Second day success for Falmouth Tall Ships
Visitor numbers to the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta in Falmouth have broken records for the second day in a row with over 16,000 people enjoying free access to the ships. This is on top of the first day bumper turnout of 13,000 visitors.
The second day of the four day festival has also seen record numbers thronging the streets of the town bringing a late economic harvest for the areas traders and festival exhibitors.
During a day of sunshine and the occasional shower the carnival atmosphere was soaked up by the crowd. Holidaymakers Janet and Chris Siddle from Essex have made two trips already this week: “We planned to visit Cornwall this year and tied that in with the Tall Ships. Having seen the ships yesterday we came back today to enjoy the festivities in the town.”
Falmouth is playing host to three all-day entertainment centres this week - Events Square, Custom House Quay and Church Street Car Park. Turning into “Sundowner Quays” in the evening these free venues have proved a hit with families. Rosie Appleton from Lancashire said: “Our children have had a wonderful time clambering on the ships and now enjoying the myriad of talent Falmouth has to display in these free areas.”
The Tall Ships event has also been warmly welcomed by traders in the town. Claire Grimsey from the Diamond Oceans Jewellers in Events Square said: “The square is thronging with visitors and has been since the Tall Ships began. We are hugely supportive of these prestige events and the economic boost they bring to the town.”
Today the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta has seen inter-crew sporting and sea based challenges. Overall winners were the Mexican crew of the Cuauhtemoc. Tomorrow (Friday) sees the last day the public can tour the Tall Ships before race day on Saturday. Among the highlights will be the 11 students from Falmouth School & Penryn School who will board the Pelican for the trip of a lifetime to Madeira. |
