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Really tall ships could be coming to Tampa

Tampa Bay and Company

The Captain Miranda, shown in Boston, is one of the tall ships that may sail into Tampa next year.

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2009

TAMPA - Tall ships in Tampa? It could happen in July.

Hillsborough County tourism officials with help from Florida's U.S Senate delegation are planning a tall ships festival in Tampa next summer, which could mean as many as 10 of the classic vessels will be on hand for public visits.

Tall ships refer to those with traditional, early seafaring days rigging and large sails.

Tampa Bay & Co., the county's tourism marketing group, has invited countries from Europe and South America to send ships here next summer, said Steve Hayes, executive vice president of Tampa Bay & Co., the county's tourism marketing group.

Hayes and U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and George LeMieux met with representatives of foreign navies in Washington this week to make a pitch for Tampa to hold a festival in which visitors generally are able to tour the classic vessels.

Uruguay is the first to commit to send a ship to Tampa. Hayes said the first-time event for Tampa could draw between 200,000 to 300,000 visitors.

"It would be a shot in the arm during a slow month for the local visitors industry," Hayes said.

The festival could take place over four to five days, he said.

Corpus Christi, Texas, also is planning to draw tall ships to its seaport community in July, but Hillsborough officials are trying to arrange dates that would not conflict between the two cities' plans.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817

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