Memories of 1992

Jun 29 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Looking back on the tall ships’ second visit to the River Mersey, eight years after their first stay

THE 1992 event was billed as the return of the tall ships, as it was a mere eight years since the triumph of first attracting them.

This time round there was the added attraction of the Grand Regatta Columbus, a theme celebrating the 500th anniversary of the explorer’s discovery of America.

As previously, Liverpool played host to the end of the race, which began in Cadiz, after “feeder” races from Lisbon and Genoa, to mark the age of the southern European explorers.

After sailing south-westerly to the Canaries, the first leg of the race ended at San Juan. There was then a “cruise in company” via the Bahamas and New York to Boston, with celebrations taking place at all these ports of call.

The final leg was from Boston to Liverpool, where the guests of honour were King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sophia of Spain. There were concerts and a main presentation at St George’s Hall in the presence of the King and Queen.

Second time around, the tall ships event was organised by the Merseyside Development Corporation and was more formal than in the city’s first hosting role in 1984.