Tall Ships Races docks in Aarhus with historic vessels

Aarhus Harbour is hosting The Tall Ships Races, with vessels from across Europe docked in the city until Saturday, DR reports.

The event, marking 70 years since the first race, features historic ships including the Norwegian Sørlandet, the world’s oldest active full-rigged vessel, built in 1927. The ship carries 74 trainees and 26 permanent crew members, originally designed to train young sailors for merchant shipping.

Organised by Sail Training International, the races focus on youth development through sailing, with participants aged 15–25 learning seamanship and teamwork. Winners are judged not only on speed but also on fostering international understanding among crews.

Event organisers expect large crowds, following the 400,000 visitors in 2019. Charlotte Kirk Elkjær, event chief for Aarhus Municipality, noted that many ships are open to the public. The fleet departs around 14:00 on Saturday, with the race officially beginning once the ships reach open water.

Free to attend, the event also draws locals like Martin Knabe and Kevin Andersen, who praised the festival atmosphere and the chance to see the ships up close.