A fleet of six historic ships from throughout the United States and Spain will sail into Tampa Bay from March 30-April 2 for Tall Ships St. Pete 2023. The grand fleet will be docked along the St. Petersburg waterfront; the Sunshine City is the first host port of the Tall Ships Challenge Gulf Coast 2023 race. The event begins with a Parade of Sail on the evening of March 30 and features a display of four traditionally rigged sailing vessels crewed, in part, by youth.
“On the morning of March 31,” ambassador Marc Jensen says, “we hope to offer to 2,000 of the district’s middle-school students the chance to step aboard the tall ships.” The hope is to raise $10 per child.
Jensen reports that 15 of Pinellas County’s 22 public middle schools have committed to the Kids on Ships program. The aim is to include up to 90 students from each.
The project seeks financial donations to enable the students to participate. “If we raise over the $20,000 needed to meet this first goal,” Jensen says, “we will apply all additional funds towards discounting tickets for those students who visit the ships during the weekend with a parent.”
All donors through mid-March will receive logo inclusion on the Tall Ships St. Pete website; inclusion in four print advertisements in the Tampa Bay Times’ Weekend publication; on-site signage at Port St. Pete; name inclusion in a press release outlining activities, programming, and sponsors; and at least one post on the Tall Ships St. Pete social-media channels.
Donors, volunteers, and tickets
To donate, visit tallshipsamerica.org/donate. In the box named “Donation in the name of,” enter St. Pete Kids on Ships Program. TSA is a non-profit organization so gifts are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Volunteer at tallshipsstpete.com/get-involved. General admission and on-deck tickets are available through the Tall Ships St. Pete website, and some special events are scheduled.
For more information tallshipsstpete.com and tallshipsamerica.org
