Organisation and execution
In late 2010, Sail Training International officially designated the Municipality of Harlingen as host port of The Tall Ships Races 2014. Whilst the municipality (the city council) is the formal party to the agreement, the council has delegated the actual organisation and executive duties to a foundation set up for that purpose – the Stichting Harlingen Sail.
The Stichting Harlingen Sail wants to ensure:
- the involvement of every inhabitant of Harlingen
- a spectacle aimed at a wide audience
- added value for sponsors
- fun and safety for everyone
The Stichting Harlingen Sail aims to promote the interests of all those involved as best they can and in an impartial way. The Stichting is dedicated to make sure there is a prominent and distinguished reception for the vessels, a flawless and safe running of the races, a wide variety of nautical events running alongside the races, the maximum involvement of inhabitants and businesses of Harlingen and a huge amount of added value for the sponsors of the event.
Mr. J.R. Arends, the Chairman, said:
“I am delighted that Harlingen, as host port of the Tall Ships Races, has been given the opportunity to welcome the largest sailing ships in the world. Our magnificent town is cut out for it and we’ll prove it. Our tight group of driven professionals and our enthusiastic army of volunteers are going to make it a tremendous success. We welcome any ideas that people come up with in the build-up to the summer of 2014!”