Sparkling ship for city race
An award-winning North East ship has become the fourth to sign up for the Tall Ships Races in Sunderland next year.
The Black Diamond of Durham joins the TS Maybe, STS Atyla and STS Lord Nelson for next summer’s spectacular event.
Sunderland will welcome magnificent ships and huge crowds from Wednesday, July 11, to Saturday, July 14, 2018. Spectators can expect everything from the actionpacked crew parade to the parade of sail.
The Hartlepool-based Black Diamond is the latest vessel to sign up for the huge event.
She is a class C 45ft vessel, which has competed every year in the races since 1997 without fail, and has twice been the winner of its class in the races, as well as of the Tall Ships Sailing Regatta at Blyth last year.
Black Diamond owner Barry Nelson said: “It’s good for the area, good for the UK – it is an international event – and good for the youngsters too.
“We do take a lot of youngsters from the North East and give them the experience.”
Skipper Calvyn Whitehand said the North East crowds always gave the ship fantastic support and reflected on the year when the ship sailed into its home port of Hartlepool in 2010 to take part in the town’s leg of the races that year.
“The local crowds were tremendous. There were 300 people around the lock.”
Last year, Black Diamond was in Sunderland when she sailed into the mouth of the Wear to welcome Princess Anne on a visit to the region.
Black Diamond has also become a recognised Royal Yachting Association training school, which means it can train people in how to become an active member of the crew in everything from ropes and steering to below-deck duties – all with a RYA certificate at the end of it.
Those wanting to find out more about the Sunderland leg of next year’s races should visit the new website at tallshipssunderland.com.