Sail250 begins: Your Parade of Sail and tall ships cheat sheet
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The tall ships are coming. Photo: Courtesy of Conventures and Sail Boston
Boston welcomes more than 50 military ships from 21 countries starting Saturday for Sail250, the culmination of the multicity tall ships celebration.
The intrigue: You don't have to know the difference between a bow and a flying jib to appreciate the spectacle.
Catch up quick: The festivities begin Saturday morning with the Parade of Sail, followed by four-plus days of marches, fireworks and public visits aboard the ships.
State of sail: The Parade of Sail starts at 9am and will be visible along most of the inner harbor.
- There are several free viewing areas, as well as some high-priced private spots.
If you go: Officials urge visitors to take the T and buses around the viewing spaces.
- MBTA shuttles run every 5-10 minutes from JFK/UMass to Castle Island and from Sullivan Square to the Charlestown Navy Yard, starting at 7am.
- The T buses aren't free, but the state will offer free shuttles throughout the South Boston waterfront every half hour from 8am-10am (return shuttles start at 1pm).
- One shuttle will stop at South Boston Catholic Academy and South Boston Neighborhood House, while the other will stop at the Labouré Center and A Street at Congress Street.
Pro tip: Our Google map shows where the ships will be docked and the viewing areas, with nearby bathrooms and accessibility details.
- People arrive hours before the parade, so plan to snag a spot early if you're heading to the free viewing areas.
🌂 Be smart: Bring blankets, beach chairs, sunblock and an umbrella in case it rains.
- Baby strollers and glass baby bottles are also allowed.
🚫 Don't bring large bags, coolers on wheels, grills, drones, wagons or bikes to the viewing areas.
- Same goes for guns, fireworks, booze and glass containers.
Where to watch the Parade of Sail
Southie: Castle Island is one of the prime gathering spots, but you'll need binoculars.
- The ships are typically about 6 miles away and start to show up by 10:15am.
Seaport: You can watch the ships come in from Fan Pier Park behind the Moakley federal courthouse.
- The ICA has closed its waterfront area for a private "Parade of Sail Lounge." (If you have $275 to spare, the museum will grant access plus an open bar, coffee, a seafood lunch and desserts.)
Downtown: The Harborwalk will get you up and close between Long Wharf and Lewis Wharf.
- You can also set up camp at the waterfront park.
Eastie: There are multiple viewing areas in the neighborhood, from LoPresti Park to Piers Park to Navy Fuel Pier (past the ICA Watershed).
Charlestown: The Navy Yard and Menino Park will be open for viewing.
Where to board the ships
Where to board the shipsad (which is technically different from docked) at about 13 points along the inner harbor.
- You can find their locations on the Sail Boston app or on our map.
Keep in mind: Most ships will be available to board between 10am and 10pm, but a few may have limited hours.
- The ship captain reserves the right to impose different hours or other restrictions.
- Underage visitors must be accompanied by an adult.
- Open-toed shoes and high heels aren't allowed. Nor are animals (except for small dogs you can carry).
Can you sail? Some ships will offer sails, but they will cost you.
- The American Eagle is charging $2,822 a person for a sail, and at this point, you'll be waitlisted.
- On the lower end, there's the Ardelle's one-hour sail, available Sunday through Thursday for $37.10 a person.