With a majesty that photos alone could never do justice to 41 tall ships from the world over have pulled into Boston Harbor to kick off Sail Boston 2009.  The ships will be available for public viewing July 8-13.

Peacemaker USA

Public access to the Charlestown Navy Yard, Pier 1 & Pier 4 will be available  Thursday – Sunday from 10am to 6pm.  Public access to Fish Pier at the Seaport World Trade Center is available 5pm-10pm Thursday & Friday and 12pm-8pm Saturday and Sunday.  Public access on board individual boats docked at those piers is determined by each ship’s Captain.

Ship types vary from schooners to four masted barque rigs to helicopter patrol vessels and originate from the US to Barbados to Argentina and the Netherlands, to name a few.

Jolie Brise UK

Boston is officially part of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009, and only one of two ports of call in the US.  The entire fleet began their journey in Vigo, Spain racing onto Tenerife in the Canary Island and onto Bermuda.  From there they raced onto Charlestown, South Carolina before completing this leg of the race into Boston Harbor.  Once the ships leave port on Monday, they will cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada before racing to their final port of call in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Other events taking place as part of Sail Boston 2009 include:

• Friends of Fort Point Channel Summer Concert Series at the Children’s Wharf Park outside of the Boston Children’s Museum on Thursday, July 9 from 530pm – 730pm
• The Liberty Party at the Bank American Pavilion on Friday July 10 from 830pm-1045pm.  Tickets for this young professionals meet and greet with the cadets and crew of the tall ships are free and available at the will call window at Sail Boston’s Operations Center at the Seaport World Trade Center
• Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge Awards Ceremony at the South Boston Maritime Park on Saturday July 11 from 2pm – 3pm
• Seaport Music in the Park at the South Boston Maritime Park on Sunday, July 12 from 12pm – 4pm

And, of course, who can resist all those men and women  in uniform walking about town.

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Julie Salickram is a contributing writer/blogger for DirectoryofBoston.com. Follow her at twitter.com/julesac