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GV Tall Ship moored at quayside in Boston Harbour, Massachusetts.
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GV Men rigging.
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SCU Stern of tall ship, Denmark.
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GV Scene at dockside PAN TO men working on bow rigging.
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GV Masts of tall ships.
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GV Spectators.
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GV PULL BACK Tall ship Christian Radich moving out of harbour.
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GV Sky TILT DOWN TO Tall ship surrounded by small craft, PULL BACK TO LV OF ship with crowds on land.
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AV Tall ships under sail surrounded by small craft. (3 SHOTS)
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GV Aircraft flying over boats.
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AV Tall ship under full sail.
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TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: During its five-day stay in Boston Harbour, a fleet of Tall Ships proved one of the biggest attractions in the long history of the state of Massachusetts. The Boston Globe newspaper estimated that almost five and a half million people -- nearly equal to the state population -- viewed the stately vessels from the ten miles of waterfront.

SYNOPSIS: The visit of the sixty-seven ships was part of the celebrations for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Boston.

This is the full-rigged Denmark, three hundred and fifty-three feet long. It's competing in the class A transatlantic race, sponsored by the American Sail Training Association and New England Historic Seaport. The ships were to set out from here, sailing to Kristians and in Norway.

Another competitor, the full-rigged Christian Radich, measures two hundred and forty-one feet and hails from Norway. A United States Coast Guard barque was to escort the racers for the first two days of their voyage.

Nine smaller vessels were competing in a Class B transatlantic race. The estimates of almost four and a half million who saw the ships did not include those who watched from moored or charter craft in the Harbour, or the thousands who turned out to watch the vessels depart. Most of the elegant veterans were returning to their home ports in the United States.

The consensus in Boston was that the ships drew the largest crowds, and provided the most vivid spectacle, in the city's history. The flood of people was said to have surpassed the Tall Ships port call for the Bicentenary celebrations four years ago, and Pole John Paul the Second's visit last October. The Tall Ships were a stirring start for the Boston celebrations, which will continue through the summer, ending in September.

The departing ships kept their sails furled until they had cleared the harbour. Once in upon waters, their sails loosed into billowing forests of canvas.