SUZY STUMP: THEY ARE SAILING AWAY >>>

The Tall Ships are leaving Tacoma Tuesday. Are you sad?  We are. The Weekly Volcano spent some quality time in the Tall Ships Tacoma 2008 village. Check out our Tall photos in our Photo Hot Spot.

This rolled out of the Tall Ships Tacoma Media Center today:

TACOMA, July 7, 2008 â€" The departure of the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle and the launching of a Maori dugout canoe were among the highlights of the final day of the Tall Ships® Tacoma Festival.

“Vessel captains, visitors, vendors, sponsors, community partners, volunteers … all of them sang the festival’s praises,” said David Doxtater, festival executive director. “We succeeded in making this event a great one for everyone involved.”

Jonathan R. Harley, race director for the American Sail Training Association, described this year’s event as simply “fantastic.”

“It far surpasses what they did in 2005,” Harley said. “There are many things much improved.”

Harley recalled one vessel captain who said, “I’m not going,” when told it was time to leave Tacoma.  Harley said crews he’s spoken with have said that everywhere they went they’ve been “treated like rock stars.”

ASTA contracts with communities to put on the Tall Ships® events. In 2005, ASTA awarded Tacoma “Port of the Year” honors. This year’s selection â€" dependent in a large part on the vote of vessel captains â€" will be announced at an ASTA conference Nov. 14-16 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

About 50,000 people visited the festival today.  Overall, approximately 400,000 people attended the festival during its five-day run.

Preliminary attendance numbers are based on estimates of crowds, Tacoma Dome parking and consultation with the Tacoma Police Department. More complete attendance and ticket sales reports will be available in a few weeks, Doxtater said.

“The rain had a big impact on attendance but those who came despite the weather had a great time and enjoyed themselves,” he said.

A “bon voyage” party for volunteers is scheduled today starting at 6 p.m. in Thea’s Park, located in the Treasure Cove Village of the festival. At a ceremony tentatively scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m., Doxtater will honor Tacoma Tall Ships® Organization President Joe Jadwin and festival Volunteer Manager Sue Schaeffer for their efforts.

TTSO is the nonprofit group overseeing the festival. Schaeffer supervised the recruiting, scheduling and training of more than 2,000 volunteers who assisted with the event.

The weather was excellent on the final day of the festival, which featured the departure of the U.S. Coast Guard Eagle to cheering crowds and the launching of a Maori dugout canoe.

“I can’t say enough for the welcome and all the hard work to bring this festival together,” said Capt. Christopher Sinnett of the Eagle, during an event Sunday. “Tacoma has really rolled out the red carpet.”

As Eagle sailed away, Takirirangi Smith launched his 20-foot dugout cedar canoe, which featured Maori carvings. Smith spent the festival carving the craft at the Foss Waterway Seaport, which will feature a celebration of canoes in 2011.

Most vessels in the Tall Ships® fleet will leave tomorrow between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. for Port Alberni, British Columbia, for the Festival of Sails scheduled this weekend. Eagle will head south to Tall Ships® events in San Francisco.

Information about the Tacoma Tall Ships® Organization and the festival can be obtained online. Those interested in getting involved with the nonprofit group can call (253) 272-5650.