Boston welcomes more than 50 military ships from 21 countries starting Saturday for Sail250, the culmination of the multi-city 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 with the Parade of Sail Saturday morning, 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 urged 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 stops at the Labouré Center and A Street at Congress Street.

📍Protip: 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 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 (except for baby bottles).

Where to watch the Parade of Sail

Southie: Castle Island is one of the prime gathering spots, but you'll need binoculars.

• The ships typically show up by 10:15am.

Seaport: You can watch the ships come in from Fan Pier Park behind the Moakley federal courthouse.

• The ICA 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, including 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.

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The ships will be berthed (which is technically different from docked) at roughly 13 points along the inner harbor.

• You can find their locations on the Sail Boston app or on our Google map.

State of play: Most ships will be available to board between 10am and 10pm, but a few might have limited hours.

• The ship captain reserves the right to impose different hours or other restrictions.

Be smart: 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's 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.

Tell a Tall Ships newbie

💸 Gov. Maura Healey signed a $63.4 billion budget for fiscal 2027 with no tax increases or vetoes. (Globe)

• The new fiscal year began on July 1.

A Boston man faces charges after allegedly bringing explosives onto a Commuter Rail train, saying he was inspired by the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol. (NBC Boston)

• Police say Shane Cautillo spoke of making bombs and giving them to terrorist groups and homeless people around 10:30pm on June 27, carrying a large battery and other items.
• Authorities neutralized one device, but a second device set off fireworks, triggering an explosion.

A car and bicycle collided on Trenton Street in Mission Hill yesterday morning, killing the cyclist. (WCVB)

Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses ended their one-day strike at 7am yesterday, only to be barred from re-entering the hospital.

The big picture: The clash escalates already-strained negotiations between over 4,000 nurses and Mass General Brigham's administration during the largest nurses' walkout in state history.

The latest: Nurses rallied in the Longwood Medical Area, blasting MGB's decision to lock them out until 6:59am on Monday.

• MGB said its contingency plans include securing 1,300 temporary nurses, who are required to work at least five days under their own contract.

What they're saying: "It was absolutely defeating and demoralizing," Kelly Morgan, the lead union negotiator, told CBS Boston.

• "We want to be in there and take care of our patients, and that's what we're asking to do, and they just won't let us."

The other side: "We communicated this information to nurses before the strike vote through a June 12 email and a letter sent to their homes so they understood the implications of a strike before casting their vote," a MGB spokesperson said in a statement.

Friction point: The Mass. Nurses Association says the bargaining unit is pushing for better wage increases, staff ratios and working conditions, including less reliance on temporary travel nurses.

• MGB says it's reached agreements over most of the contract provisions, and that "the only issues left at the table primarily involve compensation and productivity."
• MGB says the nurses' proposal would tack on another $128 million in nursing labor costs.

Go deeper

Massachusetts' time hosting the 2026 World Cup has come to an end after yesterday's France-Morocco match.

• Fans and spectators in Boston watched the last game from the Lawn on D in the Seaport.

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