Tall Ships Duluth 2013 a one-of-a-kind experience

July 24-30 event along Duluth's beautiful waterfront

By Howie Hanson

December 26, 2012 — 5:11pm

On July 24-30, Visit Duluth will be raising the bar even higher with its biggest tall ships event ever.

Duluth's official convention and visitor's bureau is in the final stages of contract negotiations with 11 different historic vessels as part of Tall Ships Duluth 2013, Visit Duluth President/CEO Terry Mattson said today.

A year of planning and negotiations have already gone into the iconic event.

"We are working with only a handful of other port communities across the Great Lakes along with Tall Ships America and Draw Events for a one-of-a-kind experience," said Mattson.

There will be a Parade of Sail as part of the festival and ships will dock along the waterfront, Bayfront Festival Park and Harbor Drive. With onboard tours, rides and expanded hours for dockside tours, it's a full week of majestic ships from a far off time and place.

In 2010, Visit Duluth brought in nine ships while attracting 250,000 people from 42 states and three provinces to Duluth's gorgeous waterfront.

"The wave of the most successful event in our region's history resonates today," Mattson said. "We encourage everyone to come on board with the celebration — the grandest ever as the farthest inland and only Lake Superior port featuring the Tall Ships Challenge. It's a voyage into an epic past with ships from around the world. Other activities include reenactments, maritime themed vendors, foods, crafts, artisans, educational programs and a variety of entertainment including musicians and bands."

The tall ships are a major event for Duluth, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon said.

"The idyllic sight of those elegant sails floating above the boats skimming the water in the Duluth harbor attracts admirers from near and far," said Prettner Solon, a native of Duluth. "It evokes sea lore memories of pirates and damsels in distress on warm summer eves and stirs nostalgia for nearly forgotten memories of romantic walks on long sandy beaches dreaming of possibilities. It awakens the childhood and vivid imagination for everyone wanting to recapture that sense of adventure. And Duluth businesses are ready to cater to the visitors every need to assure the experience is an enjoyable lasting one."

Tickets will go on sale early in 2013.

For ship tours, day sails, news and contests, tall ship fans can stay current with the latest information at VisitDuluth.com.

Lakeview Christian Academy senior Anders Broman is only seven points shy of breaking the Minnesota high school boys basketball career scoring record held by Minnesota Transitions' Kevin Noreen.

Broman, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard who has 4,080 career points, will break the record Thursday night against Mesabi East in Hibbing.

"I never really focused on the mark," said Broman, a South Dakota State recruit who averaged 42 points as a junior and over 40 a game this season. "I just try to get better every game. My coaches and parents have helped me to not even think about it. I just want our team to win and hopefully make it back to state."

Minnesota Boys Basketball Career Scoring Leaders