OCTOBER 2025 24 By Sherry Sklar n a world shaped by oceans, where borders blur, and water carries stories, we are united by waves.” This official declaration set the tone for the special 10th Jubilee edition of SAIL Amsterdam 2025 (SAIL), which took place from August 20-24 in the Netherlands. I was lucky to have sailed along for five extraordinary days of celebration, community, and international pride. SAIL, the nation’s most spectacular maritime celebration, is produced every five years by the SAIL Amsterdam Foundation. The previous event was canceled, making this one even more meaningful after a decade-long absence. This year’s edition welcomed an estimated 2.3 million visitors from around the globe. More than 10,000 nautical craft made their way along the IJ (literally, ‘water’) from Muiden to the capital, a 13-nautical-mile sail through the North Sea Canal. The IJ, the waterway that connects the North Sea to the seaport, is known for being Amsterdam’s waterfront. Opening day began before sunrise, when I met my traveling companion – the official photographer for the City of Amsterdam – at track 1 of Centraal Station. From there, we embarked on our rail, bus, and trek to meet our vintage press ship, docked at Muiden. Before long, we were to begin our four-hour westward sail to Amsterdam Noord. The Will Everard, built in 1925, is a Jazz Age British coastal cargo vessel with a rich family history that sailed the press corps to Amsterdam. The 280-ton, steel-hulled Thames sailing barge features a hold clad in mahogany, a wood-burning stove, an industrial kitchen, and quarters for the crew. “Every weekend of my childhood was spent helping my father restore her,” said Julia Biddle, the ship’s current owner. They owned The Will for about seven years and sold it in 1976. After passing through corporate and private hands, Julia rediscovered the boat by hiring it for her 50th birthday party. She realized her old friend could use some extra love and attention, so she welcomed her back into the family. Today, The Will serves as a working boat for sailing excursions and as a legacy. “I am her custodian for as long as I can keep her good,” she shared. “My son, Chris, will hopefully take her forward.” Continuing our excursion down the river was a buoyant experience, with crowds of revelers lining the banks – boaters whizzed by, blaring music, with some bellowing out sea shanties. Amsterdam was transformed into a harbor festival, and seemingly, at least for a time, concerns dissolved as the world’s fleets converged in a show of unity and peace. Two full-rigged, three-masted sister ships led the Sail-In parade, commissioned 14 years apart in 2000 and 2014. Both were designed by naval architect Dykstra and built by Damen Shipyards Group. The Netherlands’ flagship Clipper Stad Amsterdam, which had just returned from a two-year journey around the globe, and Shabab Oman II, which set sail from Oman, were modeled after the mid-19th-century frigate Amsterdam. SAIL featured 37 tall ships, thousands of floating heritage craft, barges, navy ships, and a variety of salon and party yachts, ribboning the river as far as the eye could see. The fleet represented countries from nearly every corner of the globe. The French two-masted full-rigged ship Le Phoenix, built in 1929, arrived in port, bringing a touch of Tinseltown glamour. She starred in such films and television series as “In the Heart of the Sea,” “Poldark,” and “1492: Conquest of Paradise.” The iconic Peruvian naval training ship B.A.P. Unión made the journey from South America, concluding its European summer tour at SAIL. Launched in 2015, it is the world’s second-largest tall ship, 46 meters tall and over 115 meters long. With 167 crew aboard, the ship formed an enthralling sight as sailors manned the rails, singing national anthems that reverberated over the harbor as its oversized flag waved in the breeze. Behind the scenes of this monumental gathering was a deeply coordinated effort. As I learned from one of the event’s organizers, a production of this scope has been years in the making. On-the-ground operations required sophisticated planning and synchronization among numerous stakeholders. Chris Janssen, head of communication for SAIL, offered insight into the behind-the-scenes orchestration, supported by 2,500 volunteers. “SAIL Amsterdam 2025 is special; it is a triple anniversary,” Chris said. “This is the 10th edition, 50 years of operation, and commemorates Amsterdam’s 750th birthday.” Founded in 1975 as a gift to honor the city’s 700th anniversary, SAIL has become a showcase opportunity for the world’s sailing fleets, serving as ambassadors of international cooperation and goodwill. Ships attended from South and Central America, the Middle East, Australia, Oceania, India, and Europe. For those who grew up attending, the excitement was palpable. “When I spoke to people on the streets, they exclaimed, ‘Oh my God, we cannot wait!’” Chris said. “Additionally, we have the opportunity to introduce an entirely new generation to this event.” SAIL hosted 200 events throughout Amsterdam, organized into five zones, color-coded “oceans” (orange, green, red, A jubilee celebration of tall ships and global connection FIVE DAYS OF WHEN OCEANS UNITE: SAIL OCTOBER 2025 A jubilee celebration of tall ships and global connection FIVE DAYS OF SAIL A jubilee celebration of tall ships and global connection SAIL A jubilee celebration of tall ships and global connection SAIL AMSTERDAM Nao Santa Maria The Will Everard

25 OCTOBER 2025 map ocean plastics using advanced imaging detection for a cleaner environment. The organization’s ambitious mission is to eliminate 90 percent of ocean plastic by 2040. Niccolò, who left a career in fashion marketing, now shares photography and video that chronicle his ocean voyages. In doing so, he has built a devoted following while raising awareness of ecological impacts and calling for the protection of nature. “I was without a plan; it was just escaping from my life and my comfort zone,” he confided. “I was lucky, because I followed my passion for photography, sailing, and exploration, and it actually became my job. I hope I inspire people to follow their dreams.” For those seeking answers, Niccolò suggests taking a couple of weeks at sea as a form of ocean therapy. “It is like going to a psychologist every day,” he explained. “When you are facing its vastness, you are forced to look inward. The ocean becomes a mirror for your soul.” I confess that my own SAIL story took me out of my everyday life to experience something transformative. As I watched the Sail-Out parade on the closing day from Jan Schaeferbrug, I knew that the people I met and the community I became part of would stay with me, fueling hope for a brighter future. Chris Janssen shared the moment at SAIL that delivered his own epiphany – that we are more connected than apart. “At the last edition in 2015, I witnessed three sailors, arm-in-arm: A Colombian, flanked by an American and a Russian,” he recalled. “I perceived them as brothers, walking together to join the international crew parade. That is what makes this event special: its sense of global community.” Raised in a third-generation sailing family, Chris was taught the first rule of international law as a young boy. “My father always taught me that good seamanship lies with the seaman. When you’re in open waters, you must help one another, no matter what.” Connected by the flowing seas that bind us, Chris concluded, “We really are united by waves.” sail.nl white and blue) that provided themed experiences, while distributing visitors to prevent congestion. Predictive analytics tracked attendee movement in real time so that resources could be deployed, and traffic could keep moving. This marked the first time Amsterdam introduced such technology at a large- scale public event. To bring each ocean to life, the Foundation partnered with organizations and artists to activate the zones and promote sustainability, inclusion, and talent development. The White Ocean, SAIL’s Young and Urban zone, brought together youth and international crews through markets, cafés, and informal meetups. Sit- down Café, designed in partnership with HandicapNL, ensured wheelchair access. Its roof lowered several times an hour, bringing everyone to eye level – a reminder of how wheelchair users often experience the world: always looking up. “Navigating the Future,” the theme of the Green Ocean, focused on advancements in the nautical industry. Solar-powered boats and clean-up ships demonstrated efforts to protect the sea and the environment. The Tres Hombres, a sustainable tall ship, journeys annually from the Americas and Caribbean to Europe, powered solely by wind, to transport coffee, cocoa, rum, and olive oil products to market. Other oceans included Orange, where tall ships docked at the harbor; Red, highlighting Dutch maritime tradition; and Blue, a private zone for business cruises. Together, the five oceans deepen SAIL’s meaning beyond festivity to a living classroom of innovation and inclusion. “SAIL is not just a beautiful party,” Chris said, “but an opportunity to educate and inform about acceptance, ecology, history, the future of the nautical industry, and the work that people are doing.” The following day, I met up with Italian photojournalist and explorer Niccolò Banfi at the harborside, where the three-masted barque Europa was docked, to learn about the tall ship’s work and his mission onboard. The Europa, built in 1911, sails with a crew of sixteen, embarking on expeditions around Antarctica and other ocean crossings. Partnering with The Ocean Cleanup, the ship collects data to I confess that my own SAIL story took me out of my everyday life to experience something transformative. As I watched the Sail-Out parade on the closing day from Jan Schaeferbrug, I knew that the people I met and the community I became part of would stay with me, fueling hope for a brighter future. Chris Janssen shared the moment at SAIL that delivered his own epiphany – that we are more connected than apart. “At the last edition in 2015, I witnessed three sailors, arm-in-arm: A Colombian, flanked by an American brothers, walking together to join the international crew parade. That is what makes this event special: its Raised in a third-generation sailing family, Chris young boy. “My father always taught me that good open waters, you must help one another, no matter what.” Connected by the flowing seas that bind us, Chris concluded, “We really are united by waves.” 25 white and blue) that provided themed experiences, while distributing visitors to prevent congestion. Predictive analytics tracked attendee movement in real time so that resources could be deployed, and white and blue) that provided themed experiences, white and blue) that provided themed experiences, Shabab Oman II Cuauhtémoc Clipper Stad Amsterdam Eye of the Wind Le Phoenix