Where to see ships in their glorious full sail

DETAILS REVEALED OF SPECTACULAR SEA PARADE AHEAD OF TALL SHIPS SUNDERLAND 2018

More details are starting to emerge of one of the biggest expected highlights of Tall Ships Sunderland 2018.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pack the Wearside coastline for the Parade of Sail which will happen on the afternoon of Saturday, July 14.

The city’s tall ship team has announced some details of when the event is likely to get into full swing.

The fleet is due to begin undocking at approximately 2pm to parade between the Wear’s historic piers in the two hours before high tide at 5.15pm.

The parade will bear north along the coast until it is level with Souter Point.

It will then turn back south to a start line which is four miles east from the piers.

Coun John Kelly, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture, said: “The events programme is taking shape, and looking more and more ship-shape as more ships and contributors are coming on-board and I’m confident we can expect some Airshow sized crowds.

“The city’s Tall Ships team are working hard behind the scenes with vessel operators to attract a magnificent fleet and this is paying dividends as 24 of the fleet confirmed so far are the larger Class A or Bs.”

Ships will be berthed in Hudson Dock and at berths on the north and south banks of the river.

Nearly 40 ships are now confirmed for the Sunderland event between Wednesday, July 11, and Saturday, July 14.

The races are expected to bring 1.5 million people to Wearside and they will get to see up to 80 ships. More information on the fleet and the event is available at www.tallshipssunderland.com

Are you going to be taking part next year?

Will you be boarding a ship for the first time – or are you a seasoned regular? Get in touch and tell us all about it.

Are you a business in Sunderland which is keen to get involved and wants to tell the world all about it?

Or perhaps you go to a school which is lining up all sorts of tall ships projects and stories over the next year. Whatever your story, we want to hear it.

We want to hear what part you will be playing in the spectacle. Get in touch and tell us more. Email chris.cordner@jpress.co.uk