Member Article

Tall Ships Could Sail Back to The Tyne In 2010

The Tall Ships Races could return to the Tyne in as little as four years time after organisers Sail Training International announced they have invited NewcastleGateshead to bid for the 2010 series. When the Tall Ships sailed into the Tyne last summer it had been 12 years since their last appearance in North East England. However, with NewcastleGateshead now invited to bid for the 2010 event, the ships could make an unprecedented early return to the area. NewcastleGateshead Tall Ships’ Manager for The Tall Ships’ Races 2005, Phil Payne, said: “This is great news. To be invited to bid to bring the event back so soon is highly unusual and we are delighted to be given this chance. “Last summer the event attracted 1.5m people and brought an additional £50m into the region so to have the possibility of doing this again in 2010 is a great opportunity.” NewcastleGateshead is up against competition from Leith and Lerwick to be the only UK port to host the maritime event. It is also likely that the other legs will once again be in Scandinavia or northern Europe. Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of One North East said: “This announcement is a reflection of the success of the 2005 Races and shows the growing confidence people have in North East England to hold events on this scale. “When the Tall Ships returned to the Tyne last year they helped celebrate the transformation of the NewcastleGateshead Quayside. They also called at ports in the Tees Valley and Blyth and I hope they come back in 2010 to see the regeneration of Hartlepool’s Victoria Harbour and Middlehaven in Middlesbrough on their way to the ever vibrant scene on the Tyne.” You can view footage from the Tall Ships’ Races 2005, including an interview with Tall Ships’ Manager Phil Payne, by watching our special report on bdaily.tv. Check it out by visiting: http://bdaily.info/bdailytv/download.php and selecting the archived report.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .