Tall ships races conclude in Turku with grand parade as vessels set sail for Mariehamn

The Tall Ships Races concluded in Turku on Sunday with a parade of sails as the vessels set course for Mariehamn, where they are expected to arrive by midday Wednesday. The event organizer estimates that attendance will fall short of the half a million visitors goal, despite breaking a daily attendance record on Saturday with approximately 150,000 attendees. Over the three-day event, a total of 370,000 visitors explored the area.

As is tradition, the ships left Turku in a grand procession, receiving enthusiastic waves and good wishes from fellow sailors and spectators along the shore.

Among the ships was the Spanish vessel Pascual Flores, which will remain in Turku for an extra day due to awaiting spare parts for its engine. Captain Rodrigo Boj Perez reported that the ship will not depart for Mariehamn until Monday.

Pascual Flores has faced challenges since its arrival, including an unexpected storm that damaged a mast in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The 35-meter-long ship, which has a crew of 17, has a storied history dating back to its construction in 1917 and was previously sunk during the Spanish Civil War.

Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian ship Guayas, 65 meters long and manned by a crew of 158, participated in the Tall Ships Races in the Baltic Sea for the first time. Despite experiencing a technical delay during its departure, it ultimately sailed alone as one of the final vessels from the event.

The next Tall Ships Races are set to return to Turku in four years, following a recently signed agreement ensuring the city will host the event every four years.