BOSTON -- As the tall ships prepared to pull up anchor and sail out of Boston on Monday, city officials and many waterfront businesses were calling Sail Boston 2009 an economic success.

NewsCenter 5’s Cheryl Fiandaca reported that about 1.8 million people traveled to Boston harbor this year to see the sailing vessels, despite estimates that crowds would be less than half that size. The ships couldn’t have arrived sooner for area business owners, who said the event has boosted sales and brought new visitors to the waterfront.

“We galvanized…by the tall ships coming in,” said Roger Berkowitz, who owns the LTK Bar and Kitchen on Northern Avenue. “This is really setting the table and exposing people who may have taken six months or another year until they ever came down here.”

Chris Lake, a waiter at the restaurant, said customers taking in the tall ships have been generous with their tourism dollars.

“To put it to you in perspective, I made rent yesterday alone,” Lake said. “That’s how good we’re doing over here.”

Sunday was the final opportunity for New Englanders to view the ships before they set sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Monday. The fleet will then race across the Atlantic to the finish line in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Retailers, restaurants and hotels along the waterfront have struggled with bringing visitors to the area, and wet weather threatened to turn the summer season into a washout for area businesses.

“It’s been good for the restaurants… and some of the hotels are doing well,” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. “It’s good for the vitality of Boston.”

A spat between city officials and organizers also threatened to drive down attendance this year. Sail Boston representatives agreed to scale back the event after Menino raised concerns about the cost of providing security for the week-long spectacle. The disagreement was resolved with an infusion of money from the state and a contribution from Sail Boston organizers.

The ships will leave in a staggered departure throughout the day on Monday between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.