| | |
| Company type | Nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education Sail training |
| Predecessor | American Sail Training Association |
| Founded | April 3, 1973 |
| Founder | Barclay H. Warburton III |
| Headquarters | Newport, Rhode Island |
Key people | Simon Colley [1] , Stuart Gilfillen [2] |
| Website | www |
Tall Ships America, previously known as the American Sail Training Association (ASTA), is the largest sail training association in the world and a founding member of Sail Training International. [3] [4] [5] [6] From starting with a handful of vessels sailing the New England waters, Tall Ships America has grown into an international institution with more than 250 tall ships and sail training vessels representing 25 different countries and navigating all the world's oceans. TSA was founded on April 3, 1973, by Barclay H. Warburton III, following his return from the Tall Ships Races in Europe in 1972 where he joined the USCGC Eagle with his brigantine Black Pearl as the first US vessels to participate in the races.
A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Tall Ships America's mission is to
Tall Ships America organizes the Tall Ships Challenge ®, a series of sail training races, rallies and maritime festivals that rotate every three years around
In 2025, the Tall Ships Challenge series was held in the Great Lakes with stops in Brockville, Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Duluth, Minnesota, Detroit, Michigan, Midland, Ontario and Erie, Pennsylvania. [9]
As of 2025 [update] member vessels [10] include:
Every year Tall Ships America awards several prizes including: