The Culture 2011 Tall Ships’ Regatta – Turku as the European Capital of Culture
Turku was named the European Capital of Culture for 2011. The largest public event of the anniversary year was the Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta, held from 26 to 28 August. The event brought together Tall Ships Races vessels for a sailing voyage from Klaipėda, Lithuania to Turku after the Hanse Sail Rostock event, and onward from Turku to Gdynia, Poland. Over the course of three days, the event attracted 320,000 visitors.
About thirty ships arrived in Turku, including two of the world’s largest sailing vessels: Sedov (122.3 metres) and Kruzenshtern (113.49 metres), a sister ship of the familiar Pommern to Finns. These were positioned facing each other, bow to bow, on the eastern bank of the Aura River.
At that time, Russia was still strongly involved in sailing ship activities. Large state-owned vessels from the Soviet era remained in use and were kept operational as training and research ships.
Adventure – Russia
Akela – Russia
Argo – Russia
Brabander – Lithuania
Breeze – Russia
Bylina – Russia
Dar Młodzieży – Poland
Diana – Russia
De Gallant – The Netherlands
Elena – Russia
Fryderyk Chopin – Poland
Fujimo – Poland
Gulden Leeuw –The Netherlands
Helena – Finland
Henrika – Finland
Johann Smidt – Germany
Kruzenshtern – Russia
Maria – Russia
Mir – Russia
Nadezhda – Russia
Sedov – Russia
Shtandart – Russia
Smialy – Poland
St IV – Estonia
Tecla – The Netherlands
Thalassa – The Netherlands
Theia – Finland
Variag – Russia
Villa Mare – Finland
Yunga – Russia
Merchandise sold during the 2011 regatta
Good lack on the journey
Unlike usual, the 2011 regatta took place over a weekend at the turn of August and September, and there was some concern about the weather. However, it turned out that the weekend experienced an exceptional heatwave, with temperatures reaching nearly 30 degrees Celsius.
Only after the ships departed on Sunday did the weather immediately turn autumnal and rainy, with temperatures dropping by more than ten degrees.
The Capital of Culture Foundation integrated cultural programming into the event, which also included a concert from the Finnish Defence Forces’ Miljazz tour. The programme culminated with The Elements circus performance on and above the river, combining aerial acrobatics, fire art, music, and a light show, followed by a large fireworks display.
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On the left, the logo of the 2011 regatta.
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A top prize
The first race leg from Klaipėda to Turku received impressive prizes. Original, exceptionally durable African deck wood had been preserved from the deck renovation of the Suomen Joutsen, and it was made available from the storage facilities of Forum Marinum.
Turku-based artist Pepe Gonzales crafted the trophies in his studio and noted that he had never before worked with such hard wood, but ultimately unique prizes were completed for the winners of each race class.
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“I have no hesitation in pronouncing Turku as the Tall Ships Races capital of the Baltic.“
– Race Director Peter Newell in a letter sent to the City after the race