When Nobel laureate Paul Krugman called on China to float the yuan last month, it became evident that world opinion, which had once tolerated Beijing's currency management, had turned a corner.
Their float will have singers, flag bearers and representatives from every war since World War II - as well as photographs of members who were too frail to make the trip.
Finance ministers will be also be discussing China's plans to float its currency and will try to stimulate progress in the Doha round of world trade talks, due to resume in Hong Kong in December.
The move toward full convertibility would almost certainly mean that Beijing would allow the renminbi to float, as it would be unlikely for it to maintain a fixed rate in a world of fluctuating currencies.
Nearly 20, 000 other sailors and spectators will float by in the other boats, including a few of the ships that rescued British troops in World War II's Battle of Dunkirk.
Though it may well be able to float debt locally at nosebleed rates of interest, any attempts to draw in larger institutional investors from around the world assumes that Greece will still issue debt denominated in euros.