In April 2000, the City of Osaka's STS "Akogare" will start an east-bound circumnavigation via Europe, first time for a Japanese tall ship.

The ship will depart Osaka on Sunday, April 9, 2000, calling at Hawaii, US West Coast, Panama Canal, US East Coast, Europe, the Mediterranean, Suez Canal, the Indian Ocean, and Singapore. She will return to Osaka on Wednesday, December 20, 2000, following 256 days of covering 27,000 n.m.

The objectives of STS "Akogare" World Sail 2000 are to:
* promote and encourage sail training and international exchanges;
* promote Osaka's profile as a "Visitor-Friendly City";
* participate in Tall Ships 2000 and associated events;
* pay courtesy calls to the tall ships having participated in SAIL OSAKA '97 and Osaka World Sail '83;
* participate in Sail 2000 Amsterdam in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of relations between Japan and the Netherlands; and
* promote and deepen sister port exchanges in San Francisco and Le Havre.

STS "Akogare" World Sail 2000 Schedule as of October, 1999 Subject to change

Port (Country)	Arrival	Departure	Staying	Remark
Osaka	-	Apr. 9	-	Sail Training
Honolulu (USA)	May 6	May 11	4 days	International exchage
San Francisco (USA)	May 26	June 1	5 days	Sister Port exchange
Balboa Colon (Panama)	June 21	June 25	3 days	International exchange
Boston (USA)	July 9	July 16	6 days	SAIL BOSTON 2000 Sail Training: Tall Ships' Race
Halifax (Canada)	July 20	July 24	3 days	TALL SHIPS 2000 Sail Training: Tall Ships' Race
Amsterdam (Netherlands)	Aug. 24	Aug. 28	3 days	SAIL 2000 AMSTERDAM 400th Anniversary of relations between Japan and the Netherlands
Le Havre (France)	Aug. 30	Sep. 8	8 days	20th Anniversary of Sister Port Relationship
Lisbon (Portugal)	Sep. 14	Sep. 19	4 days	Courtesy call to "Sagres II" (Portuguese Navy)
Barcelona (Spain)	Sep. 25	Oct. 1	5 days	Courtesy call to "Juan Sebastian de Elcano" (Spanish Navy)
Piraieus (Greece)	Oct. 9	Oct. 15	5 days	International exchange
Muscat (Oman)	Nov. 4	Nov. 9	4 days	Courtesy call to "Shabab Oman" (Omani Navy)
Singapore	Nov. 29	Dec. 4	4 days	International exchange
Osaka	Dec. 20	-	-	-

There are three sail training courses during this circumnavigation: Osaka - Honolulu, Boston - Halifax and Halifax - Amsterdam, in which the general public can join in as trainees. In particular, Boston - Halifax course and the trans-Atlantic course from Halifax to Amsterdam is part of the Tall Ships 2000, the largest tall ships race ever, in which around 300 tall ships will develop friendly competition. In the meantime, many festivities will be enjoyed ashore in Boston, Halifax and Amsterdam. Since the race aims at international exchange among young people, trainees' age is limited to 16 - 25 years old.

The trainees are recruited as follows:

WS01: Sail training course
Osaka (April 9) - Honolulu, USA (May 6) 28 nights 29 days
Sailing distance: 3,687 n.m.
Participation fee: 222,000 yen for 16 - 18 years old
315,000 yen for 19 years old and over

WS02: Tall Ships 2000 Tall Ships' Race
Sailing distance: 385 n.m.
Participation fee: 45,000 yen for 16 - 18 years old
64,000 yen for 19 - 25 years old

WS03: Tall Ships 2000 Tall Ships Race
Halifax (July 23) - Amsterdam, Netherlands (August 26) 34 nights 35 days
Sailing distance: 2,873 n.m.
Participation fee: 129,000 yen for 16 - 18 years old
183,000 yen for 19 - 25 years old

Note:
* Fee reduction to be applied to residents, workers and students in Osaka City.
* 25 berths in each course. First-come-first-served basis. Priority will be given to the residents, workers and students in Osaka City as the boat is owned by the City.
* Travelling fees to boarding port and from disembarking port are NOT included.
* Duration of WS02 and WS03 includes shore events.
* Inquiries and application details at: sail@akogare.or.jp

World Sail 2000 Background

STS "Akogare" started its operation in April 1994 as the first Japanese sail training ship owned by a local authority: City of Osaka. The same year, she visited Shanghai in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the sister city relationship. In 1995, the three-masted topsail schooner called at Osaka's sister city and port, Melbourne, Australia as the start boat for the Melbourne/Osaka Double-Handed Yacht Race, which has been held every 4 years since 1987 between the two cities. She also joined the first international tall ships' race and gathering in Asia, SAIL OSAKA '97, which the City of Osaka organized from Hong Kong to Osaka together with the kind assistance of the International Sail Training Association (ISTA) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the modern Port of Osaka. SAIL OSAKA '97 was claimed as the official race of ISTA and gained world-wide recognition for "Akogare" and her owner, the City of Osaka. In addition, the event contributed to the promotion of the Port of Osaka to the global maritime community.

TALL SHIPS 2000, the biggest tall ships' race ever, will be jointly organized by the ISTA and the American Sail Training Association, in Europe, the Northern Atlantic, and the US East Coast for four months from April, 2000. This "race of the century" is patronized by the sovereigns of many countries; Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. In every port-of-call, many welcoming events are under planning, as well as parades of sails. "Akogare" will join the festivities in Boston for Sail Boston 2000, in Halifax for Tall Ships 2000 and in Amsterdam for Sail 2000 Amsterdam. Her participation in the race will highly promote the City's international profile.

Meanwhile, the year 2000 marks the 400th anniversary of relations between Japan and the Netherlands, which first began by the arrival of the Dutch ship - De Liefde to Bungo, the present Oita area on Kyushu Island. In order to promote and encourage the continuous exchange between the two countries, commemorative events are planned in areas expanding from culture to economics and sports.

Osaka also enjoys a friendly relationship with the Netherlands. In the mid Meiji Era, the late 19th Century, a Dutch engineer, Johannis De Rijke, played an important role in the Port Planning and Improvement Planning of the Yodo-gawa River. In his memory and commemorating the 400th anniversary, volunteers in Osaka are organizing traditional Dutch jumping-over-the-canal sport, Fierljeppen, and planning to plant 100,000 tulips in the Port area. A growing interest is seen among citizens of Osaka in celebrating the anniversary.

In Europe and America, tall ships and tall ships' races are considered highly prestigious. Many of the tall ships' races have been held as a national celebration; 200th anniversary of American Independence in 1976, Bicentennial of Australia in 1988, 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage in 1992. This shows keen interest of the nations, and each port-of-call attracts millions of people and the media.

STS "Akogare" World Sail 2000 aims to enhance Osaka's international profile, and also promote the citizens' interest in sail training, which contributes to the City's sail training programs.

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