The international sail training organization Sail Training International has confirmed the host ports for the 2028 Tall Ships Races regatta. One of the selected ports is Tallinn.
Sail Training International (STI), which brings together more than 60 sail training organizations from 27 countries, organizes the annual Tall Ships Races around the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the host ports. Tallinn last hosted the regatta in 2024, when the event brought 58 sailing ships from 14 countries to the city’s harbours, along with 1,277 crew members and 851 sail trainees from around the globe.
The 2024 event, which focused on sustainability and accessibility, received several prestigious awards. The Estonian Blind Union named it the “Act of the Year 2024,” and the Ministry of Climate awarded it the title of “Maritime Act of the Year.” Tallinn also won STI’s “Host Port of the Year 2024” award for being the leading supporter of sail training and best host port of the year.
According to Mihkel Lindpere, board member of the Estonian Sail Training Association, the Tall Ships Races offer young people the chance to experience international teamwork and develop independence and confidence. “Sail training is more than just sport—it’s a school of life that teaches responsibility and discipline. That’s why young people should not hesitate to try sailing. The 2024 regatta saw a record number of Estonian youth participants and more Estonian ships than ever before, proving the growing interest in maritime affairs among young people. At the same time, the regatta offers a unique spectacle of the world’s most impressive sailing vessels for the public to enjoy.”
The Tall Ships Races is a long-standing international offshore training regatta that aims to engage and educate young people while raising awareness of the marine environment and sustainability. At least half of the crew on each vessel consists of young people aged 15–25 from various countries, many of whom are taking part in their first ever sea voyage. Typically, more than a hundred sailing ships participate in the Baltic Sea edition of the regatta. The largest ships are over 100 metres long, multi-masted vessels that usually belong to naval academies or armed forces. Professional sailors aboard these ships also serve as trainers and mentors for the young crew members.
The first Tall Ships Races regatta was held in 1956, sailing from Torquay (UK) to Lisbon (Portugal), with 20 large sailing ships taking part in the inaugural event.
The 2028 Tall Ships Races will take place from 22 June to 25 July, with the fleet visiting Kiel (Germany), Turku (Finland), Tallinn (Estonia), and Szczecin (Poland). Tallinn will host the regatta from 11 to 14 July 2028.
