Huge crowds flock to see Tall Ships

Jul 21 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

ICE creams and all things nautical were the order of the weekend as thousands of people enjoyed the Tall Ships’ visit to Liverpool.

Estimated crowds of more than 300,000 people visited the vessels while in dock over the last three days – almost half the 800,000 visitors expected to have flocked to the region by the end of today.

Yesterday drew the largest crowds as people headed to the Albert and Half-Canning Docks and Wellington Dock. And even more visitors are expected this afternoon as the city waves farewell to the ships during the Parade of Sail up the River Mersey.

Over the weekend, queues of visitors filed past smaller class vessels next to the Albert Dock to the backdrop of sea shanties and street performers.

While tired crew slept after Saturday’s crew parade and party at the Echo Arena, visitors photographed the Class A Polish Pogoria.

Chief Officer Magda Noworolska, 45, said the 49.5m ship had played host to a wedding blessing on Saturday.

The captain and crew con-ducted the ceremony onboard after a Russian bride and her Texan husband flew in from Texas to Liverpool for their reception.

Pensioner Joe Fisher, from Widnes, who grew up close to Liverpool’s docks, said: “These ships are fantastic, it’s great to see them in the city. It’s been a big weekend and shows the change in the waterfront for the better.”

The closure of The Strand caused traffic delays around Old Hall Street, Leeds Street and Upper Parliament Street as snaking queues of visitors waited outside the Liver Building to hop on the shuttle buses whisking them to Wellington Dock.

Two of the world’s largest Tall Ships, the Mir of Russia and Dar Mlodziezy, were among those who opened up the gangways to the public during the four-day event.

Allerton twins Claire and Kate Guest were among the 50-strong Liverpudlian crew who won a free city council sponsored place on board Stavros S Niarchos.

The Stavros is the first new Tall Ship to be built in Britain, and the Guest twins will join other youngsters crewing the boat in the race to Norway.

Claire, 21, said: “We’ve only ever been on ferries before, so this is really exciting and the atmosphere over the weekend has been amazing with the huge crowds coming on board.”

Hotly tipped race favourite, the Norwegian Christian Radich, had 3,500 visitors on board on Saturday alone and 200 guests of charity WaterAid. Having won the last two Tall Ship Races, Able Seaman Lassenius, 34, said the unpredictable Merseyside weather would throw the race wide open.

He said: “We have a fast ship and a good crew, but if the weather’s too heavy any-thing could happen. We’ve loved having visitors on board, and I had a chance to visit the Cavern, the Mari-time Museum and the Inter-national Slavery Museum.”

As crews climbed their rigging, music blasted from the Brazilian Cisne Branco, children were also loving the 39th Engineering Regiment diving team who submerged in a tank of water.

Emma Dawkins, who visited with her husband, Neil, and children Nema, two, and Amil, 14 months, said: “We’ve travelled from Preston and have had a great day. We have been on board the ships and couldn’t believe the ease of driving into the city.

“If they make this a more regular or annual event, we would definitely come back.”

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