Photo by Carol Hill/OHPRI

Iberdrola USA Tall Ships Portland 2015, the event, was designed to entertain and inspire but also to educate and train tomorrow's leaders. In 2015, 17 scholarships with a value of over $40,000 have been awarded to Portland-area youth to sail on board tall ships for one and two week voyages culminating in the Parade of Sail that is Iberdrola USA Tall Ships Portland 2015. These 17 scholars, ages 12 thru 18, will depart from Greenport, NY, Fairhaven, MA and Newport, RI and sail to Maine. Most of them have never spent the night at sea and some of them have never sailed. No matter. When they board their ships, Fritha, Lynx and Picton-Castle, they will join teams of sailors who will rely on them for their safety and their happiness for a week at a time. Click here to see TV coverage of this announcement.

Sailing Ships Portland, the local non-profit which has organized these sailing adventures, will offer 20 berths for adventurous youths next summer. If you are interested in applying to sail next summer, please email us at tallshipsportland@gmail.com.

In order to learn more about the ships and sailing on them--regardless of your age--we recommend you volunteer at the festival by clicking here.

Sailing Ships Maine is a project of Sailing Ships Portland, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law (EIN 47-3101784).

Sailing Ships Maine creates life-changing opportunities for teens of all abilities and income levels so that they may discover the ocean environment and expand leadership skills while being encouraged to consider further maritime training.  Through public events, we support the marine economy, provide access to the ocean and traditional sailing ships and preserve our maritime heritage.