Liverpool's Tall Ships Weekend 2018

OVER 25 May to 28 May 2018, Liverpool once did what it is rapidly gaining international acclaim for, providing a magnificent venue for a major event. This time the City was playing host to the start of the Tall ships Regatta and Festival of Sail.

Along with plenty of music and activities for all, including:- an RAF Helicopter that was open to the public, along with opportunities to inspect a variety of vessels, from barges that had been birthed within Salthouse Dock, to sailing ships and other craft in Albert and Canning Docks. Whilst moored at the Cruise Terminal, were the 2 biggest sailing ships, the Lord Nelson and the Belem. Also at the Cruise Terminal was HMS Eaglet. All of which were to take part in the Parade of Sail, on Bank Holiday Monday, in the Mersey before setting off, out to the Mersey Bar and into the Irish Sea. As the ships sailed down the river they were watched by thousands of well wishers on both sides of the river.

With bright sunshine and a calm sea the Tall Ships then sailed off towards the Bar. As they headed out we popped over to Hall Road, so we could watch them sail past the Anthony Gormley statues and then disappearing over the horizon.

At Hall road, both visitors and locals found a fantastic pop up event had been set up. This event was run by the Friends of Hall Road, who had a wide range of activities and entertainment on offer for visitors. There was the food and drink too, being sold via local suppliers, who had been trying to not to use plastic if they could help it. The beach along the entire shoreline was packed. Young and old, came out, not only to see the ships sail, but also to enjoy the sun and the festivities on offer.

Sadly, a mile up the river estuary in Crosby, the Bank Holiday litter louts had moved in and that night were being slammed for leaving a "disgusting" mess on Crosby beach. Volunteer group, Friends of Crosby Beach told us that they had found everything from soiled nappies to crisp packets and broken beer bottles slung all over the area.

However, in Formby, where recently residents have had major issues with Parking, this was not as bad, but Merseyside Police has told us they still had to issue tickets to motorists who had dangerously parked on junctions and even some with all 4 wheels blocking the pavements. Sadly, yet again local residents on the Sefton Coastline have been left outraged, thanks to a very small group of lazy and often thoughtless people. But other than that, the weekend as a whole was a major success for not just Liverpool, but for Merseyside's coastal communities.

The Tall Ships Regatta is now in Dublin for the Republic of Ireland's Bank Holiday and will sail on Monday, 4 June 2018, to Bordeaux, France, just in time for the leading European wine festival, Bordeaux Fête le Vin!

We think that this was yet another fantastic way for Liverpool to mark it's 10th Anniversary of being the European Capital of Culture.

If you went to any of the Three Festival events in Liverpool or on Merseyside, please do let us know what you thought about them. Also please do send us a few pictures if you are at the events in Dublin and/or Bordeaux... Our newsroom email address is:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

For more information about the organisers of the race, visit:- SailTrainingInternational.Org.

More photographs and video on the next page... >>>

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