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Belfast welcomes the Tall Ships
 Belfast is the final host Port of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge organised by Sail Training International.
The Tall Ships arrive in Belfast for 4 days and the Port of Belfast will play host to a magnificent spectacle as the final port of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009. Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr. Naomi Long MLA will officially open the event on 13 August.
Event Opening times:
Thursday 13 August 12noon-9pm
Friday 14 August 12noon-9pm
Saturday 15 August 10am-9pm
Sunday 16 August 10am-4pm.
A tourist information centre at the Lagan Lookout (Donegall Quay) will be provided for the duration of the Tall Ships event. It will be open as outlined:
Thursday 13 August 10am-9pm
Friday 14 August 10am-9pm
Saturday 15 August 10am-9pm
Sunday 16 August 10am-5pm
Belfast Welcome Centre will also be extending its Sunday opening hours until 4.30pm on 16 August.
Belfast Welcome Centre will also have a phone enquiry service during the Tall Ships as outlined:
Thursday 13 August 9am-9pm
Friday 14 August 9am-9pm
Saturday 15 August 9am-9pm
Sunday 16 August 10am- 5pm
For any information that you require on the Tall Ships event call the Belfast Welcome Centre on +44 (0)28 9024 6609 or click www.gotobelfast.com
Pick up your free copy of the August WhatAbout from Belfast Welcome Centre containing a special Belfast Maritime Festival Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge pullout or download the pullout.
Plus you can also download the Tall Ships visitor map containing information on what's on and where to find it, as well as a map of key city centre locations and shuttle services.
The Official Programme will also be available to purchase from a range of city outlets, including Belfast Welcome Centre - priced £5. It can also be purchased online
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Getting to and from the event
 A Park and Ride service will be in place to accommodate in excess of 4,000 cars on each day of the event. This will be operated by Translink using fully accessible vehicles and will be colour coded.
Giant's Park (Fortwilliam) -(serving the North and M2) 1000 spaces - Yellow
Boucher Road Playing Fields (serving the South, West and M1) 1000 spaces - Green
D3 (Airport Road West) (serving North Down, East Belfast and central traffic) 2000 spaces - Red
Park 'n' ride costs £2 per adult, children under 16 and Senior Citizens free of charge.
View this link for Park n Ride map, pick up and drop off points, times and disability access.
Free Event Shuttle Service
A shuttle bus system, serving all the event sites will be operated by Translink using fully accessible vehicles. There will be nine buses in operation using high capacity vehicles providing a five minute frequency between all sites. This will be a free to use service.
Free City Centre Shopper Shuttle
A free Belfast city centre shuttle service will be in operation during Tall Ships event to transport people from the city centre to the event site and back. The special bus service will run every 10 minutes. Stopping off at: City Hall (Donegall Sq. Sth), City Hall (Donegall Sq. West), Chichester St (M&S side door), Victoria Street (Jaffa Fountain), High Street, CastleCourt (Royal Avenue), Corporation Street, Middlepath St (Odyssey),Oxford Street, St. George's Market (May St). Service every 10 mins. Bus Stops will have a Tall Ships Flag for easy identification
Car Parking Special Offers
Donegall Quay Car Park
Hi Park Car Park
Lanyon Place Car Parks
Thursday 13 & Friday 14 August - £3 from midday to close
Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 August - £4 all day parking
Additional Information on road closures and other transport options at this link.
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Viewing and accessing the ships
 The Tall Ships 2009 Festival will host 12 Class A vessels as well as a significant number of Class B, C and D vessels alongside with the fleet taking part in the ASTO Small Ships Race.
Class A: All square-rigged vessels and all other vessels over 40m length overall
Class B: Traditionally rigged vessels with a length overall less than 40m but with a waterline length of at least 9.14m
Class C: Modern rigged vessels with a length overall less than 40m, with a waterline length of at least 9.14m, not carrying spinnaker-like sails.
Class D: Modern rigged vessels with a length overall less than 40m, with a waterline length of at least 9.14m, carrying spinnaker-like sails.
Viewing and Access to the Tall Ships
The Tall Ships will be berthed along Queen's Quay, Abercorn Basin, Donegall Quay and Albert Quay, providing the public with sufficient access to view all of the visiting ships.
Please note that no ships will be open to the public on Sunday but the majority of ships will be open from Thursday to Saturday. Please note some vessels will host corporate events during these times and will be closed to the public
More details on the ships available at this link
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Parade of Sail and celebrations outside Belfast
 The Parade of Sail will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 16 August.
A flotilla of ships will leave Belfast in all their splendour marking the end of the Belfast Maritime Festival 2009.
The best viewing will be along the County Down and County Antrim coastlines.
For events happening in Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and North Down - click here
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Event Highlights
 The festival will take place within Belfast’s Harbour over five main sites: Clarendon Dock, Pollock Dock, Queens Quay and Albert Quay with entertainment also being provided at Custom House Square
Fireworks
Thursday 13, Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August.
Each evening a burst of colour will light up the River Lagan and Belfast Lough, which will bring the day’s events to a close at approximately 9.10pm.
Yakolev Displays
Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August.
Look to the skies and be amazed as these unique aircrafts wow you with a sparkling aerobatic performance of manoeuvrability and grace.
Queens Quay will have something for the whole family! Featuring a continental market, funfair rides for younger family members, displays by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue and BBC’s Headroom. Street entertainers will be performing throughout the site.
Clarendon Dock will feature a dedicated family activity zone with fun, exciting activities including a climbing wall and dive tank. This site also boasts arts and crafts and displays for the whole family with live music. A continental market will also be located here.
The Albert Quay site will host a larger funfair for those more daring, a continental market with walkabout entertainers adding carnival atmosphere to the site as well as The UK Strongest Man Competition.
Pollock Dock will host operational naval vessels as well as other interactive demonstrations throughout the event.
Custom House Square will feature live music running late into evening.
During the day there will be family entertainment with involvement from a variety of local community groups, while in the evening the stage will be set for a variety of musicians from across the world.
Evening concerts are ticketed; these can be purchased at a cost of £12 from the Belfast Welcome Centre. Book tickets for the evening concerts
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Special maritime themed tours and openings
 Take this opportunity to experience Belfast’s Maritime history with a visit to the
Thompson Dry Dock and Pump house, Titanic’s Drawing Office, MV Confiance, the SS Nomadic a RIB water taxi and a Lagan Boat tour.
SS Nomadic – Daytime Opening, Tours & Evening Performances visit the S.S. Nomadic; Titanic’s Little Sister and the last of the once mighty White Star Line. The ship will be temporarily opened from 10th –23rd August to mark the visit of the Tall Ships to Belfast. Visitors can enjoy tours, talks, exhibitions/artefacts, as well as a souvenir shop and the Lough life Children’s Art Workshop. Tickets are priced at £5 per adult, £3 per child or senior citizen (14- / 60+) and £12 for a Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children). Tickets are valid between 10am – 6pm each day and can be purchased in advance from the Belfast Welcome Centre (47 Donegall Place), calling 028 9024 6609 or booking online.
Tickets can also be purchased on the day beside the ship which will be situated in Hamilton Dry Dock on the Queens Road (Just behind Odyssey Arena).
Please note there is no disabled access onboard and the ship is limited to 300 guests on board at any one time.
Special evening performance of a ‘Titanic’ play performed by students from Dominican College Fortwilliam - onboard the SS Nomadic
13, 14, 15 & 16 August
Tickets are priced at £10 per adult and £5 per child or senior citizen and must be purchased in advance from the Belfast Welcome Centre (Donegall Place 028 9024 6609 or book online.
Titanic’s Dock and Pump House
13 to 16 August, 10.30am to 4pm
Thompson Dock is the final place where the celebrated RMS Titanic rested on dry ground. See the ships physical footprint in history, learn about Belfast ship building history in the Pump House, take a guided tour or why not enjoy a coffee in the Visitor Centre and Cafe. Normal admission prices apply. For further information visit www.titanicsdock.com
Lagan Boat Company
View the Tall Ships from the water with a guided tour on the "Joyce Two" or "Mona". Tours depart Donegall Quay (near Big Fish) every half hour. Further details on tours and pricing are available here or call 028 9033 0844 / 07718910423.
RIB boat taxi
A memorable, unique and exhilarating experience as you whizz along Belfast Lough at up to 35 knots. Tall Ships viewing experience, fireworks viewing experience (each night) and Parade of Sail experience available for up to 12 people per journey.
Pre-booking is essential. Corporate Private Charter is also available. Email Peak Discovery or 028 4372 3933 for a timetable of pick up/drop off points and prices. All departure times are subject to change at short notice.
Drawing Offices Queen's Road
Thursday 13 and Friday 14 - 12 noon to 6pm
Saturday 15 10am -6pm
The Belfast Titanic Society, courtesy of Titanic Quarter Ltd, welcomes visitors and members of the public to the Old Main Office Block of Harland & Wolff, which houses the Drawing Office where Titanic and many other ships were designed. This unique space normally closed to the public will be open as part of the Tall Ships celebrations. For further details call 028 9145 6565
Inland Waterways Boat Rally
Saturday 15 August 11.30am
The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, Lagan Branch, (IWAI) are hosting their bi-annual boat rally on the River Lagan. Boats from all over Ireland will gather to promote the restoration of the Lagan Navigation. The flotilla will leave Ravenhill Reach at 11.30am arriving at the Waterfront at 12.00 noon. For further information go to www.iwai.ie
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Tall Ships Themed Exhibitions
 W5 @ Odyssey - Wind, Wings and Waves Summer Exhibition
9 May - 6 September
This exhibition is free with admission to W5.
Deirdre McKenna Exhibition
3-28 August Belfast Waterfront- Gallery 2
A past sailor aboard various Tall Ships vessels, Deirdre McKenna's Exhibition draws on her personal experiences and affinity to the Sea and the world of sailing. The exhibition of oil paintings looks at the tradition of maritime activities and uses materials echoing those traditionally used in shipbuilding
Free Exhibition, Lagan Lookout, Donegall Quay
13 to 16 August
Open for viewing during Belfast Maritime Festival Tall Ships event hours.
Sailortown Regeneration - Photographic Exhibition,
Over the four days that Belfast is hosting the Tall Ships, a photographic history of Belfast Dockers and Sailortown shall be on display in The Dockers Boxing Club, Pilot Street and at Sailortown Hall, 11-13 Garmoyle Street. For additional information go to: www.sailortownbelfast.org
Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church, Corporation Square
Thursday 13 and Friday 14, 1pm - 8pm,
Saturday 15, 10am - 8pm and Sunday 16, 1pm - 4pm
Step inside Belfast’s dedicated maritime place of Worship officially opened in October 1857. For over 150 years this splendid congregation continues to shine its light over the docklands of Belfast and acts as a safe haven for those in need of spiritual peace. Guided tours each day on the hour. Note tours will not operate at 2pm as the Church will hold a ‘Time of Spiritual Reflection’ Service. On Sunday 16 August, 11am. A special Thanksgiving Service will be held. Praise led by the ‘Portavogie Fishermen’s Choir.’
Belfast Print Workshop Gallery BPW Sail into Victoria Square
Belfast Print Workshop has teamed up with Arts and Business and Victoria Square to host a month long exhibition of nautical prints at a temporary gallery space in Victoria Square.
Throughout August
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City Centre Activities & Offers
 If you decide to take a break from the fun portside, remember the rest of the city will be buzzing during the 4 days too. Take a trip on the Belfast Wheel, "Shop Ahoy" at Victoria Square, browse over 80 stores including Debenhams and Gap at CastleCourt or indulge in some retail therapy in the city's numerous independent retail outlets. City Centre Shops are open until 9pm on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Many other restaurants, bars and shops around the city centre are joining in the festivities so look out for special meal deals and discounts. Special accommodation offers are also available here.
Tall Ships Whiskey Tasting Masterclass
Chamber of Trade and Commerce, in conjunction with Botanic Inns, invite you to enjoy some of the best whiskeys in the world from the stable of the Cooley Distillery of Co. Louth, the 2008 IWSC World Distiller of the Year. Join Michael Morris from Cooley as he takes you on a journey through the delights of the award winning "uisce beatha" or "water of life". You will also get the opportunity at the event to purchase a special one-time-only bottle of Tall Ships 2009 Commemorative Whiskey.
Tickets: £5 per person - Available from Belfast City Centre Management - 028 90 242 111
Limited number of places available for the following times:-
Tuesday 11th August The Northern Whig (6pm) Apartment (8pm)
Wednesday 12th August Madison’s Hotel (6pm) Taphouse (8pm)
Thursday 13th August The Kitchen Bar (6pm)
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More tours and attractions in Belfast and beyond
 Tours
Belfast Music Tour 16 August, departs from Ulster Hall @ 2pm
Crumlin Road Gaol Tour -13-16 August, Crumlin Road Gaol
CS Lewis Tour -16 August Departs from Linenhall Library @ 2pm
Living Tours Belfast -16 August Departs from Belfast Welcome Centre @ 11.15am
Bangor and Groomsport bus tour - 16 August Departs from Belfast Welcome Centre @ 11.30am
Other attractions/events
Grand Opera House Lay Up Your Ends - 13 -15 August
Belfast Zoo Reptile Display - 15 & 16 August
Golden Thread Gallery The Eye That Never Sleeps - Until 16 August
Oh Yeah Music Centre(Gordon St) Belfast Music Exhibition- Throughout Tall Ships period
Old Museum Arts CentreExercism of Mary Rose - 14-15 August
King's Hall - Inferno Live - Summer Ball - 15 August
All usual attractions and tours will be in operation in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland unless otherwise stated. Contact Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609 or welcomecentre@belfastvisitor.com for further information.
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Did you know?
The Tall Ships last came to Belfast in 1991 when they berthed at Pollock Dock and were visited by 250,000 people.
It is expected that 400,000 people will attend this year's event between 13-16 August.
The vessels will have completed over 7,000 nautical miles before arriving into the Port of Belfast
A fleet of over 40 ships will berth along the River Lagan
There will be a Guinness World Record Attempt - for the largest mass gathering of pirates on Saturday 15 August 10am-3pm. See more details here
The crew parade will take place on Friday 14 August
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