17.7.2017 | Leisure

Maritime Days in Tallinn

Tallinn’s port will be filled with stunning sailboats when The Tall Ships Races regatta makes a stop in town on its way to Turku. The most noteworthy of them all is the four-masted barque, the world’s largest traditional sailboat still in use, which is used as a training ship.

From the water you can see mysterious flying ships and the Flying Phantom catamaran.

The Maritime Days got its start 10 years ago when the city of Tallinn and the Port of Tallinn joined forces with the Maritime museum. The festival has become one of summer’s most interesting events.

This year’s maritime days will take place over four days and divided over five ports between Pirita and Kakumäe. You can get to the sea from each one.

The festival’s unoffical opening is at Pirita on 14 July, where they will have fireworks and the popular Regatt band.

The main event areas are between A and D terminals at the Old Town guest harbour, Old City Marina, and Seaplane Harbour. On stage you will see top Estonian pop artists, young bands, the Pärnu City Orchestra, a street circus, and the St. Petersburg Jazz Orchestra. On Sunday, the nighttime song festival will take place when the first of the large ships begin to arrive.

Forest festival at the beach

At Noblessner, a little bit west of the Seaplane Harbour, is where you’ll find a new cultural centre in the making. The old port buildings are being refurbished and new houses are being built by the water’s edge.

Noblessner will open a private docking area on 15 July for one day only, where invited guests from the Intsikurmu festival in Põlva will come.

The Intsikurmu festival is known as a sort of travelling hipster forest festival. The beachside picnic starts at 12.00 and finishes at 1 am. Cyclists from the Tour d’ÖÖ will join in the evening.

There is a different programme on at Noblessner, with an open-house day in the new apartment blocks, as well as a concert.

Vikings and robots

The Maritime Days are first and foremost a family-friendly event and there is something for children to do at every port. There is a separate children’s play area at the Vanasadam and Seaplane Harbour. The Vikings at the Seaplane Harbour are truly fun for children, where they can master sword fighting, make fairytale jewellery, learn to shoot a bow and arrow or throw axes. The vikings will organised shows and there is a catapult and viking ship on site too.

The newest part of the Maritime Days is the innovation area at Vanasadam, where boat technology and underwater archeology will be on display. Those who wish can build a robot in the workshop or learn about simulators and swim in virtual reality.

Haven port is open at Kakumäe and will be taking part in the festivities for the first time this year with a sporty weekend. You can play beach football and volleyball, different Speed Races, and watch catamaran demonstrations. Children have their own activities with boat trips and a pop up sailing school by Meresõber. A naval show will be organised at Kakumäe, where helicopters, lifeboats and the Estonian Navy will take part.

Most of the events are free, except for ship and helicopter rides.