Spirit of high seas takes hold of Bay State

By J.M. Lawrence

July 10, 2000 Web posted at: 10:29 AM EDT (1429 GMT)

In this story: Tall ships, big bucks Neighborhood impact RELATED STORIES, SITES

BOSTON, Massachusetts (The Boston Herald) -- More than 100 tall ships carrying sailors from around the world will stream into Boston today, bringing the spirit of the high seas to thousands of spectators expected to jam the shoreline for a grand parade tomorrow.

Ships from 35 countries are expected to arrive in Boston by 10 tonight for a maritime spectacular projected to draw four million to the waterfront over 11 days.

Once viewed as vessels of commerce and plunder, the ships are now the training grounds for young sailors' characters and constitutions.

``It brings out the best in people,'' said David Wood, who captained the HMS Rose for a portion of the frigate's journey to Boston, ``and represents one of the highest levels of human achievement.''

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Though the ships are slated to arrive tonight, some may come later, Wood said.

``Captains are an independent lot,'' said the former Coast Guard captain who runs the American Sail Training Association. ``They do what's best for their ship. If somebody says you have to be there at a certain time, they may or may not.''

Yesterday, crowds cheered under cloudy skies as scores of tall ships sailed under the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, taking a shortcut through the Cape Cod Canal to Boston.

``It's a wonderful day,'' said State Police Capt. Robert Bird, while watching the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers fire boats salute a ship with the customary sprays of water.

By afternoon yesterday, ships docked in the port of Boston included the 370-foot Juan Sebastian de Elcano, a four-masted schooner from Spain with a crew of 180, and the Akogare, a 171-foot schooner from Osaka Japan with a crew of 35.

Sail Boston has scheduled an array of events for the sailors ranging from soccer matches to dinner parties.

The ships are open for free public boarding Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fan Pier, the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal and the Charlestown Navy Yard.

The arrival of the tall ships is expected to reap a $120 million windfall for the region, according to Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates, and Sail Boston projects an even bigger amount.

Sail Boston projects the economic impact of the event will top $125 million and produce millions in tax revenues for the city and the state. Organizers already have received more than $2 million in tax subsidies to run the show while the costs for public safety services is estimated at more than $4 million.

Boston has spent weeks sprucing up for tourists under the banner ``B2K,'' the city's umbrella marketing term for an unprecedented month of concerts and events.

Public safety agencies from the U.S. Coast Guard to police and emergency medical personnel are coordinating their efforts and hoping for a smooth Sail Boston.

Police urge tall ships watchers to take public transportation, and shuttles and extra trains have been set up to accommodate the barrage of spectators.

The site of massive barques and schooners sailing out of history and into view can literally be a traffic-stopping event, prompting State Police to put scores of additional officers on the roadways to keep vehicles moving.

``You don't want a gridlock situation,'' Bird said, ``with people parking so fire trucks and ambulances can't get to wherever they need to get.''

Waterfront neighborhoods are bracing for the crowds.

The city has asked residents of East Boston, South Boston and Charlestown to show their drivers' licenses to police and get placards allowing them to drive through checkpoints, which are are designed to keep spectators from flooding the neighborhoods, where street-cleaning regulations will be suspended for the week.

Maureen Barrett of South Boston calculated that she'll need to give up the use of her car for a while.

``If you leave your space, you'll never get back,'' she said yesterday.

She's willing to put up with the hassles, though, for the chance to see the look on her 5-year-old son's face light up when the ships come into view. ``He loves to take pictures,'' she said.

Early-rising spectators are expected to start taking up prime viewing spots on Castle Island around 5 a.m. tomorrow.

``It's just pretty amazing to see,'' Joe Connors, a Pembroke pipefitter, said yesterday, recalling the days when he camped out on the island as a teenager to see the ships.

But this year, Connors lamented, he will be working this year and won't see the grand parade.

Many workers have timed vacations to view the event and Gov. Paul Cellucci gave nonessential state workers permission to arrive late Tuesday to ease traffic congestion in the city.

``To some people, it's a pain, but all in all it's a good time,'' Connors said. ``I just like the idea of all these ships and people from different countries coming together.''

Sailors, tourists and residents will be treated to a fireworks ``Battle of Barges'' this weekend when two pyrotechnic companies square off in the harbor.

Then the tall ships will start leaving to continue their race to Halifax with the last vessels expected to depart July 21.

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