Port of San Diego Sea & Air Parade May 3, 2008

FLEET WEEK SAN DIEGO 2008 SETS SAIL ONCE AGAIN
Military Tribute Event, The Sea & Air Parade, Embarks
On The San Diego Bay

The Sea & Air Parade will set sail once again in the morning of Saturday, May 3rd on San Diego Bay at approximately 10:30 a.m. This free, family-friendly event is the kick off for Fleet Week San Diego, which pays tribute to San Diego’s military throughout the year. The parade will precede the Red Bull Air Race World Series, which begin at 1:00 p.m. Parking and transportation options will be announced as we get closer to the weekend.

About The Sea & Air Parade

The Sea & Air Parade is expected to draw spectators down to the Embarcadero and the San Diego Bay where the U.S. Navy will parade down “The Big Bay” displaying six warships and fourteen aircraft, an impressive array of military equipment. The show will start at approximately 10:30 a.m. and the six ships include one Cruiser, one Frigate, two Destroyers and two Amphibious ships.

Additionally, this year promises to be bigger and better than ever with the addition of two Tall Ships – The Californian and the HMS Surprise, and will include other impressive naval sea craft. The show will start at approximately 10:30 a.m. and the naval ships will pass “show center” between the USS Midway and Seaport Village at approximately 11 a.m. An exciting and thunderous mock battle between the two Tall Ships will take place between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m, so make sure you are in position for that – it’s not to be missed.

The Event Is FREE

There is ample opportunity and space to view the Sea & Air Parade. The general public can view the spectacular show on the waterfront. Shelter Island will have views of the ships first, since the ships will travel from Point Loma through the Big Bay. The lawn area next to the Fish Market restaurant will serve as an ideal spot for viewing as well. However, we encourage all spectators to view the parade from Harbor Island, next to Island Prime Restaurant for the best view. Event goers can also see the action in Coronado from the Ferry Landing, SDG&E Park and Centennial Park. Parking is limited, so plan ahead and arrive early. In fact, taking the trolley or bus is recommended. For more details, visit the website for a map of the Big Bay: www.thebigbay.com/index2.html.

Come early to see some of the Navy ships and aircraft that comprise the world's mightiest military force. Then enjoy the amenities on both sides of San Diego Bay with a large selection of restaurants and exciting retail locations that make up the Port Tenants Association, San Diego’s Working Waterfront. For more information about the locations, visit: www.sdpta.com.

Parking

An additional amount of 4,000 parking spaces added as options to event goers over last year. You can park by Petco Park – in the D1 and D2 lots, at Tailgate Park or in the MDS or MTS parking structures.

Additionally, the Trolley will be running and offering special event stops, which will be announced as the date draws closer.

About The Tall Ships

The Californian

The Californian is based on an 1847 revenue cutter, the C.W. Lawrence, which was the first U.S. vessel on the West Coast during the Gold Rush and patrolled the California coast enforcing federal law during this time. The Revenue Cutter Service, along with four other federal maritime agencies, was consolidated into the United States Coast Guard in 1915. Designed for speed, Californian has nine sails, carries 7,000 square feet of canvas, measures 145 feet in length, weighs 130 tons and is armed with four six-pound deck guns.

In July 2003, the Governor signed a bill into law designating the Californian as the official Tall Ship of the State of California. She is the only ship to carry this prestigious title.

The HMS Surprise

The HMS Surprise is a replica of the HMS Rose, a 6th class British frigate, which participated in the American War for Independence and saw action during the evacuation of Boston, the siege of New York and other theaters during that conflict. At 179-feet long, the HMS Surprise is unmatched in its authenticity and attention to detail. Recently, the HMS Surprise was showcased in Master And Commander with Russell Crowe.

About The Red Bull Air Race World Series

On May 3rd and 4th, following the Sea & Air Parade, the Red Bull Air Race World Series will be making one of its worldwide stops in San Diego’s Big Bay. The globe’s newest motorsport series brings a new dimension to racing – it takes place in the air! High performance race planes will dominate the skies and awe crowds during a two-day race weekend.

Embarcadero Marine Park will host spectators who experienced first-hand the gravity-defying speeds that the world’s best race pilots will achieve as they maneuver their planes through a series of inflatable “air gates” over the Big Bay. Don’t miss a weekend of sea and air excellence to pay tribute to our nation’s mightiest military.

Fleet Week San Diego is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation. In addition to honoring the military services through the annual Fleet Week events, the foundation’s goals are to foster awareness of the contributions made by enlisted military personnel and their families, to enhance relationships between the civilian, business and military communities, to provide events that Military personnel and their families can attend at little or no cost, and to raise funds for charitable efforts benefiting enlisted service members and their families. Benefiting organizations include the USO, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and the Armed Services YMCA. For more information, or for a complete listing of all of the Fleet Week events, please visit www.fleetweeksandiego.org.

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Official Website: http://www.fleetweeksandiego.org