DAY trips aboard one of Britain’s biggest tall ships, Stavros S Niarchos, will be on offer during the Liverpool Boat Show in May.

It will be the first time the public can sail on a tall ship from Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal.

It is hoped the initiative will pave the way for Liverpool to become northern centre for tall ship cruises.

Stavros S Niarchos will also be open for public viewing while berthed at weekends during the show. And there will be a chance for visitors to scale the tall ship’s 140ft high masts.

The five, eight-hour excursions under sail will cruise upriver past the main Albert Dock boat show site and then out to the Mersey Bar, weather permitting.

The vessel is owned by Tall Ships Youth Trust. The 200ft-long, 493gross ton vessel voyages around Europe from her Portsmouth home port.

The Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust (MAST) has helped organise places for young people on Stavros’ positioning voyages to and from Liverpool.

There will be 44 Merseyside school pupils, aged 14-16 years, from Swansea to Liverpool.

After the boat show, there are also places on the outbound trip to the Western Isles and Greenock, Scotland.

Tim Law, Tall Ships Youth Trust marketing and operations director, said: “We were keen to be part of the first Liverpool Boat Show. Up to 100 young people from Merseyside sail with us every year, and we want to give something back by bringing the ship here.

“The five daily sailings will be a great taster for those wanting an adventurous day out or to see if they would enjoy a longer trip.”