Yes, the Tall Ships are back, and there's a lot more of them. I have a vague recollection of seeing them back in 1991, when I was living in Belfast. They were very tall, and like ships. For the rest, you'll have to visit.
For those who want to know more, and seeing like there's a lot of space on the web these days, full details are below -
Oh for those days on the watery main, with the wind filling the main sail (and a few others if we weren't becalmed in what do you call that calm bit of the world's oceans) etc. Avast me hearties, Admiral Benbow, parrot, and so on (contd on 'Treasure Island', page 2)
By the way, this is a still from that film classic 'Treasure Island', set back in the 1700s, apart from the helicopter.
Issued: 21.04.09
This summer, Belfast has been chosen to be the finish port for the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, an international event that links Europe, the Caribbean, North America and Canada.
The Belfast Maritime Festival will mark the return of the great ‘Tall Ships’ which last visited Belfast in 1991.
The Event, which will be one of the most memorable and exciting in 2009, will be on between 13th and 16th of August. The port of Belfast will play host to a magnificent grand finale of celebrations as the final port of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009.Belfast will welcome crew from far and wide, as well as hundreds and thousands of visitors and residents to see the ships transform the famous quaysides and provide the backdrop to four days of festivities.
The Festival will take place around the port on both sides of the River Lagan – at the Odyssey and from Customs House Square right down through Clarendon Dock to Ballast Quay, York Dock and Pollock Dock.
Visitors can expect to enjoy:
The unique and highly acclaimed Tall Ships fresh from their Atlantic adventure
A supporting ‘cast’ of over 45+ ships
Exhibition Marquee
Family Fun Zone
Continental markets
Fun Fairs
Day and evening concerts
Firework displays
Crew Parade
Parade of Sail on the departure day
There will be plenty of activities for visitors along the quayside, with fun, food and plenty of excitement. Activities will showcase music, street theatre, fireworks display and a variety of magical performances for the whole family to enjoy.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
Media Contact –Anne Doherty or Nicola Kayes at Happening PR – Tel: 028 9066 4020 Email: anne@happen.co.uk / nicola@happen.co.uk or Mobile: 07866 269681
Photos can be obtained from the following website: http://www.sailtraininginternational.org/page.asp?eventID=471&isSubmitted=1&partID=470
Tall Ships History:
The Tall Ships last came to Belfast in 1991 when they berthed at Pollock Dock and were visited by 250,000 people.
The Event in 1991 had a maximum of 4 ‘Class A’ Vessels, this year there are 12 confirmed ‘Class A’ Vessels
Some Belfast Maritime Festival Facts 2009:
· The Biggest Festival Belfast has ever seen
· Thursday 13th - Sunday 16th August 2009
· Footfall of 400,000 + expected
· 45+ tall ships will be docked in Belfast Port for the four days
· Local government support
· Biggest event ever staged in Northern Ireland
· Will be the biggest international event staged in Ireland in 2009
· Cross-border support
· Support from NITB
· Support from Tourism Ireland
· Support from Belfast City Council
· Support from Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau
· Support from DETI / DCAL / DSD
The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009
A spectacular odyssey around the North Atlantic Ocean of more than 7,000 nautical miles following the traditional route taken by sailing ships of a by-gone age.
The fleet will gather in Vigo on the northwest corner of Spain (30 April - 3 May) for the start of the first race in the series, 900 nautical miles south-south-west to Tenerife in the Canary Islands (14 - 17 May). From there, the fleet will race the 2,600 nautical miles westward to Bermuda (12 - 15 June) where the ships and crews will be the centrepiece of the island’s celebrations of its 400th anniversary. The fleet will then race to Charleston, South Carolina on the US east coast (25 - 29 June) before proceeding to Boston, Massachussetts (8 - 13 July). A cruise of a further 370 miles north-north-east to Halifax (16 - 20 July), where celebrations include the 250th anniversary of the Naval Port, will be followed by a final race starting on Monday 20 July of 2,350 nautical miles eastbound across the North Atlantic to Belfast, Northern Ireland (13 - 16 August) which will host the series’ grand finale celebrations.
Confirmed Ships to date for Belfast - (there follows list from Europe, US, Uruguay . . .)
Don't miss it!
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