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Tall Ships: Admirers left in awe by the stars of the sea

Friday, 14 August 2009

Three of the Tall Ships leave Ballycastle harbour past Fair Head as they set sail for Belfast

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Matthew McCreary was at the quayside from early yesterday morning as the festivities got under way. He spent the day with the crowds at the opening day of the Tall Ships spectacle

The crowds who thronged the quayside at Clarendon Dock seemed almost in danger of becoming overwhelming at times, as thousands took the opportunity of the clement weather to see the vessels.

They came from across Ulster and beyond, all drawn by the promise of the greatest spectacle ever to hit the province's shores.

The last time the Tall Ships hove into view here in 1991, Belfast was a very different city. The backdrop today is a testimony to the development which has gripped the city in the intervening 18 years — the Odyssey Complex, the ever-expanding Titanic and Cathedral Quarters, the Lagan Weir.

The footbridge across the weir was dense with people of all ages, heading both to and fro to try and pack as much into their day as possible.

Among those getting an early start yesterday morning were former power station worker Henry Pick, who remembered the first time the vessels arrived in 1991.

“I just had to come down to have another look at it,” he said. “The ships are very nice, particularly the one from Rio De Janeiro. I'd very much like to get aboard a ship and have a look around.”

Sydney Mathers and his wife Mary travelled from Carrickfergus for the occasion.

“We were there for the first one in 1991,” said Mrs Mathers. “They're just lovely, there's something about the lure of the sailing ships.”

Mr Mathers, a keen diver, said he was looking forward to seeing the ships above the waterline.

“I have seen a fair few underwater. All you have to do is go around Larne and look near any rock, because there will be a wreck there. It's a great boost for the city just to see them coming in and all the people out and about.”

As befitted the age of sail, a stiff breeze in the air kept the pennants and standards fluttering aboard the dozens of vessels moored at the quayside at Clarendon and the Odyssey.

The names of the vessels also gave a colourful and exotic flavour to the day — the Brazilian Naval ship the Cisne Branco, the Capitan Miranda from Uruguay and the Barque Sagres from Portugal were just three of the names adorning the sterns of the mighty boats.

The waterside was a riot of accents too, as shipmates of all nationalities prepared for the grand opening.

Among the first there was Belfast woman Charlotte Perry.

“We're just getting a look before the crowds come,” she said. “I remember seeing them in the old films and books when they used to take people across the world.”

Carryduff man David Patterson, who is in his 90th year, remembered the last visit of the Tall Ships in 1991.

“I've been looking forward to seeing them coming again,” he said. “We walked all the way from the City Hall to get here. It's once in a while you see this, it doesn't happen every week.”

Jim Doherty from Reading in England returned to his native Belfast to see the big event kick off this morning.

“We are over visiting family and friends and my wife found out about the Tall Ships,” he said. “We're hoping to go down the coast to see them on Sunday, perhaps from Holywood. It's really something, some of the ships are really wonderful.”