Class A ships list full

1:13pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

The ports of Falmouth in the UK and Funchal in Portugal have now reached their maximum capacity for the large Class A ships for this year's Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta. Smaller vessels are still able to enter but these two ports are unable to berth any more Class A ships.

Falmouth now has ten Class A ships registered to take part in the first race to Ilhavo in Portugal, together with another nine vessels of the smaller classes. The second race, which ends in Funchal, has 11 Class A vessels registered with seven smaller vessels also taking part.

"It is very exciting that we have so many Class A vessels taking part in this event," said Peter Newell, Race Director. "The fact that the square rigged ships greatly outnumber the smaller craft is a sure sign that the vessels love to take part in these events and that provides a wonderful opportunity for many people to take part in the Regatta."

Sail Training International, the organisers of the event, always knew there would be a limit to the number of Class A ships these ports could handle due to berthing restrictions, but did not think they would reach the limit so early. The Class A ships taking part include two of the biggest in the world, Mir and Sedov from Russia as well as Cuahtemoc from Mexico, Shabab Oman from Oman and Capitan Miranda from Uruguay which will make for a colourful and multi-cultural event. The latest Class A ship to join is Pelican from the UK, racing with us for the first time this year.

"This is a wonderful problem to have," said Francisco Faria Paulino, project manager of the event in Funchal. "The fact that we have some of the biggest ships in the world taking part means we will have a spectacular event to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Funchal and so we are very pleased. The ships and their crews will be given a very warm welcome in Funchal!"

The Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta starts in Falmouth from 10-13 September where the first race will commence. The fleet will race down to Ilhavo in Portugal where they will enjoy four days of festivities, 20-23 September, before racing to Funchal where the fleet will form a centrepiece of the city's 500th anniversary and Maritime Festival for four days, 2-5 October.

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