The biggest ever event to be staged in Belfast takes place this summer, when the magnificent Tall Ships Race sails back into the city.
The city will act as the home port before the start of the 2015 Race, with dozens of the world’s finest sailing vessels berthed in Belfast over the weekend of July 2 – 5. More than 500,000 people are expected to attend the event, bringing with them an economic windfall of at least £10 million for the city.
This is the third time that Belfast has welcomed the Tall Ships Race, having previously staged the event in 1991 and 2009. However, with the city acting as the staging post for the first leg of the race, even more ships will be taking part this year, with more than 50 vessels – including 17 massive Class A ships – making the port their home for four days before setting off on their annual challenge.
Launching this year’s event, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Arder Carson, commented:
“In terms of events, they don’t really come much bigger than the Tall Ships Races.
“While, over the past number of years, we in Belfast have established an internationally-renowned reputation for staging high quality, high profile events, from the MTV EMAs through to last year’s World Police and Fire Games, the figures for the Tall Ships speak for themselves. More than 50 of the world’s finest sailing ships, and their crews, from Europe, North and South America and further afield, will be berthed in Belfast for four days, and we are predicting that more than half a million people will visit them while they are here!
“Add to that, the hugely positive national and international media coverage will bring for the city, coupled with the massive economic benefit – estimated to be in the region of £10 million or more – and you can understand why we are so delighted to have the Tall Ships Race return to Belfast so quickly after its last visit just six years ago.”
While Belfast City Council is the principle funder and lead partner on the project, a wide range of other statutory agencies and commercial companies are also involved and, as with the previous Tall Ships visits, a special not-for-profit company has been set up to organise this year’s event. Dr Gerard O’Hare, Chairman of Belfast Tall Ships Ltd, commented:
“Organising an event of the scale of the Tall Ships Race is a mammoth undertaking, and one which could not be achieved without the hard work and determination of everyone involved.
“From from our core funders – Belfast City Council and the Department for Social Development – through the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, the Odyssey Trust, Titanic Quarter, the Ocean Youth Trust and, of course, our commercial partners in Lidl, Phoenix Gas and Stena, everyone is fully committed to making this year’s Tall Ships Race the biggest and best it can be – and to laying down the challenge to other ports to follow Belfast’s example as to how to stage and event of this nature.”
David Dobbin, Chair of Belfast Harbour, added:
“Belfast Harbour is proud to host such a fantastic event for Northern Ireland. The Tall Ships Race has been hugely popular, bringing people into the Harbour and allowing them to not only enjoy the spectacle of an impressive collection of sailing ships but also gain some understanding of the activities which go on in our estate each and every day. I would like to thank all those who have made the event possible and encourage everyone to take the opportunity to come and see this impressive event.”
The annual Tall Ships Race is owned by Sail Training International (STI), a UK-based charitable organization. Race Director Paul Bishop paid tribute to Belfast’s commitment to the event.
“We’re delighted to bring the Tall Ships Race fleet back to Belfast following our successful visits in 1991 and 2009. Belfast has a great maritime heritage and is renowned as a ‘sail training friendly port’. The crews are guaranteed a terrific welcome before racing to Aalesund, Norway, in the first leg of The Tall Ships Races 2015.”
The Tall Ships Race will be docked in Belfast from Thursday July 2 – Sunday July 5. Access to the event is free.
For further information on the events taking place over the weekend, the ships and where they will be berthed, the ancillary entertainments’ programme, park and ride facilities and so on, visit www.tallshipsbelfast.com. You can also keep up to date with news at www.facebook.com/tallshipsbelfast and www.twitter.com/tallships2015