Tall Ships Races 2023: A welcome return to Hartlepool
As the fleet close in on Hartlepool, the port is gearing itself up for their arrival over the coming hours. The Race time limit has been brought forward to 2100hrs local time (2000hrs UTC), which means that the race ends then and their positions are recorded before the ships make their way into port.
This amendment should give all vessels sufficient time to get to Hartlepool by the official deadline of 12:00 local time on Thursday 6th August.
Vessels not making the finish line by this time will still be eligible for a result due to Sail Training International’s unique Finish at Sea formula. They simply record their exact position at sea at the time limit and the race software calculates their theoretical time they would have crossed the finish line using the following four factors:
1. Corrected Time
2. Elapsed Time (actual time)
3. Course distance
4. Distance vessel has to the Finish Line
One early arrival, Danish Class B vessel Betty, is one of the oldest in the fleet. Built in 1913, she is a replica of the crab cutters that were traditional in southern England.
Pictured here are some of the crew members, welcomed by their Hartlepool liaison officer, who will ensure they have everything they need for a comfortable stay.
About The Tall Ships Races 2023
The Tall Ships Races 2023 will see the international fleet of Tall Ships and Small Ships return to Den Helder, Hartlepool, Fredrikstad, Lerwick and Arendal from 29 June to 6 August.
With four of the five Host Ports having already hosted the stunning Tall Ships fleet, we are excited to return to old friends and visit new frontiers for some exhilarating sailing, stunning cruises and celebrations across Northwest Europe.
As with every edition of The Tall Ships Races, the series will offer a range of sailing experiences for trainees and crews. The Race Committee will look at waypoint options to provide shorter and longer races for the fleet that will require a mixture of tactical skill and exhilarating speed to conquer.
