Readers Say "I have never been more proud to call the state and city home after the welcoming we provided to the world this summer." A tall ship from the water across from Spectacle Island during the Parade of Sail. Eric Belseth Photography

Millions of people visited Boston for Sail Boston 2026, which brought more than 50 tall ships and military vessels to Boston Harbor.

Boston was the fifth and final stop on the Sail250 tour, which celebrated America’s 250th birthday. The five-day free event took place from Saturday to Wednesday and included a Parade of Sail, ship tours, a festival, parade, and more. The last time the tall ships visited Boston was in 2017.

We asked readers to share their photos and memories of the maritime celebration. What follows is their experiences.

“I love photographing events, and have photographed Sail Norfolk twice!” wrote Garrett Taylor, a photographer from Cambridge. “Sail Boston was spectacular!”

A tall ship in Boston for Sail Boston 2026. Garrett Taylor

Dan T., from New York City, saw the ships in N.Y. on July 4 during Sail250’s previous stop but was unable to board one for a tour so traveled to Boston. His wife embroidered three polo shirts for the captain and crew of Italian ship Amerigo Vespucci that read “250 Years of Independence” and the couple presented them to the captain after waiting 100 minutes in line for a Boston tour, he wrote.

“He accepted them graciously,” wrote Dan. “I then showed one of the sailors on board the photo I had taken in New York [of the ship passing in front of the Statue of Liberty]. He asked me to zoom in, and when I did, he proceeded to point out himself in that photo, climbing the ropes alongside the center mast!”

The Parade of Sail. Eric Belseth Photography

Judy D. from Framingham brought her daughters Gabby, 4, and Aria, 10, to see the tall ships.

A tall ship in Boston. Stephanie Teixeira

“We had such a spectacular experience boarding all the ships located in Charlestown Yard Piers,” wrote Judy. “The cadets on each ship were very knowledgeable and friendly to converse with. Definitely worth the trip to witness these beauties as they sailed into the harbor. The parade was a worldly joy to watch with such diverse cultures coming together to present such an inspiring story of solidarity and compassion as they marched through the streets. My daughters were thrilled to able to share this once in a lifetime opportunity with so many other attendees.”

A tall ship sailing. Boston.com reader Sharon F.

“I had the opportunity to view the tall ships parade from the water, directly across from Spectacle Island. It was such a great event, and so fun to watch and photograph,” wrote Eric Belseth, a local photographer.

A tall ship in Boston. Kari Heistad

Heather H. from Shrewsbury saw the ships from Castle Island and the Seaport and wrote, “I have never been more proud to call the state and city home after the welcoming we provided to the world this summer.”

A tall ship sailing. Eric Belseth Photography

“I was so excited to go and so overwhelmed in the best way by the beauty not solely in the majesty of the ships, but in the community that gathered,” wrote Heather. “We were truly excited to see the ships from all over the world, as growing up in Massachusetts we have been on the Constitution and Mayflower 2 previously.

A crew during the Parade of Sail, photographed from Castle Island. Vincent L.

I stayed until almost noon and captured approximately 300 images of these magnificent vessels on a perfect day for viewing and photography, sharing the unmatched experience with thousands of other happy and well-mannered spectators,” wrote Vincent. “As a lifetime resident of Boston and Quincy, I have been impressed by and proud of how good a host city Boston has been for this great event — and for the World Cup.”

Shiva K. at a tall ship. Shiva K.

“It’s best experience with tall ships in Boston Harbor,” wrote Shiva K.

A tall ship in Boston. Stephanie Teixeira

Stephanie Teixeira works for a family-run company that provides bus tours for local senior citizens and spent three days visiting the tall ships. She took many photos of the ships while in the city.

The Parade of Sail. Kari Heistad

Kari Heistad watched the ships come into the harbor from East Boston before working as a volunteer photographer for the New England Aquarium.

“I love seeing the ships come in from all around the world,” Kari wrote. “It is wonderful that this was part of the 250th celebrations and that Boston was included. I have toured the boats in the past and it is a great way to learn about other cultures and places. Watching them come into the harbor was a blast and the group around us would cheer whenever a passing boat blew their horn. The Columbian boat was playing music and the crew was waving up in the rigging as they went by.”

A tall ship photo taken from a boat near Castle Island during the Parade of Sail. Gary M.

“I took a Lyft from my house into Fan Pier and walked around and took some photos with my friend,” wrote Victoria A. “I love taking photos and I’ve been waiting for this for months.”

A tall ship crew. Edel Q.

“What a wonderful experience,” wrote Edel Q.

Fireworks over the tall ships. Kari Heistad

“We had a memorable day watching the Parade of Sail 2026 across the Boston Harbor looking at the Boston cityscape,” wrote Debbie K. from Swampscott. “It was a magical viewpoint as the ships glided by. We were joined by family from Colorado, and two of our daughters and our 8-year-old granddaughter from NH. It was a beautiful summer day with a wonderful and friendly crowd — and core memories were made for sure.”

A tall ship on July 11. Michael L. Hayes

“I love seeing these ships,” wrote Kerry from Dedham. “The volunteers have been so nice! What a treat to see these tall ships. Great experience but tons of crowds on Sunday.”