Tall Ships Races

Hugs and Tears as Crews prepare to leave

Posted on 16. Aug, 2009 by admin in Latest News

The crews of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge fleet are spending this morning saying goodbye to their new found friends as the vessels prepare to part for the final time. Since April, many of the vessels have been sailing together in the Atlantic Challenge, departing on races knowing they would be getting back together again at the next port. When they leave Belfast, however, they will be going their separate ways and with so many friendships made along the way, it is a sad day.

Nele Steinbeck, a trainee who has sailed on Tecla from the day they left Amsterdam on the way to take part in the event, has become so attached to sailing that she is going to be take a course at the traditional sailing school, Zeevaartschool in the Netherlands. Nele is three quarters of the way through university to become a doctor had been wondering if she was doing the right thing and was considering leaving university to go into sailing as a career instead. However, after talking to the Doctor on board the Dutch naval vessel Urania, Diederik Romswinckel, who suggested she continue her studies and then become a ship’s doctor like him, she has decided to follow his advice and do both. Go back to university and join him during the winter to study at the sailing school to become a mate.

Diederik and Nele

Meanwhile on Etoile, Sophie Baviere, a trainee who joined the ship to do the entire Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge as a naval cadet, will now be joining Tecla for two months to act as their interpreter as they take a group of Swiss trainees on board.

Family boat Tecla and friends

The parade of sail will commence at 12 noon today.

Further images are available from the Picture Gallery.

The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge is organised by Sail Training International with the American Sail Training Association.

With thanks to Freight forwarding agents to Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009

and Weather forecast providers to Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009.

Tags: atlantic, Belfast, challenge, Sailing, Tall Ships