The Tall Ships made a return visit to Newport from 7/5/12 to 7/9/12. My attempt to greet them on 7/5 was anticlimactic as their schedules were not well publicized and my long day in the sun awaiting their arrival yielded only one sighting. This accounts for my over representation of the Mystic Whaler as she was the only arrival. The visit downtown after dark was lack luster as there were no lighted yardarms as there had been in the past. The departure fully made up for any of the other disappointments. They were slated to parade from noon to 4 PM. On my arrival at 1030 one of the ships was already entering the ocean having navigated the full bay already. Many others followed and by 1130 nearly all had exited. To my surprise, after circling as a group, they all reversed course and headed back up the bay beyond the Newport Bridge and up around Prudence Island. They then did a full parade sequence south out of the bay at about 2 PM and departed Newport until their next visit. Quite awesome is my only commentary. Feel free to add you own!