On the third day of the Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta 2018, attention for the Captains and crews turned to Race 1 with the Captain’s Briefing…
Held in the Cunard Building, the Captain’s Briefing provided details of the race conditions to come. All the information provided will be crucial for the Captains as they plan their race tactics. Race 1 is due to start at 18:00, approximately 25 miles west of Liverpool in the Irish Sea.
Once at sea, the fleet will race around the north of the Isle of Man, before passing a waypoint and heading south west to Dublin, Ireland, for the second port of the Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta 2018.
WEATHER REPORT
As the fleet makes its way across the race start line, the weather conditions will be favourable for racing. There will be light to moderate north-easterly winds of up to 15 knots through the four day race. This will provide favourable sailing conditions for the smaller Class C and D vessels that will be able to take advantage of sailing closer to the light winds.
For the new crew members and trainees, this will provide the perfect environment to experience Tall Ships sailing and racing at its finest.
Sail Training International Race Director, Paul Bishop, provided an insight to how the race may go.
“We expect a quiet start to the race as the fleet head towards the first waypoint off the east coast of the Isle of Man. The vessels are expected to be sailing into the wind at this point which is likely to be challenging for the larger Class A vessels. The smaller, and more modern Class C yachts, should be able to make more progress on this next leg up towards the the north of the island.
“This is likely to be a critical point of the race as they enter the Tidal Gate at the top of the Isle of Man, where the tide will change between an ebb and a flow. For the vessels who manage to navigate this successfully, they will be able to take an early advantage on the next leg down the western coast of the Isle of Man and make greater progress with the winds from behind if the forecast holds true over the next few days.
“One thing is certain, is that the race course around the various waypoints set by the Race Committee will provide a challenging and tactical race for all”
Sail Training International Race Director, Paul Bishop
Another Great Day in Liverpool
It’s been another great day as thousands of visitors turned out again in Liverpool to see the spectacular Tall Ships fleet. Berthed in the Albert Dock, Canning Dock, Canning Half Tide Dock and on the award-winning Liverpool Cruise Terminal, the Tall Ships fleet have helped to provide a fantastic family friendly atmosphere with the help of a wealth of art, culture, architecture, music, and sport have been presented to provide a truly electric atmosphere.
FOLLOW THE FLEET
Check out our YB Satellite Tracking page to follow the fleet (including instructions and more information). You can also download the YB app for your phone and tablet from the App Store and Google Play Store, which gives you everything from the web version on the go.
