PORTSMOUTH — Sail Portsmouth 2012 officially begins Friday, but a select number of people were able to experience the majestic wonder of tall ships firsthand during day sails on Thursday.

The Pride of Baltimore II and the Sloop of War Providence will be escorted to the Commercial Fishing Pier during the annual Parade of Sail up the Piscataqua River around 8:30 a.m.

They will be docked at the pier for deck tours throughout the weekend. Deck tours cost $9 per person and $25 per family.

The event is helping the Seacoast to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. The Pride of Baltimore II is the type of regional clipper ship that helped the United States defeat the British in the war.

Education will be a big component of this weekend’s festival, with the University of New Hampshire Marine Docents providing regular presentations about the history of the visiting tall ships.

A Captains’ Reception on Saturday night is open to the public. Tickets and additional information are available at pmcportsmouth.org.

The Piscataqua Maritime Commission serves as the annual host of the event.

Other area venues are helping to support Sail Portsmouth 2012, including Lago’s Ice Cream, which created the ice cream “Salty Sailor” in honor of the event, and the Portsmouth Historic Houses Association, which is offering half-price admission at each of its 10 sites when visitors present the Sail Portsmouth 2012 brochure throughout the weekend.

“The Sail Portsmouth Celebration at Portsmouth’s historic sites is meant to encourage visitors to explore historic Portsmouth and learn about the people for whom sailing ships like Pride of Baltimore and Providence were familiar sights,” said Lawrence J. Yerdon, president and chief executive officer of Strawbery Banke Musuem, a participant in the celebration.

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