General questions
The Tall Ship Race is an annual series of traditional tall ship races organised by Sail Training International (STI). It aims to promote maritime training for young sailors and brings together yachts of different sizes and from different countries.
Some forty yachts will be in Dunkirk from 10 to 13 July 2025, and 200 young apprentice sailorsaged between 15 and 25 from the Dunkirk area will be taking part in the race.
Timetables for events, maritime parades and ship visits will be available on the programme page. A full programme and map can be downloaded online.
The Community Tourist Office website offers recommendations for accommodation close to the event.
Yes, sailboat tours are organised. The visits will be free of charge.
Times and conditions will be published later on the programme page.
Yes, there will be a prize-giving ceremony for the various categories in the race on Friday 11 July. A parade of the crews.
The times and locations of the ceremonies will be indicated on the programme page.
As well as free ship visits alongside the quayside, there will be cultural activities, exhibitions and concerts.
You can also watch the parade of sailing ships as they arrive on Thursday 10 July and depart on Sunday 13 July.
Yes, it is possible to take part as an apprentice sailor (15-25 years old) or volunteer. To join a crew, you can contact the Voiles de Légende organisers directly via the online forms.
Absolutely, Voiles de légende is a family event. There will be specially designed areas for children, with workshops and fun activities. The sailboat tours are also suitable for families, although some parts of the ships may be difficult for pushchairs to access.
No, there will be no sailing trips or mini-cruises aboard the yachts during Voiles de légende.
The ships will remain docked so that they can be visited.
For safety reasons, certain areas of the ports and ships may be restricted. We recommend that you follow the instructions of the staff and volunteers on site, respect the safety barriers and supervise children near the water. It is also advisable to wear suitable footwear, especially when visiting ships.
It is possible to follow the progress of the boats in real time via GPS tracking systems available on the official Tall Ship Race website. These tools allow you to see the position of the boats during the race.
Yes, public toilets will be set up around the port areas during the event. They will be free of charge.
Ships at berth are not accessible for toilet use.
Any changes to the programme (delays, timetable changes, weather conditions) are announced on the organisers' social networks, on the facebook page and on the website (news section).
Dunkerque is making efforts to make the event accessible to people with reduced mobility, but some yachts are not adapted because of their structure. Parking areas and specific accesses for disabled people are generally provided close to the ports. It is advisable to check with the organisers to find out what facilities are available.
Each city organises specific parking areas for the event. These car parks may be a long way from the port, but free shuttle buses are often provided to facilitate access to the site.
As the event is located next to Dunkerque railway station, it is advisable to use the free DK BUS network.