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Present Day

At the beginning of the 1990's the ships were in bad shape, only elderly builders worked in the only sail-ship dock in Sundvik, and the harbour area in Helsinki was about to be destroyed. The windjammer devotees realized the seriousness of the situation, and spontaneously organized a sailing ship meeting in Helsinki. The aim was to meet the other interested people and let the public know of the issue's importance.

This was the turning point in the development. The sailing ships became an acknowledged heritage in Finland. Now, the Sailing ship meeting [in Finnish: Purjelaivapäivät] is an annual event every autumn, right after another traditional happening, the herring fair in Helsinki. After the meeting also Viapori dock association and the windjammer harbour in Helsinki were founded. The Sailing ship meeting is still arranged without any actual organization.

Another spontaneous meeting is the "Skutmöte vid Östersjön". The sailing ships meet every year in various ports, except those years when the Tall Ships' Race visits Finland. The meeting is primarily that of the ships, and always takes place on the ships' terms.