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Liverpool
Start port of The Tall Ships’ Race 2008
18 – 21 July 2008
The eyes of the world will be on Liverpool in 2008 when the city celebrates Europe’s biggest cultural festival of the decade - Liverpool as European Capital of Culture.
The arrival of the Tall Ships’ Race fleet in
July will be one of the major highlights for the year.
From the moment the ships berth in Liverpool they
will experience a welcome and celebration like no
other in the world.
Their arrival will trigger a mammoth four-day maritime jubilee celebrating the port’s 800-year history on a spectacular World Heritage waterfront which has undergone a £1 billion makeover – including the new Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool and a Cruise Liner Berth.
It will bring close to 100 Tall Ships and more than 3,000 crew,
from all over the world, to the banks of the River Mersey in the
July of 2008.
Liverpool will welcome one million people to witness the spectacular
sight of the Tall Ship's fleet which will include a dazzling array
of vessels, from 30 foot yachts to square-rigged ships over 300 feet
long.
Scores of vessels - square riggers, schooners, brigs, brigantines,
ketches, yawls, cutters and sloops - will be berthed in the city's
historic Albert and Central Docks for four days before the race
starts.
For the maritime extravaganza:
- The entire Liverpool Waterfront will be used by the Tall Ship's Fleet
- The new £15m Cruise Liner Terminal will host the biggest 'Class A' ships
- The world famous Pier Head will be the centre of the berthing area
- An Olympic-style Village will be created at the Albert and Central docks for the crews
The Class A fleet will be berthed in Wellington and Sandon Half Tide Docks from where there are wonderful views of Liverpool Bay. Rarely open to the public these working docks are in the next decade to experience a major regeneration programme changing it from industrial usage to a major leisure, residential and commercial area.
The B, C, and D class ships will be berthed in the Albert, Canning and Canning Half Tide Docks in the heart of the city centre.
