Sultana Projects unveiled plans today for its largest ever Downrigging Weekend Festival, scheduled for October 28- November 1, 2009, in Chestertown, Maryland. One of the most significant annual Tall Ship festivals on the East Coast, Downrigging Weekend 2009 will feature eight major Tall Ships as well as many more traditional schooners and workboats. Vessels scheduled to participate include SULTANA, KALMAR NYCKEL, PRIDE OF BALTIMORE, II, VIRGINIA, AMISTAD, A.J. MEERWALD, LADY MARYLAND, ELSWORTH and the 1888 sloop ELF. Additonal vessels are expected to be announced later this fall. The weekend will feature numerous opportunities for the public to view, board and sail on this remarkable collection of historic wooden vessels.  Downrigging Weekend 2009 is being made possible by generous support from PNC Bank and Judy & Peter Van Dyke.  Docking facilities are being provided by the Chestertown Marina, the Chester River Yacht and Country Club, the Town of Chestertown, Kent County and Chester River Landing. 

Established in 2001 as a two schooner festival, Downrigging Weekend has grown to become one of the premier waterfront events in the Chesapeake Bay region, drawing well over 10,000 visitors to Chestertown annually.  In addition to ship-related events, Downrigging Weekend 2009 will feature a variety of films, concerts, tours, forums, boatbuilding demonstrations, as well as a lecture by Pulitzer Prize winner and PBS FRONTLINE executive producer Hedrick Smith.  Sultana is proud to be partnering with Washington College’s Center for the Environment and Society and C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience as well as the Maryland State Arts Council Maryland Traditions Program to fund and organize many of the shore-side events for Downrigging Weekend.

Sultana Projects will also be hosting its annual fundraising gala aboard the luxury yacht LADY PINTAIL, II, on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31.