Newport, RI – The American Sail Training Association has been named to the 2004 Associations Advance America Honor Roll for its TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series.  The award, which is sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives, recognizes outstanding accomplishments by nonprofit organizations.

The American Sail Training Association was recognized for the significant economic and cultural impact created by its TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series of races and maritime port festivals throughout North America . The TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® has been designated a Marine Event of National Significance by the United States Coast Guard in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

The 2003 TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® toured the Great Lakes with stops in Cleveland, OH, Toledo, OH, Chicago, IL, Muskegon, MI, Bay City, MI and Sarnia, ON, Canada . More than 25 tall ships from Canada, India, The Netherlands and United States carried thousands of young trainees for educational and character building experiences. Ohio Governor Bob Taft designated the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® as one of five Signature Events of the Ohio Bicentennial Celebrations and in Chicago, under the leadership of Mayor Richard Daley, more than 2 million visitors came down to the Navy Pier, DeSable Harbor and the Chicago River to see the fleet and creating an estimated economic impact of over $100 million.

In 2004, the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series sails up the Atlantic Coast of North America with maritime festivals in Jacksonville, FL, Charleston, SC, Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ, Greenport, NY, Newport, RI, New London, CT, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick . In 2005, it will be on the Pacific Coast of North America and in 2006 it will return to the Great Lakes.

“Through the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series, the American Sail Training Association brings the beauty and majesty of the tall ships to millions of people across North America each summer” said ASTA executive director Peter A. Mello. “It allows us to raise the awareness of the extraordinary power of the sail training experience to educate and to change lives. Additionally, the CHALLENGE is a powerful tourism draw creating a significant economic boost to host communities.”

“Your program is a perfect example of how associations play a vital role in helping the nation adapt to complex and changing times,” said John H. Graham, president and chief executive officer of ASAE. “Contributions such as yours are vital and add real value to society.”

Founded in 1973 in Newport, RI, the American Sail Training Association is a youth education, leadership development and maritime heritage preservation nonprofit organization. ASTA's mission is to encourage character building through sail training, promote sail training to the North American public and support education under sail.

Now in its 14th year, the Associations Advance America Awards program recognizes associations that propel America forward with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards-setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship, and community service. ASAE was founded in 1920 and today has more than 25,000 individual members representing business, professional, educational, technical, industrial and trade associations throughout the country.