Monday, December 1, 2025

SAIL250® VIRGINIA BOATER INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SAIL250® VIRGINIA BOATER INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE

Individual boaters, yacht and boat clubs invited to be part of America’s 250th Anniversary

NORFOLK, VA – (December 2, 2025) — Individual boaters, yacht clubs and boat clubs are invited to take part in a once-in-a-generation international maritime event as Sail250® Virginia welcomes a historic international fleet of over 50 tall ships, military and character vessels to Norfolk and Chesapeake Bay Region Affiliate Harbors on Friday, June 19, 2026. The event will mark America’s 250th anniversary in grand style — and boaters can join the spectacle from the best seat in the house: the water! Visit https://sail250virginia.com/boaters for full details and registration information.

From the Lynnhaven Anchorage off the Virginia Beach Shore Drive Lesner Bridge area, through Hampton Roads, and onto 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) https://sail250virginia.com/Virginia-Affiliate-Harbors.

Individual boaters, yacht and boat clubs, are welcome to participate as part of one of two special groups: the Escort Fleet and the Festival Fleet.

The “Escort Fleet” – For Yacht & Boat Clubs
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 into downtown Norfolk from Hampton Roads. Visit https://sail250virginia.com/boaters for more details.

Registration Deadline: March 30, 2026
Registration Fee: $250 per yacht or boat club
Each vessel in the participating yacht or boat club, up to 10 members, will

receive an official Sail250® Virginia Escort Fleet flag (additional vessels/flags

$35 each) to be flown on member vessels during the Parade of Sail.
To register: Complete the “Escort Fleet” registration form

https://sail250virginia.com/boaters and email it to sail250vainfo@festvents.org.

Participating clubs will be recognized during the parade broadcast, with details about their organizations shared by the Parade Announcer.

The “Festival Fleet” – For Individual Boaters

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. Visit https://sail250virginia.com/boaters for more details.

Registration Deadline: March 30, 2026
Registration Fee: $35 per vessel.
All registered vessels will receive a commemorative pennant to be flown on

their vessel during the parade.
Early registrants (by March 30) will have flags mailed directly; later

registrants may pick them up at the Norfolk Festevents office (120 W. Main

St., Norfolk, VA 23510).
To register: Complete the “Festival Fleet” boater registration form

https://sail250virginia.com/boaters and submit to sail250vainfo@festvents.org.

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.

“Sail250® Virginia will be the largest event planned in the Commonwealth to honor America’s 250th,” said Karen Scherberger, CEO/President of Sail250® Virginia, “and will be one of the most memorable maritime events in our lifetime.” Scherberger adds “We invite every boater to be part of this important chapter in American history — to join the Parade of Sail, fly the USA and Sail250®Virginia flags, and honor America’s maritime history from the water. Together, we are making history again!”

For more details, registration forms, and full event updates, visit: https://sail250virginia.com/boaters, www.sail250virginia.com

or email sail250vainfo@festvents.org.
Sail250® Virginia is produced by Sail Norfolk, the maritime division of Norfolk

Festevents, Ltd. (501C3), based in Norfolk, VA. Visit: sail250virginia.com

Sail250® Virginia sponsors include:
Virginia is for Lovers, The City of Norfolk, Sentara, TowneBank, W.F. Magann Corporation, Crofton Industries, E. G. Middleton, Inc., Dominion Enterprises, McLeskey, VIGOR Marine |MHI Norfolk, The Port of Virginia, Dominion Energy, Hampton Roads Shipping Association, Fairlead, Light Tech, Inc., Colliers, Virginia Pilot Association, ICON, Virginia 250 Commission, Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc., Perry Family Foundation, Visit Norfolk, BAE Systems, Coastal Precast Systems, Elizabeth River Concrete, S. B. Ballard Construction Company, Bay Power Solutions, STIHL, Coastal Virginia Tourism Alliance, Decker Law, Schaubach Fund/Suffolk Foundation.

About Sail250® Virginia

Sail250® Virginia is part of the United States’ national commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. Scheduled June12- 23, 2026, the event will bring a fleet of international tall ships, military ships and character vessels to Norfolk and Affiliate Harbors in the Chesapeake Bay Region for multi-day waterfront festivals, featuring ship tours, fireworks, concerts, and educational programming. Sail250® Virginia will showcase Virginia's role as a maritime gateway to the world, bringing together participants and visitors from around the globe

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