The spectacle of around 100 tall ships in full sail is coming to northern Europe in July 2005 when The Tall Ships’ Races visit Ireland, France, England and Norway.
The Tall Ships’ Races have been taking place annually since 1956, and are organised by Sail Training International. Their aim is to bring together the ships that offer sail training experiences in friendly competition, providing a true adventure for those who take part, while allowing millions to gaze in wonder at the glamorous and lofty tall ships, some of which are from the dawn of the last century. Ships from 30 feet long to over 300 feet long race against each other, with a time correction factor being applied to allow them to compete on a even footing.
In 2005 The Tall Ships’ Races will start off in Waterford, Ireland, between 6 and 9 July, where the ships and their hundreds of crew members will gather – 50 percent of each crew must be aged between 15 and 25 years. Wherever the tall ships berth, an instant carnival atmosphere is created - buntings, flags and towering masts jostle along the quayside, while the air reverberates with the deep hoots of the ships horns as they greet each other’s arrival and departure and an air of expectation hangs over the port. As in all the race ports, an army of volunteers from the surrounding area will befriend the ships’ young crews, show them the sights, entertain them with competitions and join in the Crew Parade, when the crews take to the streets in a ship-by-ship high spirited stream of music, laughter and colour as they prepare for the challenge of the race ahead of them. It’s a tradition for each ship to try to be the loudest on the Crew Parade, so this is no quiet event!
From Waterford the ships will form a majestic Parade of Sail when crews man the yards, form Mexican waves at the crowds and sing shanties to pay tribute to their hosts as they travel in convoy down the River Suir and out into the open sea where the dramatic race start will take place. In full sail, the big square rigged ships will cross a mile wide start line, all angling to get a head start on their competitors before racing down the Celtic Sea, around the Isles of Scilly and on up the Channel to Cherbourg-Octeville in France in time for the French National day of 14 July. After another four days of celebration and fun in Cherbourg the fleet will take a leisurely ‘cruise-in-company’ up the east coast of England, stopping en route in many of the harbours and ports, to NewcastleGateshead, UK, where they will be in port from 25 to 28 July. Here the ships will form a major highlight of the SeaBritain and Trafalgar 200 celebrations.
A second Parade of Sail will take the fleet along the Tyne and out into the open sea where they will again gather like some 18th century sea battle before crossing the line and racing across the busy North Sea to the picturesque town of Fredrikstad in Norway, where a huge and noisy award ceremony will take place, together with a final Parade of Sail.
For everyone who takes part in The Tall Ships’ Races it is a memorable experience. For the young crew members, many of whom have never been at sea before, it is often a life changing experience as they learn about themselves, new cultures and make new friends – the essence of what sail training is all about.
The Races are open to all vessels of all size from 30 feet upwards, and from any country in the world. Generally ships from around 20 countries take part, with crew members from well over 30 countries worldwide. When the fleet is in port, hundreds of thousands of people visit, making it a key tourist attraction for the region and boosting the economy.
The Tall Ships’ Races is a spectacular and stimulating sight, whether in port or out at sea. Add the ingredient of thousands of young people relishing in the adventure and romance of tall ship sailing, ships horns, wind and the creak of rigging and you have an impressive event.
