Tall Ships Races returns to the UK

Over 30 traditionally rigged sailing vessels will visit the UK next month (6-9 July 2023) as the Tall Ships Races returns to Hartlepool.

Hosting The Tall Ships Races 2023, the north eastern port in the Tees Valley will welcome the international fleet of Tall Ships and Small Ships as part their epic voyage, visiting up to five ports in 39 days.

Covering in excess of 1000km, the four-leg event travels from Den Helder in the Netherlands to Hartlepool (race one), and from Hartlepool back across the North Sea to Fredrikstad (race two). Following this, the Tall Ships fleet will take part in a cruise-in-company from Fredrikstad to Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands. The event will then conclude with a race (three) back east to Arendal in Norway.

A total of 59 ships will take part from 17 different nations, offering a unique insight into maritime history and culture. Two of the boats, Indonesia’s Bima Suca and Uruguay’s Capitan Miranda, will also be making their first visit to European waters.

A number of military boats are among the vessels taking part, six of which will be present when the race calls at Hartlepool. They are the Belle Poule, from France; the Bima Suci, from Indonesia; the Capitan Miranda, from Uruguay; the Orsa Maggiore, from Italy; the Urania, from the Netherlands; and the Zenobe Gramme, from Belgium.

The oldest vessel taking part is the Class B Swan, from the UK, which was launched in 1900, while both the Betty from Denmark and the Jolie Brise from the UK are 110 years old.

The four-day event in Hartlepool is free to attend, and will feature a host of live music and entertainment.