Tag Archives: Sailing
A Triumph for the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge
Posted on 19. Aug, 2009 by admin.
An estimated 800,000 people visited the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge when they visited Belfast last week. That was double the city’s estimate of 400,000 people and equated to half the population of Northern Ireland. Some 250,000 people thronged along the quaysides and lined the lough on Sunday to witness the parade of sail.
As the ships [...]
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Sad to Leave our Friends
Posted on 17. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Jet Sluik, the daughter on board the family boat Tecla, has filed a final blog entry as they sail back home. It is a tribute to this lovely family that so many of the trainees that had sailed with them since they left Vigo came to Belfast to meet them at the end of this [...]
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Goodbye, Farewell, Au Revoir
Posted on 16. Aug, 2009 by admin.
The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge fleet left Belfast today in a beautiful Parade of Sail that saw most of the ships under sail. Led by the Portuguese Class A ship Sagres, the fleet started to depart at 12.30. As she progressed down the lough, Sagres gradually put up her sails until she was in full [...]
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Hugs and Tears as Crews prepare to leave
Posted on 16. Aug, 2009 by admin.
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 [...]
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Visitor Numbers Exceed Expectations in Belfast
Posted on 15. Aug, 2009 by admin.
People have continued to pour into the Belfast harbour area to visit the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge fleet with the city well on target to exceed their expectations on visitor numbers. While Thursday, the first official day of the event, was seen as a busy day with an estimated 140,000 people visiting the fleet, today [...]
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Renewed Respect for Sailors
Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Alistair McRoberts , a medical student from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, currently studying at Aberdeen University, has just enjoyed an epic adventure sailing across the Atlantic. Alistair joined the other trainees to work as crew on Europa and as he had quite a bit of experience sailing before this trip he knew that this was going to [...]
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Belfast – A Bittersweet Conclusion
Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by admin.
ASTA intern Matthew Maples, who has been sailing on board Europa and keeping us all entertained with his blog entries, has filed his final report:
“Here we are, Belfast. The relative quiet of the deckhouse on Europa barely conceals the roiling festivities of the opening day of the Belfast Maritime Festival. A short glance to my [...]
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Huge Crowds in Belfast
Posted on 13. Aug, 2009 by admin.
The first official day of the Maritime Festival in Belfast to celebrate the end of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge has seen huge crowds making their way down to the quaysides to see the Tall Ships.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that today’s attendance figures have far exceeded initial expectations with upwards of 100,000 said to have visited the Festival [...]
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Belfast, Jobs and Parties
Posted on 13. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Lee Price of Rona II, provides an update of their activities:
“The day started with another delicious breakfast from white watch, cereal, hot dogs, tomatoes and most importantly pancakes. Also of note is the fact that Rona II have almost completed testing every variety of coco pops. From the plain original to the Coco Rocks, and the most recent [...]
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Comparing Notes on Amazing Experience
Posted on 12. Aug, 2009 by admin.
The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge fleet have been continuing to arrive into Belfast today ready for the four day festival which will start tomorrow, 13 August. As the fleet arrive the captains and crews have been comparing notes on their experiences as they crossed the Atlantic in storm conditions.
Winds of up to 48 knots, which [...]
