[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                INVITING THE NATION TO SAIL BOSTON 2000

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I rise today to extend an invitation 
to the nation to join Massachusetts and the City of Boston in 
celebrating the gathering of tall ships for Sail Boston 2000.
  The tall ships represent a nautical history that stretches across the 
globe. The International Sail Training Association, jointly with the 
American Sail Training Association, is organizing the Tall Ships 2000 
Race. I am proud to say that Boston Harbor has been granted the 
opportunity to be the only official United States Race Port.
  Beginning in April 2000, two races will start from Southampton and 
Genoa, finishing in Cadiz. The second leg will be a transatlantic race 
to Bermuda, and from there, the fleet heads north to Boston. This 
journey will replicate the routes taken by mariners and explorers over 
the last five centuries.
  On July 11th, 2000, the Tall Ships will parade into Boston Harbor, 
and they will be led by the oldest ship in the U.S. Navy; America's Old 
Ironsides; the U.S.S. Constitution. This national treasure was 
originally built in Boston between 1794 and 1797, and was charged with 
the task of defending a young American nation. This ship, the oldest 
commissioned warship in the world, set to sea in 1798, and in July 
1999, the U.S.S. Constitution operated under her own sail for the first 
time in 116 years.
  This international fleet will be one of the finest gatherings of tall 
ships. Among the Sail Boston 2000 fleet are historic ships such as: Mir 
of Russia; Concordia of Canada; Juan Sebastian De Elcano of Spain; 
Pogoria of Poland; and the Amerigo Vespucci of Italy.
  Massachusetts and the historic Boston Harbor, which offers the 
perfect setting for this occasion, will open itself up to visitors from 
around the world, and over six million spectators are expected to visit 
us and enjoy the festivities. The history that the Tall Ships represent 
belongs to all of us, and it is my hope that visitors from every state 
in the nation will take the opportunity to visit Massachusetts and 
participate in this historic celebration.

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