ðə fˈɜːst ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl fˈɛstɪvəl ʌvðə sˈiː tˈʊk plˈeɪs ɪn bɹˈɪstəl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks wɪððə ɹˈɔɪəl nˈeɪvi æz pɹˈaɪmɚɹi pɑːɹtˈɪsɪpənts.
The first International Festival of the Sea took place in Bristol in 1996 with the Royal Navy as primary participants.