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July 29, 2001 - Bay City, Michigan -  On Sunday July 29, event organizers from Tall Ships Challenge^® Muskegon traveled to Bay City to visit that city's Tall Ships celebration taking place over the weekend.  The trip was used to help make final preparations, review site layout and meet with ship captains. 

The Bay City event Tall Ship^™ event was hosted on both sides of Bay City harbor in the city's downtown area.  A total of fourteen ships lined the channel walls as visitors watched from shore and participated in onboard tours.  While this set up allowed for all the ships to be positioned along a short stretch of river, the arrangement required visitors to make long walks across (road) bridges from one side to the other.

The Muskegon location at Heritage Landing addresses this problem and puts all of the ships in one compact, convenient location.  With twenty ships coming to the Muskegon, Tall Ships Challenge^® Muskegon will place more Tall Ships in one location than any other port on this year's circuit.

The Bay City celebration provided entertainment to spectators as they visited the ships.  Some of the entertainment included musicians with a nautical flair (see photo to the left).  Similar to Bay City event, Muskegon organizers have announced a complete line up of on stage and strolling entertainment.   Lee Murdock, The Cherry County Playhouse, Celtic Boys, Out of Control and The County Minstrels will all help to provide a well rounded day of fun and discovery.  For a complete line up of events see our online schedule.

If you missed the tall ships in Bay City or any of the other stops on this year's circuit, you still have another opportunity.  There will be one more gathering of the full fleet when they come together August 10, 11 and 12 at Tall Ships Challenge^® Muskegon.  At the end of the Muskegon, there will be a spectacular gala of sail and pageantry with the Parade of Sail.  On Monday August 13 at approximately 1:00 PM EDT all parade participating ships will come together with sails hoisted in a farewell to Muskegon, through Muskegon Lake, out the channel and into Lake Michigan where they will scatter to ports far and wide.   (No ship tours will be offered on Monday.  Ship tours and shore side walking tours next to the ships will only be available Friday, Saturday and Sunday.)

Tickets for Tall Ships Challenge Muskegon are available online, by calling Tickets Plus at 800-585-3737, or visiting any Tickets Plus outlet including all Meijer stores in Michigan.  

All tickets are general admission, selling for $10.00 with those 12 and under admitted free with a parent.  Tall Ships Challenge Muskegon has adjusted its ticket policy so that a ticket purchased for any particular day (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) can now be used on any one day that you select.