Andrea Medeiros
amedeiros@abc6.com
It was great weather, Sunday, to check out the Tall Ships on Newport's waterfront. Organizers say the sunshine helped bring in record numbers to this year's event.
There were plenty of traffic, long lines, and restaurants full of people. The Tall Ships were in town this weekend, and that made for bustling business in Newport.
Folks waited in lines more than a hundred people deep to see ships like the Picton Castle. Among them was the Sylvester family.
"To enjoy the day," said James Sylvester, "To see the boats, let the kids experience what it's all about."
Sylvester showed his seven and four year old sons the ropes on the Tall Ship built in 1928, now used for sail training.
"Sail training or training under sail is a very valuable thing in a person's life, whether you're and an adult of a child it really changes you as a person and trains you to become stronger and live a life as a sailor, and it's still a very relevant thing that we do," said Picton Castle member Susie Ordway.
Thousands of people flocked to Newport to learn how the historic ships work from instructors like Ordway.
"Nine thousand people walked through the Gateway Center, the visitors center, right at the drop-off point," said Ocean State Tall Ships Executive Director Erin Donovan, "That's the largest number they've seen through their doors."
That was just in one day. Preliminary numbers showed about a hundred thousand people were expected at the event in all.
Restaurant hostess Lilli Tantimonica said she's noticed the boost.
"I think maybe double the business with the Tall Ships," she said, "Especially with the live music right over there."
On the other hand, local shop owners said they're not seeing much of a business boost. Either way, it's a rare experience for the families who came out.
"I think it's a life-long experience that they'll treasure forever," said Sylvester about his sons.
The Tall Ships event ends Monday with the Parade of Sail at noon.
