BOSTON -- Hundreds of years ago, they were a common sight in Boston Harbor, when the Hub was one of the sailing capitals and most bustling ports in the new nation.

Now, they are mere spectacles of grace and beauty, the Tall Ships arriving for the 2009 Sail Boston extravaganza that will officially kick off Wednesday.

Some of the massive ships are already docked in South Boston as several of the huge craft arrived Tuesday. The Libertad, a 356-foot ship with her triple masts and square-rigging, made a majestic entrance into Boston Tuesday, minus much of the fanfare seen in years past.

"This is scaled back. Things like the Parade of Sail that we used to have, we didn't have this year. So, we brought them in in a staggered format simply because of the public safety concerns," said event organizer Dusty Rhodes.

On board the Libertad is a crew of 300, including some of Argentina's most influential citizens.

"The Argentinian vessel, they're like royalty. The ambassador is here, the admiral's here, the naval attaches. These cadets from Argentina are like the creme de la creme of the students of Argentina," Rhodes said.

The Libertad was joined by the Romanian barque the Mercia. Both ships have been competing in a trans-Atlantic regatta that began in Spain in May.

By the time the Tall Ships open to the public Thursday, 40 ships will have arrived and 12 of the sailing vessels will be open for public tours Thursday through Sunday at Charlestown Navy Yard, the Boston Fish Pier and Seaport World Trade Center.

The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge will take a number of the ships to Halifax, Nova Scotia before the regatta comes to a close in Belfast, Northern Ireland.