OpSail announces sponsor businesses

New London — OpSail2012 Connecticut announced Wednesday that eight Connecticut businesses have agreed to help sponsor the tall ships event scheduled for July 6-9.

The sponsors are: Mohegan Sun; Lawrence & Memorial Hospital; Hall Communications of Norwich; The Day Publishing Co.; Levine Distributing Co. of Norwich; Ocean Marketing of Guilford; the Waterford-based Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Southeastern New England; and Dominion Energy, operators of the Millstone Power Station in Waterford.

“Thanks to the support of our many sponsors, we’re feeling the momentum building for the arrival of the tall ships this summer,” John Johnson, chairman of OpSail2012 Connecticut, said in a statement. “Since the start of the governor’s challenge, we’ve been seeing more and more people and businesses step up to show their support. We’re looking forward to a spectacular, fun-filled family event.”

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, honorary chairman of the event has pledged $1 in state funds for every $2 raised by event organizers.

Led by the U.S. Coast Guard barque Eagle, OpSail2012 Connecticut will feature a parade of domestic and international tall ships, including Brazil’s Cisne Branco; the schooner Wolf from Key West, Fla.; the schooner Meerwald from Jersey City, N.J.;; Appledore V from Bay City, Mich.; Spirit from Essex; and Brilliant and Argia, both from Mystic.

Additional ships will be announced in the near future, event organizers said.