Tall Ships for Falmouth
Host ports for the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta 2008 were announced in Lisbon today by Sail Training International during a reception on the Portuguese sail training ship 'Sagres' with Falmouth being selected as the start port.
It is anticipated that a fleet of about 30 tall ships made up of approximately 10 of the very large Class A square rigged ships, traditionally rigged Class B vessels and Class C and D yachts. The Tall Ships will race from Falmouth at the beginning of September to the Port of Aveiro in Portugal before the stage race to Funchal, Madeira.
Carrick District Council has agreed to take the lead role in the event, and will be the accountable body for the project working in partnership and with support from Falmouth Tall Ships Association, Cornwall County Council, Cornwall Enterprise, South West Regional Development Agency, Falmouth Town Council, A&P Falmouth, Cornwall Marine Network and Falmouth Harbour Commissioners.
John Winskill, Chief Executive of Carrick District Council said "In 1998 when the Tall Ships Festival was last hosted in Falmouth, 150,000 people came to experience the Tall Ships race which contributed some £24 million into the local economy. Due to the significant impact the Tall Ships will bring again to the port and district we have agreed to be the lead accountable body for the event".
“Falmouth played host to the international Tall Ships Race in 1982, and many people will remember the huge success of the Tall Ships Festival in 1998. The port now has a permanent organisation in place to welcome sail training ships, and is recognised as a ‘sail training friendly’ port" said Councillor Mike Cox, Chairman of Carrick District Council. “Hosting the fleet for the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta will serve to strengthen this partnership, as well as the tourism and economic interests of Cornwall. We are delighted with the decision.”
John Hick, Chairman of Falmouth Tall Ships Association commented "We have this great opportunity again in Falmouth to bring many major sail training ships to Falmouth and show them the hospitality that is synonymous with the town. We are delighted to be chosen for the start of this prestigious race”.
One of the key aims of the event is to encourage 50 or more cadets from across Cornwall to take part in the race. For further information please contact Carrick District Council on 01872 224384.
Provisional Dates for the race: Falmouth 3-6 September, IIhavo (Port of Aveiro) Portugal 14-17 September, Funchal, Madeira 25-26 September. Confirmation of dates and further details of what is planned in each host port will be published later this year. (Note: these dates have since been confirmed as Falmouth 10 – 13 September, Illhavo 20 – 23 September, Funchal 2 – 5 October). |
