History
and Mission
Sail Baltimore, a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, provides a free, annual,
public program of visiting ships and
maritime events. In operation since
1975, our mission is one of economic
development, education and cultural
exchange. Each year, we produce a free
program of visiting ships and maritime
events to benefit the area's
residents, visitors, youth and
business community.
Sail
Baltimore is the city's blockbuster
attraction, a changing museum in our
harbor, in which residents and
visitors alike can learn about various
cultures around the world. Through our
visiting ships program, participating
vessels come and go throughout the
year, staying for anywhere from one
day to several weeks, and opening
their decks to the public for free
tours. Because of Sail Baltimore's
efforts to bring ships to Baltimore
and publicize each ship visit,
visitors are able to go on board and
tour these unique ships, learn about
different cultures, interact with
people from around the world, learn
about navigation, geography,
technology, and maritime history.
Sail
Baltimore spends significant effort
and resources annually in recruiting
ships from around the world to visit
Baltimore. Numerous cities worldwide
have awakened to the benefit of these
ships and therefore competition to win
these ships has become fierce. Through
Sail Baltimore's decades-long track
record in hosting ships, we have
earned Baltimore a worldwide
reputation as a great place to visit.
Sail Baltimore must continue to work
to maintain this reputation through
excellent service to our visiting
ships and our ongoing recruitment
efforts.
Visiting
Ships Program
On an annual basis, Sail
Baltimore welcomes an average of two
dozen ships to Baltimore's waterfront,
including international tall ships,
military vessels, educational and
environmental ships. Sail Baltimore's
visiting ships program provides a
one-of-a-kind opportunity for an
interactive, cultural learning
experience that enhances the quality
of life for our entire community.
Ships are docked in the Inner Harbor,
Fells Point and Locust Point. A wide
variety of international countries,
cultures and ship types are
represented in our program. No other
program provides such a distinctive,
ever-changing opportunity to learn
about international cultures and
maritime heritage without leaving
home.
Through
our ongoing, intensive recruiting
efforts we are able to provide this
free, year-round public attraction.
Our recruitment campaign includes
ongoing efforts at the international
embassies in Washington, letter
writing and telephone campaigns and
hosting visits to Baltimore by
dignitaries, embassy officials and
ship representatives. Each year we
host officials from the embassies in
Washington to Sail Baltimore's Attaché
Day, an opportunity for the military
attachés, the decision makers, to
visit our fine city and experience
what it has to offer.
Sail
Baltimore's role is an
all-encompassing one for visiting
ships. Once we learn of a ship's
intentions to visit our city, Sail
Baltimore organizes the ship visit
from beginning to end. We coordinate
planning meetings, act as a liaison
with the embassy, arrange docking
facilities for the ship, ship
services, logistics arrangements,
public relations, media releases,
welcoming ceremonies, security
briefings, official protocol visits,
sporting events, tours, discounts to
local attractions and hospitality for
the captain, officers, cadets and
crew. Moreover, by drawing ships'
crew, tourists and residents to
downtown Baltimore during all seasons
of the year, Sail Baltimore provides a
significant economic impact to the
area. During a typical year, more than
100,000 visitors take part in Sail
Baltimore's offerings, providing
approximately $5 million to the local
economy.
Educational
Program
The Learn the Ropes component of Sail
Baltimore's visiting ships program is
aimed at providing the youth of the
community with a unique experience to
encourage learning, international
cultural exchange and understanding.
We provide a means for young people to
explore other areas of the world
without leaving their own community.
Through Sail Baltimore, children climb
aboard visiting ships from around the
world for special hands-on tours,
providing them the opportunity to
interact with crewmembers from other
countries, learn about maritime
technologies, history, geography,
career alternatives and more. A
workbook is provided to the children
to further educate them about ships,
sailing, geography, international
cultures, maritime careers and more.
Participants have included youth from
the Police Athletic League, Head
Start, Sea Cadets, community centers,
day camps and school children.
Accomplishments
Over the past thirty years, Sail
Baltimore has welcomed more than 400
vessels and produced or co-produced
more than 35 maritime events. Since
its inception, we estimate that Sail
Baltimore's efforts have brought more
than 5 million visitors and over $200
million into Baltimore's economy.
In
addition to our ongoing program of
visiting ships, Sail Baltimore has
also honored significant historic
events for our country, state and city
through large gatherings of ships.
During Sail Baltimore's OpSail
Baltimore 2000 international tall ship
event, more than 1.5 million visitors
came to our city with an economic
impact of more than $100 million. In
addition to these large-scale events,
Sail Baltimore is a partner in
producing annual maritime events
including the Great Chesapeake Bay
Schooner Race, the Baltimore Parade of
Lighted Boats.
Organization
and Funding
Sail Baltimore operates with a
volunteer board of directors and one
Executive Director. We also depend on
numerous volunteers from outside the
board to act in various capacities,
such as ship liaisons, hospitality
providers, logistics assistance, etc.
Sail Baltimore supports its programs
mostly through corporate and
individual donors, both cash and
in-kind, and some public funding. We
continue to seek new and continuing
contributors in support of our
valuable community programs.
History