News

Tall Ships on course

15/05/2008

Liverpool has scored a special hat-trick for its celebrations as the host port for the start of The Tall Ships' Races 2008.

The city has now secured the signatures of three of the world's biggest Tall Ships to be star attractions for the July 18-21 extravaganza. The vessels are:

• Sedov (A Barque) 403ft long and 172ft high Russia (*The biggest in the world)
• Dar Mlodziezy (A fully rigged) 359ft long and 166ft high Poland
• MIR (A fully rigged) 359ft long and 168ft high Russia

All three are longer than the new Wembley pitch and stacked on top of one another would reach the roof of Britain's biggest Cathedral - the Liverpool Anglican!

Forms for the Sedov and Dar Mlodziezy were completed this week and along with the 146ft long Cisne Branco (Brazil navy), their signatures pushes the Class A fleet for Liverpool's maritime festival to 23 vessels.

The deadline for applications is May 31 and Liverpool's Class A fleet is now just four short of the UK Tall Ships record set in Newcastle in 2005.

In Liverpool, the majority of the major Class A Tall Ships will be berthed in the Wellington and Sandon half-tide docks. The smaller class B, C and D vessels will be berthed at Albert, Salthouse, Canning and Canning half-tide docks.

Judith Feather, Head of Events at Liverpool Culture Company, said: "The response from the Tall Ships community has been absolutely fantastic and to have secured three of the biggest Class A vessels is a great boost for the event. Their arrival on the Mersey will be an incredible sight and easily one of the defining images of our Capital of Culture year."

Over the four day celebration, more than 3,000 sail trainees and crew will be in the city and will be entertained by a programme of special events.

Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Deputy Chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: ''There is a huge amount of excitement around the Tall Ships coming to Liverpool. We've got a great team working flat out to give the fleet and the public a first class Liverpool welcome and plans are well on course for it to be a show-stopping centrepiece of our capital of culture celebrations. I've no doubt the week will live long in the memory of all those who experience this amazing spectacle.''

The climax of the week will be the Parade of Sail on Monday, July 21. The first race is to Maloy, Norway which will start on Wednesday 23 July.

Remaining Class A vessels confirmed to date for Liverpool - July 18-21:

• Statsraad Lehmkuhl Norway
• Shabab Oman Oman
• Royalist UK
• Roald Amundsen Germany
• Pogoria Poland
• Morgenster Netherlands
• Lord Nelson UK
• Orp Iskra Poland
• Eendracht Netherlands
• Alexander Von Humboldt Germany
• Capitan Miranda Uruguay (Will arrive on July 18 - Uruguay's Constitution Day)
• Cuauthemoc Mexico
• Christian Radich Norway
• Sørlandet Norway
• Kaliakra Bulgaria
• Svanhild Norway
• Asgard II Ireland
• Amerigo Vespucci Italy
• Stavros S Niarchos UK

Liverpool is providing 50 free berths for sail trainees on Stavros S Niarchos. Applications deadline is March 31, available at www.liverpool08.com

« Return to list of articles