Help celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in style – from the water! Don’t miss this once in a generation international event – with incredible opportunities to view the fleet of tall ships from the comfort of your own vessel on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, and the Elizabeth River.

 

You can share in the excitement by becoming part of the Sail250® Virginia “Escort Fleet” for organized yacht and boat clubs or the “Festival Fleet” for individual boaters.

 

Yacht and boat clubs can register to be part of the Sail250® Virginia “Escort Fleet” – forming part of the Friday, June 19, 2026, Parade of Sail as they escort the international tall ship fleet from the Lynnhaven Anchorage off the Virginia Beach Shore Drive Lesner Bridge area, through Hampton Roads, and into the Elizabeth River. The 26 nautical mile spectacular parade will feature ships from around the world sailing together into downtown Norfolk and Affiliate Harbors (Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Portsmouth).

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The “Festival Fleet” of individual boaters will follow the fleet as the finale of the Parade of Sail, demonstrating Virginia’s maritime enthusiasm as part of
this incredible waterborne armada. To become part of the “Festival Fleet”, 

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Please note: Sail250®Virginia cannot provide berths for the June 19 – 23, 2026 period of time. The Waterside Marina will not be available for reservations, please check with other local marinas for available reservations.

Boaters transiting Norfolk’s waterfront, anchored at Hospital Point (no reservations accepted- availability based on first come first serve), or docked at a local Elizabeth River area marina, can view the fleet from the water over the weekend of June 19 – 23, 2026, watch the fireworks displays on the evenings of Friday, June 19, 2026, and Saturday, June 20, 2026, and bid the fleet farewell as they depart on the evening of Monday, June 22, 2026, and the morning of Tuesday, June 23, 2026.