Fleet preparing to leave Hartlepool

Over 800,000 visitors are now thought to have visited the port

during the Tall Ships Hartlepool event with another 200,000 expected

today to view the Parade of Sail.  Ships will be undocking from early

afternoon onwards with the larger ships leaving at around 2.30pm

onwards.  Shabab Oman (Oman) and Indonesian ship Dewaruci are bound to say a musical farewell to those on the quayside before they leave. 

After gathering towards Seaton Carew, the fleet will begin the

Parade of Sail at 4pm, heading north towards Blackhall Rocks. 

Recommended viewing points are Seaton Carew, the Headland and Crimdon.

Around the port crews are preparing to go to sea, for some trainees it

will be their first time.  Safety briefings are taking place, training

starting and ships being cleaned and prepared for their next passage. 

On leaving Hartlepool over half of the fleet will be racing in the

North Sea Regatta to Amsterdam, starting tomorrow at 2pm, some 6 miles

north of the Headland.  Others will be heading back to their home ports

or continuing on their journeys to other parts of the world.