About the Races

Race 1: Torbay, UK to Sines, Portugal. 840 miles

Race 2: Sines, Portugal to Bermuda (48-hour stopover in Las Palmas, Canary Islands). 3,200 miles

Race 3: Bermuda to Boston, USA. 650 miles

Race 4: Boston, USA to Gulf of Saint Lawrence Ports. 600 miles

Race 5: Halifax, Nova Scotia to Le Havre, France. 2,700 miles

Total distance of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta (including Cruise-in-Company and transits to race start and finish lines): almost 10,000 miles

About the Ports

Royal Greenwich, UK (April 13 to 16): Greenwich has been associated with the sea and navigation for centuries. It's now a World Heritage Site where you can visit world-class maritime attractions. These include the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, and the National Maritime Museum.

Sines, Portugal (April 29 to May 1): Located in one of the most preserved regions of the European coast and has beaches, dunes, streams, moors, and regions of mountains. The city is also the historical birthplace of the navigator Vasco da Gama, who discovered the Maritime Way to India.

Bermuda (June 1-5): Bermuda has hosted the Tall Ships Races and Regattas five times in the past — Rendez-Vous 2017 will be its sixth event.

Boston, USA (June 17-22): This will be the first time in 17 years that Boston has welcomed so many ships into its harbour.

Southern Gulf (30 June to July 3): Following the completion of Race Four from Boston, USA, the fleet will be joined by some additional Canadian vessels and disperse to visit six ports in the Southern Gulf, centred around Prince Edward Island.

• Charlottetown: Known as the birthplace of the Canadian Federation.

• Summerside: Situated in Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Summerside provides visitors with an authentic island experience.

• Caraquet: Found on the shore of Chaleur Bay on the Acadian Peninsula, this charming town has a proud history of entertaining visitors of all ages.

• Port Hawkesbury: Located on the southwestern end of Cape Breton Island, Port Hawkesbury offers a unique blend of economic, cultural and lifestyle opportunities to those living and visiting the area.

• Pictou: Known as the "Birthplace of New Scotland," Pictou is a historic landmark on the Canadian east coast.

• Pugwash: This year's celebrations are set to showcase everything that Canada has to offer, both large and small, and the tranquil village of Pugwash — with a population of less than 1,000 inhabitants — is the perfect proof of this.

Northern Gulf (July 7-9): Following a visit to the six ports in the Southern Gulf, vessels will continue their journey to visit seven ports in the Northern Gulf: Miramichi, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Sept ?les, Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts, Carleton-sur-Mer, Gaspé and ?les de la Madeleine.

Saint Lawrence River Ports (July 14 July 16): Continuing the Guest Port Programme journey, vessels visiting the Southern and Northern Gulf will continue their journey and sail down the Saint Lawrence River, with four port visits planned.

• Baie-Comeau: Located about 420km north-east of Québec City, the landscape in this beautiful area has been shaped by glacial retreats and extraordinary natural phenomena.

• Rimouski: Culture is central to the appeal of the city, and it's home to numerous musical institutions, including the regional symphony orchestra and the "Conservatory of Music."

• Saguenay: Noted as one of the most beautiful natural areas in the Québec region, Saguenay provides the perfect balance of nature and urban life.

• Tadoussac: Located at the meeting of the Saguenay and Saint Lawrence rivers, this is especially noted as the launch point for many whale watching cruises in the Saint Lawrence River.

Great Lakes Flotilla (30 June to July 16): For those vessels not taking part in Race Four, the Great Lakes fleet is sailing down from Hamilton to Québec City — leaving Toronto on June 30 and arriving in Québec City on July 17. Seven port visits are planned along the way with ships stopping at: Hamilton, Bath, Sorel-Tracy, Trois-Rivières, and Québec City.

Outport Programme (29 July to August 20): Following the 150th celebrations in Québec, the fleet divides into three. Some vessels will return to their home ports, while some will sail to Halifax for four days of port activities. The remaining vessels in North American waters will visit nine ports: Norris Point; Corner Brook; Sydney; Saint Peter's; Louisbourg; Lunenburg; Shelburne; Digby; Annapolis Royal; Saint John.

Halifax, Nova Scotia (July 29 to August 1): The penultimate port of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta, Halifax is known for its welcoming and friendly nature.

Le Havre, France (August 31 to September 3): Le Havre is the final port of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta and it'll close the prestigious event in dramatic style.

During summer 2017, Le Havre will celebrate its 500th anniversary. This major cultural event (and the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta) will infuse the city and its harbour with artworks in public areas, landscaping, prestigious exhibitions, festive gatherings, gastronomic delights, and more.