JUNE 18, 2026 — In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Coast Guard will oversee comprehensive maritime safety and security operations alongside local, state and federal partners during Sail250 Virginia, which is scheduled to be held in Norfolk, June 19-23.
Sail250 Virginia, a massive maritime celebration to commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial and recognize shared global maritime heritage, is projected to bring an influx of more than 60 ships from 20 nations including tall ships, military vessels and spectator craft to the Norfolk waterfront.
The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (WIX 327), a 295-foot three-masted sailing barque, will lead the Parade of Sail into Norfolk on Friday. Eagle will be open for free public tours throughout the festival during the following dates and times:
- Friday, June 19 from 3 to 5 p.m.;
- Saturday, June 20 from 12 to 7 p.m.;
- Sunday, June 21 from 12 to 7 p.m.; and
- Monday, June 22 from 12 to 5 p.m.
To visit Eagle, also known as America’s Tall Ship, visitors will need a photo ID and be able to climb stairs to access the tour.
To ensure a safe environment for this historic event, Coast Guard crews are scheduled to actively patrol the waterways and maintain a safe navigational channel for commercial and recreational traffic. With increased vessel traffic expected, the Coast Guard reminds all boaters to maintain a safe distance from participating tall ships, monitor VHF-FM Channel 16 for any marine safety updates and ensure their vessels are equipped with required safety gear — including life jackets and functioning communication equipment.
During the event, the Coast Guard will offer the following opportunities for credentialed media:
- On-camera interviews with Coast Guard leadership and first responders;
- Boat rides to obtain visuals of Coast Guard crews conducting safety and security operations; and
- Briefings about how planning and operations for Sail250 fit into the Coast Guard’s primary missions of safety, security and service in the Port of Virginia.
Media interested in covering the Coast Guard’s safety and security operations throughout the duration of the event are encouraged to contact the East District Public Affairs office at EastDistrictPublicAffairs@uscg.mil.
To view the Coast Guard Sail250 imagery gallery, please visit our DVIDS feature page. For news updates, please visit the Sail250 Information Hub and the U.S. Coast Guard News Portal.
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