Tens of thousands of people in Belfast came down with a bad dose of whine flu this week.

It’s a regular problem in these parts. Give us an event, a break-through or a success story and some way we’ll always find reason to sneer. And to whine.

And, hands up here, I confess I’m often as bad as the next gurner.

But, come on, folks ?

The Tall Ships thing was a success.

A big, big success.

Yes, there were transport difficulties. And true, some people were charged an arm and a leg for a cheeseburger. And helium balloons. The litter was atrocious. The weather wasn’t great. And the amusements were allowed to overshadow the ships themselves.

But, driving through Belfast on Saturday (several times) I saw one of the most impressive and, yes, heart warming spectacles I have ever witnessed in this city.

Not the majestic ships — but the hundreds of people flowing towards them like a human river down Oxford Street and over the bridge to the Odyssey.

Estimates say that half the population of Northern Ireland came to see the ships.

Who knows how close that estimate was? But judging by the foot traffic passing Custom House it can’t have been far out.

It was like Belfast’s Woodstock. In fact, it attracted a crowd almost as big again as the music festival which happened 40 years ago this week.

Who knew that we were all so very interested in |big boats?

An encouragement there, if ever there was one, for anyone considering creating a maritime museum.

Since the weekend, so many people I know who went down to view the Tall Ships, have told me that they thought the whole show was just ‘the business’.

Yes, there were hiccups. But for once this was a ‘big event’ that truly lived up to the billing.

High-charging burger salespersons aside, congratulations to all involved.