The race
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.
The Tall Ship Race is made up of several legs between different ports. Each leg includes a race at sea, followed by a stopover in a port where festivities and events are organised. Yachts are classified according to their category and their race time. The ships will arrive in Dunkirk on Thursday 10 July and depart on Sunday 13 July.
The total duration of the race varies each year. In 2025, it will start on 4 July in Le Havre, passing through Dunkirk from 10 to 14 13 July and finishing on 9 August in Denmark.
Each leg can last between 3 and 10 days, depending on the distance between the ports.
The race calls at numerous ports around the world, mainly in Europe.
In 2025 :
Le Havre - France
from 4 to 7 July
Dunkirk - France
from 10th to 13th July
Aberdeen - Scotland
19th to 22nd July
Kristiansand - Norway
From 30th July to 2nd August
Esbjerk - Denmark
From 6th to 9th August
The boats are ranked according to their corrected race time, which takes into account factors such as boat size and sail configuration. This allows a fair comparison of performance between different types of boat.
Safety is a priority for the Tall Ship Race. Each vessel must comply with strict maritime safety standards. Crews are trained in emergency procedures, and safety inspections are carried out before each start. Support vessels may also be present along the route.
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.
Yes, the race can often be followed live via GPS tracking systems available on the official Sail Training International websites. Find the link here
Yes, in Dunkirk, where the race calls, the public can visit the ships. This gives visitors the chance to climb aboard, meet the crews and learn about maritime history.
No, there are no sailing trips or mini-cruises aboard the yachts during the days spent in port.
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.
Since the beginning of 2016, there have been 4 categories of boat, and therefore sailboats. These design categories identify the yacht's ability to withstand the weather, particularly in terms of stability and buoyancy.
Before being put into service or imported, sailing boats undergo an assessment of their compliance with the applicable safety and pollution prevention provisions.
This assessment leads to the issue of a certificate of conformity which will allow the boat to be marketed. This provision also applies to a boat modified by its owner.