Ships set sail for a tall time at Belfast maritime festival

Local & National

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

By Linda McKee

Seven majestic tall ships will sail into Belfast Harbour next weekend as the city hosts its second annual Maritime Festival.

The sailing ships will dock in Belfast on June 30 and July 1 as part of the build-up to the visit of the Tall Ships Trans-Atlantic Challenge in 2009.

The flagship Grand Turk may be rather familiar to TV viewers after its starring role as the Indefatigible in Hornblower.

She is a full-size replica of HMS Blandford, a Royal Navy frigate of the late 18th century.

Swedish-built Zebu, one of the last traditional sailing ships to have circumnavigated the globe, will be returning to Belfast, along with the Ruth, also from Sweden, the Kaskelot from Greenland and Ireland's own replica famine ship, the Jeanie Johnston.

The Dutch-built Artemis and Thalassa will also be on show.

Belfast's own gem of the Titanic era, SS Nomadic, will be open to the public. Meanwhile, modern maritime buffs can expect a treat with the arrival of one of the most state-of-the-art vessels in the Royal Navy - the Landing Platform Dock, HMS Albion.

The Tall Ships will be berthed on both sides of the River Lagan, on Clarendon Dock, Queen's Quay next to the Odyssey and at Donegall Quay, with the HMS Albion and SS Nomadic moored at nearby Pollock Dock.

A free shuttle bus service will operate between both sides of the river and all ships will be open between 11am and 5pm each day, with some access restrictions.

The organisers, Belfast City Council and the Port of Belfast, promise a host of attractions over the weekend, including music events and the first Sailortown Festival in Barrow Square with cultural workshops, story telling, tea dances and children's fun.

Clarendon Dock will host a three-day continental market, while the Northern Ireland Seafood Festival will be held outside the Odyssey Pavilion, featuring a cookery masterclass by Jenny Bristow and demonstration of traditional breadmaking.

Lagan Watersports is hosting a come and have a go event for families at Lanyon Place beside the Waterfront, and there will be Lagan boat tours from Donegall Quay, tours of the Harbour Office in Corporation Square and another chance to visit MV Confiance at Lanyon Quay.

The RNLI is staging a roadshow with a simulated rescue by the Donaghadee lifeboat on Sunday afternoon and dramatic demonstrations, including a simulated traffic accident by firefighters.

Children's activities include the Exploris touch tank, a climbing wall, a dive tank and interactive games and fairground stalls. Pirates of the River Lagan will be held at W5.

Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers said: "This promises to be a fantastic event for all the family. With the schools breaking up just a few days earlier, it will be a great way to start the summer holidays, with spectacular sailing ships berthed in the heart of Belfast, events on the water and land, fine food and great music - and most of it for free."

More information is available from www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events