Tall and extravagant ships dazzle large crowds along Georgian Bay shore
Hundreds of spectators lined the shores of Georgian Bay on Sunday to catch a glimpse of some of the most extravagant, storied ships.
'We have four tall ships visiting Midland. And tall ships only happen sooner than every three years. So it's a very exciting opportunity for people to come to town and to board a vessel,' said Karen Mealing, manager of culture and tourism for the Town of Midland.
Among the iconic and significantly tall squad was the Empire Sandy. Launched in 1943 and home to Toronto, the 200-foot vessel has a beam of 30 feet and a rig height soaring 116 feet above the water.
The Empire Sandy is powered by a 340-horsepower auxiliary diesel engine.
Tall Ships Festival
Hundreds of spectators lined the shores of Georgian Bay to catch a glimpse of some of the most extravagant, storied ships at the Tall Ships Festival in Midland, Ont. on Aug., 17, 2025 (CTV News/Luke Simard)
Docked alongside the shore was the Ernestina-Morrissey, a U.S. vessel built back in 1894. With a homeport in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the boat is 156 feet in length and has a draft of 12 feet.
Also turning heads in Midland was the Circe of Toronto, a Canadian ship home to Parry Sound. Built in 1966, the vessel measures 65 feet in sparred length.
This tall vessel is powered by a 220-horsepower Cummins diesel engine.
Last but certainly not least was the St. Lawrence II, with its homeport back in Kingston. This ship launched in 1953 with a rig height soaring 57 feet above the water.
Tall Ships Festival
Hundreds of spectators lined the shores of Georgian Bay to catch a glimpse of some of the most extravagant, storied ships at the Tall Ships Festival in Midland, Ont. on Aug., 17, 2025 (CTV News/Luke Simard)
'The amazing thing about sailing is that you're just harnessing the power of the wind. Which is absolutely beautiful. And you're really just, like, understanding nature. And staying connected with that. And then through using nature, you are also able to go see more places. We get to go to islands, for example, that humans have not really touched at all,' said Bridget Cia, senior watch officer of the St. Lawrence II to CTV News.
Aside from admiring the tall ships, people also had the opportunity to step aboard for deck tours and even join an evening sail-out. The waterfront was alive with music, entertainment, and local vendors surrounding the Midland Harbour.
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