Two Tall Ships’ race series will be held during 2008 with over 100 Tall Ships anticipated to take part in the two events. Ports in the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, mainland Portugal and Madeira will play host to the events which provide an opportunity for total novices, as well as professional sailors, to sail as a crew member on the magnificent Tall Ships.

The challenge of being part of a team that is working to sail the ship and keep ahead of the competition makes these events one of the most exciting and adventurous ways to spend a holiday. Not only that, but the days in port are a riot of colour and action as can only happen when up to 100 vessels of all shapes and sizes jostle against the quayside and crews from some 50 different nations get together.

Sailing on a Tall Ship has been proven to be an exceptional way to help young people develop their character, understand the benefit of teamwork, find strengths they didn’t know they owned and creating the leaders of tomorrow. Many businesses have sponsored young people and members of their own staff to take part in The Tall Ships’ Races and reaped the rewards of motivated and inspired people.

To everyone that has ever taken part in a Tall Ships event there is little doubt that it has affected their life in many positive ways, not only because of the sailing experience but because of the cultural exchanges.

The Tall Ships that take part include some beautiful old originals, replicas and new builds, from four-masted classics to racing yachts. In all the ports, visitors will be welcome to board the ships while a tented village will be built up along the quaysides to keep everyone entertained.

The Tall Ships’ Races 2008
The annual Tall Ships’ Races, which is organised by Sail Training International and supported by the City, Port and Province of Antwerp, will start in Liverpool this year, with the fleet spending four days in the European Capital of Culture (Friday 18 – Monday 21 July). While in port, the international crews will have the chance to sample Liverpool’s cultural heritage and enjoy some specially organised sports and parties.

From Liverpool the ships will travel up to the north coast of Northern Ireland where the spectacular race start will take place on 23 July, five miles out from Lough Foyle. From there the crews will have their work cut out to sail the ships around the north of Scotland, with a choice of going east or west of the Outer Hebrides, then between the Orkney and Shetland Islands and across the North Sea to Maloy in Norway. This challenging race is anticipated to take up to ten days but the crews will be rewarded with a very warm Norwegian welcome in the charming little town of Maloy, which has a population of just 4,000 and is the smallest port ever to host the event. The Tall Ships fleet and crews will dominate the town for four days (1 – 4 August) with its magnificent backdrop of mountains and position at the end of a fjord.

Maloy will also offer the opportunity for many ships to change crews ready for what promises to be a very special cruise-in-company around the fjords before arriving in the more southerly Norwegian town of Bergen, where they will stay for four days (9 – 12 August). The town is surrounded by seven mountains and bordered by breathtaking fjords making it one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world. Trainee and professional crews alike will again have wonderful opportunities to explore the area and get to know this world heritage site.

From Bergen the fleet will then compete in a second race, taking up to eight days, down to Den Helder in the Netherlands where a final four days of festivities will take place (20 – 23 August). The final port always holds a special place in the hearts of the crews as this is where the final prize-giving is held and the awarding of the coveted Friendship Trophy. This beautiful silver plate is awarded to the ship and crew that, in the eyes of the other ships’ crews, has done the most to promote friendship and understanding, the underlying principles for The Tall Ships’ Races.

Website: www.tallshipsraces.com

Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta
The second Tall Ship event being held in 2008 is the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta, which begins in Falmouth on the south coast of the UK. The Tall Ships will gather for four days (10 – 13 September) when the trainee and professional crews will again have the chance to enjoy some local hospitality before racing down to �lhavo in Portugal (20 – 23 September) and then race again to Funchal in Madeira (2-5 October) where the fleet will form part of year-long celebrations commemorating the 500th anniversary of Funchal’s founding and maritime heritage.

Website: www.tallshipsraces.com/funchal500

Crew Opportunities
Both events are open to trainee crew members with or without sailing experience and for able bodied as well as the disabled. One of the key rules for The Tall Ships’ Races is that 50 percent of each ship’s crew must be aged between 15 and 25 years, making this a truly young people’s event.

Those interested in taking part should visit the event websites for further information on how to get on board.

Sail Training International

Related Posts