When the Tall Ships sail back

The Tall Ships, their white sails billowing in the ocean breeze, will sail into Boston Harbor on May 29 to re-create again one of the most majestic, thrilling pictures of America's recent bicentennial celebration -- but this time they will be saluting Boston's 350th birthday.

The 50 ships range from the 370-foot topsail schooner Juan Sebastian de Elcarno, from Cadiz, Spain, to the 39-foot Blue Maid, a schooner from Staatsburgh, N.Y.

Here's a rundown of some highlights of Operation Sail 1980.

Friday, May 30: Harbor festivities get under way when the ships assemble for a 10 a.m. "Parade of Sail" through Boston Harbor, led by the Coast Guard's square-rigged Eagle and escorted by the United States frigate Constitution -- Old Ironsides. Seven modern naval ships also will be on hand and the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy will serve as the review ship, with President Carter as the chief reviewer. About 3 p.m. the ships will head back to their Army Base Pier berths, located just beyond Commonwealth Pier on Summer Street in South Boston.

At 6 P.m. there will be a buffet and music festival at Kennedy Library on Columbia Point, just south of Boston. Advance tickets will be available to the public through the Chamber of commerce in dorchester, Mass.

Saturday, May 31: An inshore regatta in the morning on the Charles river will be followed by a variety of competitions in rowing, sailing, wind-surfing, and soccer.

At noon the Tall ships will be open to the public until 6 p.m. at the Army Base Pier.

A 5:30 p.m. supper for the ships' hands at the Hatch Shell will begin the evening's festivities; advance tickets are available through the Rotary Club of Boston. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a US Marine Corps Band concert on the esplanade along the Charles river. The concert will re-create the 1976 Bicentiennal celebration, including a performance of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and the firing of the howitzers. The concert is free to the public.

Sunday, June 1: Ecumenical church services wil be held at the Army Base Pier at 9 a.m. The starting gun will fire at noon for the Paceship 23 races on Dorchester Bay, which is just south of Boston.

At 8 p.m. the US coast Guard Band will give a concert at City Hall Plaza.

Monday, June 2: At 1:15 p.m. the Tall ships will be open to the public again at the Army Base Pier. A parade by the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts will pass through downtown Boston from Faneuil Hall to the Boston Common.

Tuesday, June 3: The ships will again be open to the public from 1:15 to 5 p.m. at the Army Base Pier.

A 9 p.m. a fireworks display over Boston Harbor will cap the day's activities.

Wednesday, June 4: At 10 a.m. the Tall Ships sail to a navigation buoy outside Boston Harbor. This is the starting line for their race across the Atlantic. At 2 p.m. the shot will sound and the race will be on the first port of Kristiansand, Norway.