The Tall Ships Races are… as the name implies, competitive sailing events classified as ‘tall ships’. The annual event features a series of races along an established route and makeshift stops at major ports along the way. Which generally results in a great celebration of maritime heritage. In Ireland, both Dublin and Waterford were chosen as host ports in recent years.
What is the story behind big boat racing?
Sailboats always competed with each other: famous clippers for the fastest delivery, warships for the best position, and merchants with pirates for everything. But these were bitter rivalries, often to the death, not sporting events.
Racing (and also festivals) for tall ships really took off in the 1950s, when commercial use of boats waned and sailing training became an almost nostalgic occupation, often a mere hobby. The (novel) idea of an international race for sailing training boats was first discussed and an ‘International Sailing Training Regatta Committee’ was formed around 1953. A first race was planned between Torbay (UK) and Lisbon (Portugal) for 1956. To mark the end of the sailing age.
Instead, the first race with just twenty boats can be credited with reviving the passion for tall boats around the world. Since then, new boats have been commissioned and today around a hundred participate in the tall boat races. Some with a long history: some spoils of war taken from Germany in 1945 are still under sail in 2012.
Tall ship races in Europe seem to be the most interesting events on the calendar and attract the most participants. They are also very popular events in host ports, with open boat days, sailing parades and plenty of entertainment for crews and boaters.
Weren’t there the Cutty Sark races once …?
Yes, that’s true, but these had only a very weak relationship with the tea cutter of the same name (open to visitors in Greenwich, London, these days). For three decades, between 1973 and 2003, the races were sponsored by Cutty Sark, a whiskey brand. During those days, racing was known to the brand. After that, the event was sponsored by Antwerp in Belgium (a collaborative effort of the city, province and port). Since 2010, the races are sponsored by the city of Szczecin in Poland.
Where and when are tall boat races held?
The main event, the European race, takes place over several weeks in the summer months of each year and involves a series of host ports with the race running between them (the start and finish are at sea, not at the port).
The most recent races to stop at Irish ports were 2005 and 2011 at Waterford, 2012 in Dublin, and 2015 when the Tall Ships Races began in Belfast.
After the 2012 Dublin festivities, a new race was launched for the first time… the Irish Sea Tall Ship Regatta, also organized by Sail Training International. It remains to be seen how it will fare in the future.
Who participates in tall boat races?
Tall ships… but there is a technical definition: monohull vessel over 9.14 m in length at the waterline. As a focus of training, at least 50% of any crew must be between the ages of 15 and 25.
Four classes of tall ships are recognized:
- Class A: all square-rigged vessels (barque, barquentine, brig, brig or rigged) and all other vessels over 40 meters overall length (LOA).
- Class B – Traditional rigged vessels (i.e. sloops, ketches, yawns and schooners) with a LOA of less than 40 meters.
- Class C: Modern rigged vessels (i.e. sloops, ketches, yawns and Bermuda rigged schooners) with a LOA of less than 40 meters and not carrying spinnaker sails.
- Class D: like Class C, but with spinnaker type sails.
What to expect on host ports?
In general, a very organized chaos and a festive chaos of the most pleasant kind – the event is usually a combination of a big carnival with a fun fair and a food festival, complete with cultural events of all kinds. However, the stars of the show are the tall ships, which will be moored in the harbor the entire time.
Can you really go on the tall ships?
Yes and no, depending on what you want to do.
Most Class A and B ships will be open to visitors at certain times and a visit to a ship can take all sorts of forms, from a quick glance to climbing on the rig (a Health and Safety nightmare, usually only provided) for the most exotic). visitors). There may also be entertainment on board. And memories.
Some of the larger ships will also carry passengers with them at times… ask in advance if you are interested.
Can you see the Tall Ships Racing?
Again, the answer is “Yes and no!” The races themselves are held in open water between the host ports, the best chance of spotting them is at the starting line… they are all there and will start flying. Believe it or not: at Waterford 2005 the wind was non-existent and the fog took away visibility.
Before the race, the boats usually meet through a “Parade of the Sail”, sailing from the port to the starting line. This may be your best bet for spotting boats. Or, if you have a little free time, you can watch the ships arriving at the host port. Local knowledge and marine radio monitoring help you find the best viewing position and time.
Is there an Irish tall ship?
Yes, there is… although participation in Tall Ships Races is incomplete. Currently registered are the following:
- Aifric – Class D, built in 2002, home port Kinsale (Cork)
- Assarain II – Class D, built in 1989, home port Kinsale (Cork)
- Celtic Mist – Class C, built in 1974, home port Kilrush (Clare) – used to be the private yacht of the former (and somewhat disgraced) Taoiseach Charles Haughey, now registered as a research vessel for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
- Creidne – D-Class, built 1967, Irish Naval Service training ship
- Cypraea – Class C, built in 2011, based in West Cork
- Dunbrody – A-Class, built in 2001, New Ross Homeport (Wexford, currently unseaworthy)
- Ilen – Class B, built in 1920, based in West Cork
- Jeanie Johnston – Class A, built in 2000, home port Tralee (Kerry) – this ship is moored in Dublin’s Docklands (currently not seaworthy)
- Spirit of Oysterhaven – Class C, built 1972, homeport Oysterhaven (Cork)
