Bluenose Helps Promote Tall Ships

Promoting Tall Ships Nova Scotia is one of many duties on board Bluenose II this week as the schooner raises its sails for Tall Ships Rhode Island.

The province's sailing ambassador is welcoming the 250,000 visitors expected to attend the event from June 27 to July 1 in Newport, R.I. The crew is taking the opportunity to promote Nova Scotia vacation experiences such as Tall Ships Nova Scotia from July 12 to 25.

"The beauty and history of Bluenose II continue to draw crowds at our ports of call all summer long, including many in our important American tourism market," said Len Goucher, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "They want to learn about its history and about the history of Nova Scotia, which makes it a perfect partner in our annual tourism marketing activities to draw more visitors to our province."

The Bluenose II sailing schedule is designed to help promote Nova Scotia in key tourism markets. The ship carries provincial tourism materials such as the Doers and Dreamers Guide to share with potential tourists. In Newport, a visitor information kiosk is on the dock beside the ship to encourage people to come to Nova Scotia this year.

"We promote Nova Scotia through June and bring tourists back here to see us as we sail through July," said Wayne Walters, director of operations for the Lunenburg Marine Museum Society which operates the vessel. "Thousands of people flock to visit the ship and I hear from lots of them about how good the ship looks, how friendly the crew are, and how much they want to come to Nova Scotia."

The ship's first port of call this year was Norfolk, Va. where it participated in Sail Virginia 2007. Other American ports of call include Annapolis and Baltimore, Md., Philadelphia, Pa., and Gloucester, Mass. It will be in Halifax, Sydney and Lunenburg during Tall Ships Nova Scotia. It will also visit Meteghan, Chester and Mahone Bay, as well as Georgetown and Summerside, P.E.I.

The Bluenose II sailing schedule and Capt. Phil Watson's log of are available at http://museum.gov.ns.ca/bluenose . Information about Tall Ships Nova Scotia is on the website at www.tallshipsnovascotia.com .