The President said, in particular, in his message:
“It is wonderful to see that this big competition and event has already become an established tradition that has withstood time and stormy seas. With every passing year this creative and genuinely beautiful project draws a greater number of talented, energetic and purposeful young people, who have chosen to make sailing their profession.
The participants in this year’s regatta have a long and difficult route ahead that will take them to different countries and cities and offer them interesting encounters. Most important of all, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate in practice your knowledge and skills, be part of the legendary sailing fraternity and take another big step forward towards your dreams.
It is very important, of course, that you are working together with your friends and colleagues from other countries and as young sailors today are laying a solid foundation for future cooperation on the ocean’s great expanses.”
The SCF Tall Ships Regatta will take place for the first time on the Black Sea from April 30 to May 27. The world’s biggest sailing ships will visit two Russian ports – Sochi and Novorossiysk, and also Varna (Bulgaria) and Constanta (Romania).
By tradition, the regatta takes place under the patronage of the participant countries. The regatta is under President Vladimir Putin’s patronage in Russia.
International tall ship regattas have been held in various countries since 1956. Soviet and Russian tall ships began taking part in the regattas starting in 1978.