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FLOATING A TALL ORDER

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2009

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

Hillsborough County tourism officials, with help from Florida's U.S senators, 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 rigging and large sails typical of early seafaring days.

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.

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. At such events, visitors usually can tour the classic vessels.

Uruguay was first to commit to send a ship to Tampa. Hayes said the first-time event for Tampa could draw 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 run four to five days, he said. Local officials are looking for dates that won't conflict with a similar event planned in July in Corpus Christi, Texas.

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