The North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016: Sailing Away to Sweden
The fleet of The North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016 said
farewell to Blyth, Northumberland today with a sunlit Parade of Sail
seen by thousands of onlookers lining the quayside and nearby beaches
wishing the fleet well in the race to Gothenburg, Sweden.
As many
of the trainees on board experienced sailing for the first time, they
were making the most of the opportunity to prepare themselves for the
race start just five miles off the coast in order to begin the passage
across the North Sea.
Blyth has provided both its visitors and
vessel crews with a weekend to remember, treating them to epic firework
displays, a crew parade supported by the local community and an array of
cultural entertainment set against a wonderful Northumberland back
drop. A truly fitting event setting for the international fleet.
Follow the Fleet live with YB (Yellow Brick Tracking)
Sail
Training International uses the Yellow Brick (YB) satellite tracking
system to follow the vessels taking part in the race. It allows you to
track a vessel’ position from anywhere on earth.
What is it? YB
is a rugged and fully self-contained battery operated tracker given to
every vessel, which works anywhere and in any condition. Every Tall Ship
and Small Ship that takes part in a Race or Regatta uses one.
By
following the links provided on the Sail On Board home and event pages
you can follow the progress of the fleet. You can also download the YB
app for your phone, for free. Both platforms provide you with a full
fleet leader board that can be accessed through the left hand side of
the satellite display. Once opened, the leader board can also be
separated into ship classes for more detailed race tracking.
About Gothenburg
The destination for the Regatta fleet is the Scandinavian city of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gothenburg
(also known as Gí_teborg) is a chilled, cosmopolitan port on the west
coast of Sweden. It’ the country’ second-largest city, and it’
garnered a well-earned reputation for its highly proactive environmental
work. Gothenburg can boast a long relationship with the Tall Ships
Races – it welcomes the fleet for the fifth time since 1968.
The
port is nestled within the unique Kattegat – a beautiful body of water
that’ shaped by the Jutlandic Peninsula and the Straits of Denmark. The
city will begin receiving vessels from Thursday 1 September with an
arrival deadline of 12pm Saturday 3 September. Visitors will be able
enjoy all the event has to offer from Saturday 3 to Tuesday 6 September
for what promises to be yet another spectacular Tall Ships event.
News from behind the sails: Hoorah for the Volunteers
Sail
Training International travels to ports all over Europe and has rated
the volunteers in Blyth as some of the best they have ever seen.
At a special thank you party when the fleet had left, James Stevens, Race Chairman congratulated everyone.
äóìYou have clearly been well briefed, friendly, efficient, positive and incredibly hard working.
äóìWe’ve
been talking to lots of you over the last few days and we’ve heard
about the long hours you have put in, the extra personal efforts you
have made, and the many, many miles many of you have walked.
äóìThe ships, trainees and the visiting public have all said to us that you have all been amazing.
“nd that’ the thing – people think this event is about the ships – but you have been the public face of this event.
äóìYou have been great ambassadors not just for Blyth, but also Northumberland and given the event its heart.
äóìYou should be