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Tall
Ships Race 2008
This summer, as usual, the 102- year-old Falmouth yawl Moosk, based in Cremyll, Torpoint, has undertaken the long journey to the Tall Ships Races.
The
Tall Ships started from Liverpool. Moosk set off from Plymouth in
early July with a crew of young people, sailed around Land's End,
with a stop in Penzance, and reached Liverpool to join the fleet and
an amazing number of celebrations organised by the town council and
the Sail Training International organisers.
Moosk
is the oldest and smallest sail training vessel in the whole Tall
Ships fleet and always receives a great welcome. Her young crew
partied every night on different vessels until the start of the
first race to Mäløy in Norway. The race proved a long haul, sailing
above the north of Britain and the Shetland Islands.
Moosk had to cross the North Sea to reach a fishing village of 2,000 people on the north-western tip of Norway. When the fleet arrived in Mäløy, they more than doubled the population! They literally overwhelmed the shore, just like Vikings coming to land, not to pillage and plunder but to party and make new friends. Moosk's crew had a fantastic time – like everyone else and maybe a little more – being awarded the prize for youngest crew of 2008 and recognised like heroes amongst the crowd of young people taking part.
Next
leg was the Cruise in Company, from Mäløy to Bergen through the
stunning Norwegian fjords. This cruise is sailed in company with the
other Tall Ships vessels; captains can exchange crews, stop in
beautiful harbours along the way, where the reception is impeccable,
and enjoy a healthy break from the challenge of racing. In Bergen
the festivities continued until the start of the next race.
A
very demanding race across the North Sea to Den Helder in Holland,
in various weather conditions, proved the stamina of Moosk's crew.
Determination to do well kept them going until bad weather hit
towards the finish and the race committee decided to shorten the
race by a day. At that point Moosk's crew received the long-awaited
message that confirmed their position; Moosk was second! All the
hardship slipped away, leaving room for some more energy to enjoy
the celebrations. It was the first time Moosk won a top place in one
of the races, a second position in class and fourth overall; what an
achievement for a young crew on such a little old boat.
Cremyll
is very proud that the Cornish flag is now synonymous with Moosk and
all the Tall Ships fleet knows it and fears it! Come and join Moosk
in 2009 for the most incredible of the adventures across the North
Sea, the Baltic and up to St Petersburg in Russia.
