The North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016: Race Preparations Underway
Hundreds of eager trainees arrived in Blyth today (Sunday 28
August) ready to join their ships for the race start to Gothenburg, Sweden
tomorrow. These included eighty trainees
from Blyth – known locally as the ‘Northumbrian Navy’ and sixty trainees who
arrived from Gothenburg, plus many more.
Everyone is busy preparing to depart Blyth tomorrow for the
start of their big adventure, sailing across the North Sea and the Captains
were briefed by the Sail Training International Race Team, local weather
forecasters from the British Royal Navy and the Harbour Master from Gothenburg.
Parade of Sail
Predictions of clear skies and a beautiful day are in place for
the Parade of Sail tomorrow (Monday 29 August).
Vessels will begin undocking from 1230. HMS
Tyne will lead the Parade of Sail and a harbour exclusion zone will be
implemented for the duration of the parade from 1200 hours until all the Tall
ships have departed. Once the vessels have
left the port channel exclusion zone a large flotilla of leisure craft are
expected to accompany the fleet southwards.
Visitors unable to take to the water will have the benefit
of enjoying the spectacle from a wide variety of vantage points along the
coast, including St Marys Lighthouse just north of Whitley Bay.
Race Start
The race start is from 1800 on Monday 29 August, five miles
from the coast across a mile long start line, following straight on from the
Parade of Sail.
The British Royal Navy have
been drafted in to support the race start.
The start line vessel is HMS Tyne
– the first of a trio of River-class patrol ships built to safeguard the
fishing stocks in UK. The ship is one of the busiest in the fleet as she
spends on average nine out of every ten days of the year at sea.
The other end of line vessel is HMS Grimsby a British Royal Navy Sandown-class minehunter. HMS
Explorer has been drafted in to be the no-go zone vessel. This makes this race start the first time
the Tall Ships Races and Regattas have had three British Royal Navy vessels
involved in a race start.
Weather Predictions
The fleet will benefit from favourable light to moderate
westerly winds which will allow the new trainees on board to gain their sea
legs in good conditions while learning about life on board. The weather forecast is predicting that these
favourable conditions will continue for the duration of the race with slightly
fresher breezes likely to develop after the first 24 hours.
About Gothenburg
Gothenburg is hosting the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta in
Frihamnen, at the heart of Gothenburg harbour.
Lena Malm, Lord Mayor of Gothenburg said, äóìThis is an event
the people of Gothenburg has longed for since 1997 when the Tall Ships Race
last visited the city. The event
reflects parts of Gothenburg’ soul. The
people of Gothenburg love the sea and are proud of its history as a trading and
shipping city.
