Amerigo Vespucci ~ Guayas ~ Stad Amsterdam off Toulon 2007

Normally I would call this the start of the Tall Ships Race from Toulon. Although the large fleet did manage to sail across the start line it was more of a drift than a race and light winds beset the fleet all the way to Genoa, Italy. Have you seen the parade of sail picture the previous day in a Mistral breeze? If not click here.

My other picture of Amerigo Vespucci at the Tall Ships start off La Corunna 2006 in the Bay of Biscay was in rather stronger conditions. Well at least she was sailing back to her home port from Toulon.

Again Guyas had rather stronger breeze at the start of the first leg of the Mediterranean Tall Ships Race from Alicante. As mentioned before, Guayas the floating Ecuador embassy won the prized ‘Friendship Cup’ for being voted the most liked boat and crew of the fleet.

Of all the recently built square riggers I consider ‘Stad Amsterdam’ to be the finest. I must put up one of my pictures of her looking at her best in a breeze in my next revised tallshipsandsmallships.com for you.