda – Turku – Tallinn – Mariehamn – Szczecin. The race will be divided into three stages. Each stage may involve a different number of ships. It is the captains who decide how many races they will take part in.

“We are preparing for this event. Soon we will begin recruitment for the Liaison Officers who are the bloodstream of this event and for the Szczecin Representation, which will sail on two ships - the sailing ship and the Gift of Szczecin,” adds Jerzy Raducha.

More details about the event can be found at https://tallships.szczecin.eu/