Tallest of the Tall Ships are heading our way

Mar 20 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

THREE of the world’s biggest Tall Ships have been announced as star attractions for July’s Tall Ships Race.

Russian vessels Sedov – the biggest in the world – and MIR, alongside the Polish Dar Mlodziezy have been confirmed as among 23 so far to sign up for the event.

Other vessels will be sailing into the city from Norway, Oman, Uruguay, Germany, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, Holland and Ireland.

Liverpool is the host port for the start of the 2008 race and is expected to attract one of the biggest fleets in the event’s 51-year history – as well as over 1m people to the riverfront.

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.”

In Liverpool, the majority of the major “class A” Tall Ships – square-rigged or more than 40m in length, used for training young people – 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 and Canning half-tide docks.

Over the four-day extravaganza from July 18 to 21, more than 3,000 sail trainees and crew will be in the city and will be entertained by the city with a programme of events.

Cllr 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 on course for it be a show-stopping centrepiece of Capital of Culture celebrations.”

The climax of the week will be the parade of sail on July 21. The first race starts on July 23.

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

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk