Ships from around the world gather off coast of Massachusetts ahead of Sail Boston

Ed, if you've been anywhere near the water in Boston, you've already got *** little taste of Sail Boston and the parade of sail. Take *** look. We're here on the Fish Pier and we can see the Ernestina Morrissey. That is *** schooner built in 1894. It is out of New Bedford. It's one of the ships that's going to be taking part in Sail Boston, and already we're seeing *** lot of spirit around town. *** ceremony to kick off Sail Boston, where the city will host dozens of tall ships from around the country and world. It's *** celebration of the nation's 250th, but it's free. It's for *** family. It's fun. It's *** festival. Boston is already seeing some of the historic ships in the harbor. This flotilla, the Kalmar Nickel out of Delaware, will take. Part in Sail Boston's signature event, the Parade of Sail. It's all beautiful. The ships are absolutely fabulous, absolutely fabulous. Kent and Laurie Edwards will be some of the 4 million people expected to watch the parade from the shore. First of all, it's the 250th anniversary, which is just fabulous, and that all of these countries. Participate to help us do this is just amazing. So it's just exciting. Gates are now in place around designated viewing locations for the parade all around Boston Harbor. Several streets will be closed to traffic, and organizers encourage spectators to take the tee. Jane Forbes traveled from Connecticut to see Sail Boston, bringing her patriotic spirit. My husband was *** submariner and so out of Groton, and my grandson's *** marine. And I just love anything that You know, honors America. Now in order to get to one of those viewing locations, you're going to have to get through *** security checkpoint, and there are items that you can and cannot bring. You can find that information on the WCVB website. One thing I think you should bring though is some sunscreen. It's going to be *** spectacular day live in the seaport. Sarah Conge, WCVB News Center 50 yes, oh yes, great advice. Yep, even *** wide brimmed hat if you have one of those too. And as Maria mentioned, the restaurant is that way. Doug and Emily Maha are that way. Let's start with Doug Mee and he's on board the Portuguese naval ship right now, Doug. Edna Maria, yes, good afternoon. We have moved from the aft stern portion of the vessel to the bridge. You can see the helm station behind me. Yes, there are 3 wheels that are used to, uh, steer, uh, steer the Sares, and *** lot of the deckhands, crew members, uh, sailors, and cadets are wearing these hats, OK, and let me. Explain what you're looking at. These are the sails of the Sares, the square rigged sails with the cross of Christ down the front. You will recognize that when we sail into port tomorrow in all its glory. And then on the side is NRP Sares. Now N actually stands for ship in Portuguese Republic of Portugal. Sares. The beautiful Portuguese flag, the national flag, when that thing is flying off the stern, it is absolutely amazing. And yes, this is now my cap as an unofficial member of the crew. Talk about some sweet swag, Emily. How about you over there on the eagle? I've seen those eagle hats. They're all right, but they're not like this. Yeah, Doug, that's *** really cool hat. Over here on the Eagle, we're all really happy for you. We love that you got some swag, but let me tell you, here on the Eagle, we are learning, we are gaining knowledge, we are having experiences that will last *** lifetime. I had one myself this morning. Doug, I'd like you to take *** look at this video. There, there she goes. That's me going up and over on the US Coast Guard Eagle, clipping in one clip at *** time, climbing the ropes, something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was incredible. We made it all the way up to that first landing. The view was unbelievable. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced. And uh let's take *** listen to how excited I was when I made it back to the deck. What was the best part? Oh, being up at the top, you can see everything. You can see like all of the cave, like I mean it's beautiful. What was the scariest part? When you get to the very when you're climbing up at the very top, you gotta like hoist yourself up and whip yourself around. That was scary. I wasn't into that, but we did it, we survived. We sure did make it. It was, it was amazing, Doug, so I'll let you keep your hat. You can have it because I have these lifetime memories that I can take with me forever. I'll give it to you, Emily. That is quite impressive. I mean, yeah, I get it that you went to what would be essentially the, the first spire up there. That's cool. But let me show you something all the way to the top. Check out this video with the GoPro reaching to as high as you can go on the 2nd mat. Of the Sares. Can you imagine climbing all the way up and then providing the view, which is panoramic like nothing you have ever seen before in your life at sea, 100 miles out at sea, and that's where we're standing and taking *** look at nothing but Atlantic and, um, well, that wasn't me, but, you know, I got one of the crew members to put on the GoPro. I ain't going up there. Are you kidding me? So bravo, bravo, bravo to you, Emily, for getting up there. Oh, it's *** different view from the deck, that's for sure. It sure is. All right, well, that's the very latest we're both at sea. By the way, Emily, before we let you go, where are you? Because we're just, uh, uh, about 30 miles from Boston right now. We haven't seen you guys. Uh, well, Doug, we are, we're actually, we're coming right into the harbor, and everywhere you look around you can see *** tall ship. I don't know which one you are, you're just kind of fading into the distance somewhere, but, uh, we are going to be dropping anchor in about 20 minutes and, uh, we'll be, uh, dropping anchor about 8 to 10. Miles outside of Boston, so we're getting pretty close. We're getting close. Boston is coming into view, so Ed and Maria will be in the harbor not too long from now as well, and then looking forward to the parade of sail tomorrow, tomorrow morning. It's going to be great. It's gonna be spectacular. You guys look great, by the way. You guys look absolutely spectacular, and Doug, you had us tricked. I genuinely thought it was you until you said it wasn't, so great job. All right, that's wonderful. All right, Jessica and Erica, we're having *** wonderful time out here as we get ready for sale Boston 2026. Back to you and Ben. I'll take it. Thank you, Maria and Ed, Emily and Doug Ben, thank you all, all of you, and I have to say equally entertaining and beautiful, right? OK, join us. Tonight at 8 o'clock for Sail Boston, history sets sail, *** 1 hour prime time special that will take you on board the tall ships and behind the scenes of this spectacular, truly event. And tomorrow we've got exclusive all day coverage of the grand parade of sail. You can watch it only here on Channel 5, also on our app and on our streaming platform Very Local. It all starts live from the waterfront at 5:00 a.m.

Ships from around the world gather off coast of Massachusetts ahead of Sail Boston

Updated: 5:44 PM EDT Jul 10, 2026

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Tall ships from around the world gathered off the coast of Massachusetts on Friday, awaiting their grand entrance to Boston Harbor on Saturday in the Parade of Sail at the opening of Sail Boston 2026. While several of the ships cut through the Cape Cod Canal and under the bridges on Thursday, many of the largest ships had to go around the tip of Cape Cod to reach the mouth of Boston Harbor.The fleet gathered off the coast of Nahant and Winthrop ahead of Saturday's main event.The lineup includes Portugal's Sagres, Argentina's ARA Libertad and Chile's Esmeralda. From the United States, Boston will host the U.S. Coast Guard's Eagle, the square-rigged Elissa and the USS Constitution. After Saturday's Parade of Sail,