What's On Tall Ships
Above: Falmouth Harbour. Photo: Cornwall Marine Network
Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta
Don’t miss the Tall Ships Regatta in Falmouth this year from 10-13 September
Falmouth last hosted the Tall Ships Race in 1998, attracting a total of 150,000 visitors to the area. Although this year’s Funchal 500 Regatta will be a smaller event than a decade ago, it is anticipated that around 90,000 will visit the town over four days from 10-13 September.
The magnificent square-rigged vessels will provide a spectacular backdrop to the town during their four-day stay. The event is the highlight of a year of festivities in Madeira celebrating the 500th anniversary of the founding of Funchal. The ships will race from Falmouth to Ilhavo in Portugal then on to Funchal, where a fantastic festival and welcome will await them.
While in Falmouth, the larger ships will welcome visitors on board to look around these historic vessels. Ships taking part in the regatta will come from all over the globe including Mexico, Uruguay, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Oman, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, Portugal, Germany and the UK. Crews will add an international dimension to the town as a host of different languages will be heard, and musicians will play impromptu sessions. The ships’ crew parade will bring colour and excitement to the town centre streets on Thursday.
A diverse programme of events is planned throughout the town over the four days the ships are in the harbour. The town centre will be closed to traffic from 11am to 11pm from Market Street to Custom House Quay, allowing everyone to meander at their own pace through the town and enjoy a car-free atmosphere. Church Street and Custom House Quay car parks will be closed to cars and will be transformed into areas of entertainment.
The main sites
Falmouth Docks is where you’ll see the large ‘A’ Class Tall Ships. Entry is free and the Docks are open to the public from 10am to 7.30pm (a later opening on Wednesday at 11am). Port Pendennis Marina is where the traditionally rigged Class ‘B’ vessels and Class ‘C’ and ‘D’ yachts will be berthed. They can be viewed from the National Maritime Museum Walkway or from Events Square.
The Regatta Entertainment Centre at Events Square will amuse the crowds with daytime circus workshops and live music. Ticketed evening live music is planned with a variety to suit all tastes and ranging from blues to the sounds of the Beach Boys. Custom House Quay will come alive with a bar and stage where performances from local bands, shanty singers and street entertainers can be enjoyed.
The Regatta Shopping Village will be on the upper car park of Church Street Car Park, where there will be an abundance of local food, crafts and gifts to choose from. In the lower car park there will be another bar and a stage with performances planned from local bands and street entertainers. This will be a great place to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy views of the Tall Ships across the harbour. The Moor will also add to the shopping experience, extending its weekly market for the four days.
Gyllyngvase Beach is the venue to watch the ships’ crews battling against each other to take the sports trophies in volleyball and tug of war on Thursday. A grand firework display on Friday evening will mark the last night in port for the ships before they leave in a spectacular parade of sail on Saturday afternoon on their way to the race start-off. Many other venues throughout the town will be staging exhibitions and entertainment.
Taking part
This event will give youngsters from Cornwall the experience of a lifetime. More than 50 people have signed up with the ships to take part in the race, becoming part of the crew and joining in with all the duties on ship, including climbing the rigging, hauling up sails, watch duties, helping in the galley and keeping the vessel ‘ship shape’. This thrilling and fast-paced ocean adventure will offer people the chance to learn skills on board, see new places and form international friendships.
Falmouth and Penryn Colleges ran a competition to select 11 of their students to take part in the race, funded by Falmouth Tall Ships Association and A&P Falmouth. Journalism students from University College Falmouth will take part in the race, sending live footage from on board to the website.
Event organisers are encouraging people to arrive by public transport to reduce pressure on car parks. Alternatively, what better way to travel to the regatta than by boat? Many of the local ferry services and Falmouth’s Park and Float service will stop off at the Docks.
The event is made possible by the support of many partners, sponsors and volunteers. The official partners for the event in Falmouth are Carrick District Council, Falmouth Tall Ships Association, Cornwall County Council, South West Regional Development Agency, A&P Falmouth, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, Cornwall Marine Network, Port Pendennis Marina, National Maritime Museum Cornwall, and Falmouth Town Council. Sail Training International is the regatta organiser overall and Skinners Brewing Company is the main sponsor.
Falmouth has a long association with Tall Ships and is looking forward to welcoming them back to the port in September, as well as welcoming visitors to the town.
For further information visit: www.falmouthtallships.co.uk