For immediate release
For information, text or accompanying image via e-mail, contact:   Mike Jehle, Development Director
Phone: 401-846-1775
E-mail: mike@sailtraining.org
August 22, 2005

Newport, RI – The freedom schooner Amistad, Connecticut's flagships and tall ship ambassador, will be making a special visit to Rhode Island over the Labor Day weekend, September 1st through the 6th. Sponsored by the American Sail Training Association, BankNewport, The City of Providence, The Rhode Island Foundation, and the Newport Chamber of Commerce Amistad's visit will provide a rare opportunity for the public to visit and sail aboard this beautiful and historic tall ship.

Amistad will be docking at Fort Adams State Park Thursday evening, September 1st and will be available for sails there on Friday the 2nd. Saturday the 3rd , the Freedom Schooner will move to Goat Island Marina where it will be open for public visits through Sunday. The ship will continue its tour of Rhode Island with visits to Bristol (September 6th – 7th) and Providence (September 8th – 11th). Sails and special tours can be scheduled by contacting the Amistad 's office at 866-AMISTAD or at (203) 495-1839.

“Amistad is always warmly welcomed by the Rhode Island community and a visit to Newport is the highlight of our sailing season,” said Chris Cloud, Amistad America's Executive Director.

Launched in 2000 to commemorate the historic Amistad Incident of 1839, the Freedom Schooner Amistad is operated by the national, non-profit educational organization AMISTAD America, Inc. The organization promotes improved relationships between races and cultures by acknowledging our common experiences and encouraging dialogue that is based on respect. The inherent lessons and legacies of freedom, justice, perseverance, cooperation and leadership are symbolized by the re-created Amistad. The Freedom Schooner visits ports nationally and internationally as an ambassador for friendship and goodwill. It serves as a floating classroom, icon and monument to the millions of souls that were broken or lost as a result of the insidious transatlantic slave trade. The home port for Freedom Schooner Amistad is Long Wharf Pier in New Haven, Connecticut. Amistad is the Spanish word for friendship. For more information, visit www.amistadamerica.org

The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) is a Newport-based nonprofit organization devoted to the advancement of sail training and educational opportunities under sail. Our mission is to encourage character building through sail training, promote sail training to the North American public, and support education under sail. Representing more that 250 American and intern ational sailing vessels, ASTA has been in existence for more that 32 years and is the largest sail training association in the world. Our activities directly support youth education and leadership development programs that profoundly shape young people's lives and help build tomorrow's leaders. ASTA organizes the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® series of tall ships races and port festivals that rotate every three years around the Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes Coasts of North America. The TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series is scheduled to return to Newport in 2007.

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