Tall Ships Set to Sail Into Belfast
Sailing Vessels to Dock in City at end of Trans Atlantic Challenge
Apr 30, 2009
The Tall Ships are due to tie up at Belfast's quaysides between August 13 and 16 and will provide the highlight of this year's Belfast Maritime Festival.
Tall Ships Belfast Visit Expected to Attract 400,000 Visitors
More than 400,000 people are expected to view the ships during their three day visit to Northern Ireland's capital.
Publicity material published by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board says the celebrations will include music, street theatre, firework displays and performances 'the whole family can enjoy'.
The view from Belfast's three city centre bridges will be transformed by the sight of 12 'Class A' vessels, the biggest of the Tall Ships, docked close to the Odyssey Entertainment Complex and the developing Titanic Quarter.
Belfast Tall Ships Visit First Planned in 2005
The planning of celebrations to mark the Tall Ships' arrival in Northern Ireland began in November 2005 when Belfast was awarded the honour of hosting the finale of the 2009 race.
However, the forthcoming Belfast Maritime Festival will not be the first occasion on which the Tall Ships have visited the city.
They also docked in Belfast during the summer of 1991 and were visited by thousands of people who enjoyed tours of the sailing vessels, firework displays and pleasure cruises.
At the start of their visit to Northern Ireland the crews marched from the docks to the city centre led by Belfast's 'Friendship Band'.
Spectators lined the shores of Belfast Lough to watch the Tall Ships as they made their way back out to sea during the Parade of Sail.
The waterfronts at Holywood and Cultra proved popular viewing points as did much of the North Down Coastal Path. The same vantage points are expected to draw even bigger crowds in 2009.
Tall Ships Race Aims to Provide Sailing Training for Young People
The purpose of the Tall Ships Race is to provide sailing training for young people from all over the world.
Vessels taking part in this year's event will call at the ports of Vigo, Tenerife, Bermuda and Halifax in Canada before finishing in the Northern Ireland capital.
Anyone wishing to travel to Belfast from the rest of the UK to view the Tall Ships should click here for details of flights to the city's two airports George Best Belfast City and Belfast International.
Details of car ferry services can be found by clicking here.
If you would like to combine viewing the tall ships with a visit to other parts of Ireland click here to find out about transport options from Belfast.
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