Tall Ships set for a Grand Farewell to Hartlepool

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The Tall Ships Races – Hartlepool 2010 will reach a spectacular finale today(Tuesday 10 August) when the 57 vessels will bid goodbye to the town in a Grand Farewell - Parade of Sail.

Between about 1pm and 3pm the smaller vessels will leave the marina and will gather about a mile offshore in the Hartlepool Bay.

The larger ships will head out of the port from 2.30pm. If, as expected, the current wind conditions continue, these larger vessels will then sail south past Seaton Carew towards the Tees Estuary before turning and sailing back to join the smaller ships ready for the start of the Grand Farewell – Parade of Sail.

The parade itself will begin at about 4pm, with the ships being led by naval vessel HMS Cattistock and the 64-metre-long Norwegian ship Sorlandet which won the Class A category of the races.

Between then and about 5.30pm the parade will take the ships north past Hartlepool and then along past the Headland, Crimdon and the Blackhall Rocks before heading out to sea.

If the wind conditions change, the ships will initially sail north past the Headland and then turn and sail south past Hartlepool to Seaton Carew.

The best vantage points to see the ships during their departure will be Seaton Carew, the Headland, Crimdon and Blackhall Rocks.

Paul Bishop, Sail Training International’s Race Director, said: “The ships and crews have received a marvellous welcome here in Hartlepool and the Grand Farewell – Parade of Sail gives them the opportunity to bid a proud and poignant farewell to the town in an impressive final salute.

“I’m sure people will head to the vantage points to give them a rousing send-off to match the wonderful hospitality which they have enjoyed whilst here.”

The Tall Ships fleet is providing a magnificent spectacle at the end of The Tall Ships Races 2010. The vessels have sailed from Kristiansand in Norway in the second and final race.