SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2014 kicks off in Varna, Bulgaria (photo release)

An official opening of SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2014 was held today in Varna, Bulgaria, the regatta press office told PortNews.

The regatta and parade of tall ships will start on May 2, 2014.

There is a photo release from the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Images courtesy of Sochi Marine Club. Photographer - Valery Vasilevsky.

SCF Black Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2014 takes place between April 30 and May 27, 2014. For the first time this unique maritime event is held under the Russian flag. An impressive armada of the biggest educational sailing ships from around the world, including Russian tall ships "Krusenstern", "Mir", "Nadezhda", "Sedov" will cross the Black Sea and will make calls to four ports: Varna, Novorossiysk, Sochi and Constanta. Russian cities have conducted extensive work to improve port areas and prepared entertaining programs for participants and guests of the regatta.

There will be 22 educational tall ships (nine are Class A ships) and 1500 young sailors participating in the regatta from 9 countries.

Official sponsors and partners of the event are as follows:

Title Sponsor: OAO Sovcomflot
General sponsor: OJSC Transneft
General partner: South Stream Transport B.V.
Official Sponsor: BOSCO

Official Partner: NP Sochi Sea Club (SMK)
Official Partner: Abrau-Durso Russian Sparkling Wine House
Media Partners: Vedomosti, ITAR-TASS, Business FM, Conde Nast Traveller, IAA PortNews, “Russian Maritime Policy”, Yacht Russia, “Komsomolskaya Pravda” PH, "Moskovsky Komsomolets"

Regatta Schedule :
Varna, Bulgaria: April 30 - May 3
First race: May 4-9
Novorossiysk, Russia: 9-12 May
Cruise transition: May 12-14
Sochi, Russia: May 14-18
Second race: May 18-24
Constanta, Romania: May 24-27