Biggest Tall Ship in the World Salutes Falmouth Send off
The biggest Tall Ship in the World, the magnificent Russian owned Sedov has joined the Tall Ships Parade of Sail off Falmouth Bay this afternoon as the town wishes the crews of the Funchal 500 Regatta bon voyage.
The Sedov will race with over twenty of the world’s most graceful ships as they leave Cornwall heading for Ilhavo, Portugal, on a 10 day dash to the finish line. Before Sedov joined the parade hundreds of Falmouth harbours working boats, gigs and yachts formed a colourful farewell flotilla in salute of the Tall Ships and the youngsters aboard.
Thousands of visitors in the town witnessed this emotional event and thousands more are lining the headlands and beaches of Falmouth Bay, to see the Ships at full sail off the Cornish coast. After the Parade the twenty or more vessels will head to the start line five miles off, where, at 16.30 p.m. the Lord Leftenant of Cornwall, Lady Mary Holborrow will fire the starting cannon from the Naval Minesweeper Cattistock.
As the Tall Ships left from Queens Wharf in the Docks, after a four day festival which has seen thousands of new friendships made in the town, Tall Ships Organiser Samantha Groom admitted to shedding a tear “Watching the Tall Ships leave today I feel a part of me is setting sail with them. Falmouth has loved having the ships and the crews here and has given them a real Cornish welcome - one the crews say they will never forget. Now the shore based party is over for them, it’s down to serious sailing - we wish them safe passage and bon voyage.”
Chairman of the Falmouth Tall Ships Association and the Funchal 500 Regatta Committee John Hick added his best wishes to the crews and the Tall Ships as they set off –“Falmouth has revived a part of its history this week by once again hosting the crews and ships of the world - as it has done for hundreds of years. We are proud that two years of preparation, blood, sweat and the occasional tear has culminated in such a successful event, enjoyed by thousands and thousands of locals and visitors alike. Tonight while our thoughts will be the Tall Ships and their crews I hope everyone will join us for the farewell beach party in Events Square in front of the Maritime Museum as a grand finale to the week.” |
