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Artist for Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival has been chosen

MARCH 12,2012

Ocean State Tall Ships^® is pleased to announce local artist Marilyn Swift has been chosen as the Poster artist of the 2012 Tall Ships Festival. The Festival takes place in Newport July 6-9^th.

More than a dozen artists from Rhode Island to California heeded the call for a realistic depiction of a Tall Ship with at least one or more local landmarks included. The entries ranged from watercolors to oil paintings and featured lovely vistas. Judges were hard pressed to choose just one artist because the entries were all quite accomplished. However Marilyn Swift’s entry proved to be exceptional. She was able to capture the essence of the Tall Ships® along with the unique seascape that makes Newport such an immediately recognizable harbor.

Marilyn Swift is an accomplished water colorist. She is an exhibiting artist member of the New England Watercolor Society, the Copley Society of Boston, Academic Artists Associations of Springfield, American Artists Professional League, Hudson Valley Arts Association and many others. Her work is included in prestigious collections including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and many others.

Marilyn’s son David is a Newport resident, and she is a frequent visitor to the City-By-by-the-Sea.

Erin Donovan, Executive Director of Ocean State Tall Ships, said, “We feel very fortunate to have so many artists show interest in the Tall Ships 2012 Festival. Marilyn really captured the spirit of who we are as an organization. We’re delighted that she will be a partner with us as we move forward with this major international Festival.”

Past festival posters were created by such well-known artists as Richard Grosvenor and Peter Layne Arguimbau.

Unsigned posters will be available for sale at the Festival and on the Ocean State Tall Ships website. Signed versions will be given as gifts to the visiting ships captains, VIPS and dignitaries.

Newport is an official host port for this year’s Tall Ships Challenge® series. Ocean State Tall Ships® is the official organizer of the Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival 2012 that promises to bring hundreds of thousands of spectators and visitors to Newport and generate a $20 million economic impact to the state.

Ocean State Tall Ships welcomes the Picton Castle to the 2012 Festival

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND – FEB.2, 2012

Ocean State Tall Ships® is pleased to announce that the Picton Castle, a 179 foot square-rigged, three-masted vessel, will be joining the growing fleet of ships coming to Newport, R.I., for the Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival, July, 6-9.

The award winning sailing training barque will start out on a brand-new voyage this year, with a brand new group of trainee crewmembers sailing in company with a fleet of tall ships from around the world. The Picton Castle will cross the Atlantic following the routes of early explorers to storied ports in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Spanish Main. Along the way, the Picton Castle will stop at Newport Harbor for the Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival.

When the barque is docked at Newport Harbor, visitors will have the opportunity to board the ship and see the replicated history of the vessel’s oiled-pine decks, 12,450 square feet of canvas sail and its 1893 cook stove similar to those used on commercial sailing ships 100 years ago.

The ship’s captain, Capt. Daniel Moreland, has made five circumnavigations around the globe in the past 15 years with the Picton Castle. He is currently preparing for his next voyage.

“I’m looking forward to our 12-month voyage around the Atlantic beginning in April. Newport Harbor is included in the ports that we will visit, and there are always opportunities for people to sail with us into and out of Newport Harbor,” said Capt. Moreland.

The Picton Castle currently carries supplies and educational materials to far away islands in the South Pacific, but the ship’s main mission is deep-ocean sail training and long-distance education. Sail trainees participate fully in the ship’s operation as well as in training classes in seamanship and navigation. Additionally, Picton Castle’s Bosun School offers young dedicated mariners an opportunity to advance their skills by learning from the crew and special guest instructors without the distractions of the sea.

The barque is registered in the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific, and its North American homeport is Lynenburg, Nova Scotia.

Newport, R.I. is an official host port for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE^®series on the Atlantic Coast, where the Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival promises to bring hundreds of thousands of spectators and visitors. The Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival is expected to generate a $20 million economic impact to the state of Rhode Island. In 2007, when the tall ships last sailed to Newport, an estimated 200,000 people attended.

Tall Ships Festival Wants an Artist

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND – JAN. 2012

The tall ships are returning to Newport July 6 to 9, 2012, and festival organizer Ocean State Tall Ships^® want visitors to leave with a lasting, artistic memory of the spectacle of the tall ships.

They are planning to create a 2012 Festival Poster showing the color and excitement of the waterfront family festival as it will appear to visitors in July. To do this they are reaching out to area artists.

In addition to offering the posters to the public, Ocean State Tall Ships^® will give posters as gifts to visiting Tall Ship Captains and VIPs from around the world. Posters will carry the name of the selected artist.

Erin Donovan, executive director of Ocean State Tall Ships, said, “This year we are looking for a local area artist to partner with us and be a key part of this major international event. We want original realistic art in any medium featuring the majestic tall ships in Newport Harbor and one or more Newport Harbor landmarks.”

Past festivals poster art was created by such well-known artists as Richard Grosvenor and Peter Layne Arguimbau.

Artists who wish to be considered should contact Ocean State Tall Ships by email at OSTS-art@cox.net, no later than February 17, 2012.

Newport is an official host port for this year’s Tall Ships Challenge® series. Ocean State Tall Ships® is the official organizer of the 2012 Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival that promises to bring hundreds of thousands of spectators and visitors to Newport and generate a $20 million economic impact to the state.

The Mystic Whaler to Sail to Newport Harbor for Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND – JAN. 17,2012

Ocean State Tall Ships^® is pleased to announce that The Mystic Whaler will join the Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival this summer, July 6 – 9, in Newport, R.I.

The Mystic Whaler, a reproduction of the late 19^th century coastal cargo schooner, was designed for the passenger trade by Chubb Crockett of Camden, Maine. Originally built in Tarpon Springs, Fla. in 1967, the Mystic Whaler was rebuilt in 1993, in Providence, R.I. The schooner now resides in New London, Conn.

With its warm interior of Italian oak floors and mahogany accents, the Mystic Whaler provides modern amenities for its various cruise tours. The tours are an opportunity for individuals ages 5 and older to experience raising sail, feeling a wooden ships’ wheel and witnessing the beauty of the ocean, all while learning about the rich history of sailing.

Capt. John Eginton is looking forward to sailing the Mystic Whaler to the Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival this summer.

“The more places I have the opportunity to promote the mission of Tall Ships America, which is to educate the public under sail, promote sail training and encourage character building through sail, the more I enjoy sailing,” said Capt. Eginton.

Visitors will be able to walk the decks of a true 19^th-century style tall ship, view the accommodations below, tour the navigation station and take a turn at the ship’s mahogany steering wheel.

While ships from around the world are encouraged to attend the festival, Ocean State Tall Ships is glad to have the support of local ships from nearby states.

“By sailing the Mystic Whaler to Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival, our neighbors in Connecticut are sharing in the celebration of New England’s rich maritime history. We couldn’t be more grateful for their commitment,” said Erin Donovan, executive director of Ocean State Tall Ships^®.

HMS Bounty Leads the Fleet to Ocean State Tall Ships^® 2012

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND – DEC. 15, 2011

The HMS Bounty, one of the most famous ships in the world, is the first to join an estimated fleet of 15 Tall Ships® from around the world for the Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival in Newport, July 6-9, 2012. Another four ships are expected to announce their participation in the coming weeks.

Known for the storied mutiny that took place in Tahiti in 1789 on board the British transport vessel, the current Bounty is one of the largest and most famous Tall Ships® in the world at over 180 feet and 18 sails. Built for the 1962 movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando, HMS Bounty has appeared in many documentaries and feature films such as the Edinburgh Trader in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest” with Johnny Depp.

Restored and owned by the HMS Bounty Organization LLC, this storied vessel is a vehicle for teaching the nearly lost arts of square-rigged sailing and seamanship.

Newport, RI is an official host port for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® series on the Atlantic Coast, where the Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival promises to bring hundreds of thousands of spectators and visitors. The Ocean State Tall Ships® Festival is expected to generate a $20 million economic impact to the state of Rhode Island. In 2007, when the tall ships last sailed to Newport, an estimated 200,000 people attended.

Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival 2012 Coming to Newport

Expected to Generate $20 Million in Economic Development

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND – OCT. 6, 2011

The Newport Yachting Center in Newport, Rhode Island, was the setting for the formal announcement of the Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival 2012 on Oct. 5. Several dignitaries and local businesses were on-hand to lend their support to the event, which has been scheduled for July 6 – 9, 2012, at the waterfront in downtown Newport.

As an official host port for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE^®series on the Atlantic Coast, the festival promises to bring hundreds of thousands of spectators and visitors to Newport, Rhode Island. In 2007, when the tall ships last sailed to Newport, an estimated 200,000 attended, delivering an economic impact of over $20 million to the State of Rhode Island.¹

Richard M. McAuliffe, Jr., Chair of the Ocean State Tall Ships^® Board of Directors, welcomed nearly 100 local business owners who attended the event. Additionally, Jody Sullivan, Executive Director of the Newport Chamber of Commerce announced a formal RFP process that will be issued through the Chamber and available for Newport and statewide businesses to participate in the festival as official vendors/companies for the Ocean State Tall Ships^® Festival 2012.

Bringing greetings and support from the RI Senate, Senator Louis P. DiPalma (District 12), representing Little Compton, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton also offered brief remarks. From the RI House, Representative J. Russell Jackson (District 73) discussed the importance of this economic development initiative for Newport and Middletown.

Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the RI Economic Development Corporation, highlighted the positive impact this event will have on the entire State of Rhode Island. Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts officially welcomed the festival to Rhode Island and also accepted a gift from the Tall Ship^®Lynx.

The Tall Ship^®Lynx docked in Newport Harbor to promote the 2012 Tall Ships^® event, and will be in Jamestown, RI, October 6^th – 9^th, 2011 to commemorate the War of 1812. Families are encouraged to enjoy this Columbus Day weekend aboard the Lynx, which will be open for private and public tours for the duration of her stay at 1 Ferry Wharf in Jamestown.

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