Tallships 2008, 21st July, River Mersey, Liverpool

Heres a selection from the race day on the 21st, took over 500mb of images and 8 rolls of film!!
Too many pics to list here but have selected a few to blog, more over the next few days. There was a few RN visitors too...HMS Argyll, HMS Mersey, 2 river class patrol craft and a small frigate from the Irish navy "le Orla"

Tallships arrivals 18th July

Some of the larger entrants for this years race arrived on the Mersey this morning, it was quite busy. MIR, Eendracht, Dar Mlodziezy were amongst the arrivals in "crap" weather....lots more pics to come over the weekend!! The RFA Lyme Bay was on the pierhead, she visiting for the Tallships event

Tallships 2008, Liverpool

The 2008 tallships event starts in Liverpool this coming Friday 18th, The race proper starts on the river Mersey on the 21st, monday. There are a number of Royal Navy visitors shedueled too, the RFA Lyme Bay is already berthed at the pierhead, she will be open to the public after 10am on saturday and sunday and will be center stage on the river for the race start on monday, It promises to be a great weekend

Heres a breakdown of events for the weekend, times are subject to change...

Friday, July 18
12 noon Official opening of event
2pm Royal Visit – Albert Dock
2 – 5pm The Tall Ships’ Races Crew Games – Liverpool Aquatics Centre, Wavertree
8pm Shanties 08 Festival launch – Baltic Fleet pub, Wapping
10pm Public viewing of vessels closes

Saturday, July 19
10am-4pm Street Theatre at Albert & Wellington Docks (also on The Strand and Regent Road)
11am-5pm Shanties 08 performances:
Albert Docks – “Walk The Plank” Theatre Ship, Floating Stage, Anchor Courtyard
Wellington & Sandon Docks, Regent Road – Main Stage, various ships
Various city centre pubs – Baltic Fleet, The Lion, Rigby’s and the Pig and Whistle.
3.30pm Crew Parade starts – ECHO Arena
5.00pm Crew Parade ends
5.00pm Prize Giving for Crew Games and ‘Most Memorable Arrival’ by a Tall Ship – Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock
7.30pm Shanties 08 showcase concert, Novas Contemporary Urban Centre
10pm Public viewing of vessels closes

Sunday, July 20
10am-4pm Street Theatre at Albert & Wellington Docks (also on The Strand and Regent Road)
11am-5pm Shanties 08 performances:
Albert Docks – “Walk The Plank” Theatre Ship, Floating Stage, Anchor Courtyard
Wellington & Sandon Docks, Regent Road – Main Stage, various ships
Various city centre pubs – Baltic Fleet, The Lion, Rigby’s and the Pig and Whistle.
10pm Public viewing of vessels closes

Monday, July 21
5am First tall ships slip on to Mersey – Wellington Dock

8am-12 noon Undocking time – Albert Dock
11.30am First Sea Lord of the Admiralty arrives by helicopter – RFA Lyme Bay, Liverpool Cruise Terminal
1.30pm Aerobatic Display – Yakevlovs
2pm Parade of Sail. Fleet to gather at Otterspool Promenade end of R. Mersey
3.30pm Aerobatic Display – Yakevlovs
4pm First Sea Lord of the Admiralty departs by helicopter – RFA Lyme Bay, Liverpool Cruise Terminal
4.30pm Fleet out of sight

River Mersey 5th july

Trinity house vessel "Galatea" was leaving Birkenhead docks today. She is an offshore supply/bouy maintenance tug. Some smit tugs were also at the dock gates waiting to leave. Out in the river a clipper race was finishing, HMS Grimsby was visiting for the event. Cruise liner Grand Princess was again at the liner berth at the pierhead and dwarfed averything else on the river ;-)