Expect a big splash down the Clyde when THE CUTTY SARK TALL SHIPS fleet arrives in Greenock for a weekend of celebrations. Words: Miles Fielder
ail
of the century
After a 420-mile voyage from St Malo in France, the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race arrives at Greenock quayside for the Bank Holiday weekend, Friday 30 July 30-Monday 2 August. The 80-strong fleet boasts at least fifteen Class A sailing vessels, the greatest number of large square riggers smce the first Tall Ships Race way back in 1956. Over Sixteen countries are represented in the fleet, which includes the Mexican Cuauhtemoc, Polish Pogor/a and the Russian Kreuzenshtern, as well as Britain's own most famous tall ship, The Cutty Sark. During the course of the four-day celebrations, Greenock is expecting to attract up to half a million visitors to the Clyde estuary quayside, which recently underwent a £60 million facelift. The quayside will host various events — including music, dance, street theatre, art, puppetry and sport — which take place along the whole of the quayside and throughout the town centre. Events fall into three zones: Fire (Victoria and East India Harbours and Customhouse Quay), Water (Riverside Walkway to Greenock Ocean Terminal) and Air (the town centre). Ticket prices and pomts of purchase are noted where applicable.
WEEKEND-LUNG EVENTS
Inspect tlie ileet Victoria and liast lndia Docks and along the Quayside. l()am—l lpm. The Tall Ships will be arriving on the Thursday and mooring in both docks as well as spread ottt along the two kilometre quayside. From Friday morning visitors will be able to stroll around. inspect the rigging and board many of the vessels.
British Polythene Children’s Air Activity Centre Water Zone. I lam—6pm (5pm on Mon).
81' Dreamspace Water Zone. Sculpture of giant honeycomb pods.
Cowan's Corner Sculpture Garden Clyde Square A Community Arts Programme site. designed and implimented by children and artists.
Get A Life! Water Zone. from I lam. Exhibition and performance area.
Marks 8: Spencer Storytelling Area Fire Zone. from I lam.
Public Art Project Three site-based projects selected from over l20 applications from artists throughout Europe. At Port Glasgow Library Forecourt. Roger Palmer‘s wall painting Departure. based on an engraving made in I839. recalls an era when sailing ships left the Clyde with Scottish settlers bound for New Zealand. Karen Mooney‘s constructed textile Water Flag: The Unfurling. at Western Ferries Terminal. Mclnroys Point. draws on folklore worship of mermaids. Aileen Campbell’s performance piece Water Maids. at Gourock Open Air Swimming Pool. is inspired by childhood stories of mermaids maintaining the pool. Safeway All Hands On Deck Activity Station Water Zone. l lam—6pm (5pm on Mon). Fun from paint walls to plasticene. Ship Shapes Cathcart Street. Community Arts Programme centre. Tesco Altered Images Face Painting Area Fire Zone. from I lam.
FRIDAY 30 JULY
Glasgow Airport Stage Fire Zone.
I lam—l lpm. Live bands. dancing and performance featuring Salt.
Aon Consulting Stage Fire Zone. 2—6pm. Local and upcoming bands
featuring Skandal and Mero; 7—I lpm. club night featuring DJs George Bowie. Cris Keegan and Jeff Montford.
Fire Venue Fire Zone. I lam—l lpm. Live bands and performance featuring Strings And Things and The Wherries.
Cafe Society Air Zone. I lam—l lpm. Live music and performance from classic to acoustic to Celtic sounds.
Oakmall Shopping Centre Stage Air Zone. I lam—8pm. Accordian bands. street theatre from Mischief La Bus and acrobalance performances.
H20 Club Water Zone. I lam—6pm. Live music and peformancc with resident DJ; 7.30pm-midnight. Celtic night with The Tartan Amoebas. Glasgow Airport Trailer Stage Water Zone. 9am-noon Scot FM live; 4—l lpm. lnverclyde bands.
Children's Classic Concerts Greenock Town Hall. 3.30pm. £2—£l6 (Ticket Centre. Glasgow Ol4l 287 55l l ). An hour- long concert for all the family featuring audience participation and musical favourites such as Blue Danube. Swan Lake and Hall Of The Mountain King. Welcome Procession Water to Fire Zones. 5pm. Costume parade featuring Mother Clyde and Father Neptune. who will welcome the tall ships arriving at 6pm. SFAFA Combined Forces Retreat Water Zone. 8pm.
SATURDAY 31 JULY
Glasgow Airport Stage Fire Zone.
I lam-l lpm. Live bands. performance and dance plus. in two parts at 2pm and 3pm and again at 6pm and 7pm. Tail 0' The Bank. a new Community Arts Programme play commissioned from Danny McCahon whose television credits include The Bill.
Aon Consulting Stage Fire Zone.
I lam—lpm. Local bands: 2-6pm. Lisa 0‘ Hagan and Skandal: 7—l lpm. club night featuring DJs Yomanda. Tuff Twins and Crosby.
Fire Venue Fire Zone. llam-I lpm. Live bands.
Cafe Socety Air Zone. I lam—I lpm. Featuring an aerial performance (off the Town Hall) by te PooKa at 2pm. 5pm and
8pm.
Oakmall Shopping Centre Stage Air Zone. llam-8pm. Live bands and performances.
H20 Club Water Zone. I lam—6pm. Live music and peformancc with resident DJ: 7.30pm-midnight. country night with The Felsons.
Glasgow Airport Trailer Stage Water Zone. 12—3pm. Scot FM live; 4—l lpm. Yoyo Records night with The Commercials. Brother John and White Out.
Crew Parade Fire to Water Zones. 3.30pm. Over 2.000 crew members from the ships.
Girders And Chips Water Zone. l0pm. Visual spectacle.
SUNDAY 1 AUGUST
Glasgow Airport Stage Fire Zone.
| lam-l lpm. Live bands. dancing and performance featuring Tail 0' The Bank in two parts at noon and lpm. and again at 6pm and 7pm: 8pm. Dramatic. the drumming band.
Aon Consulting Stage Fire Zone. 2—6pm. local and upcoming bands featuring Skandal and Mero: 7—l lpm. club night featuring Dls Jon Mancini. Ian 'Boney' Clark and Scott Bradford. Fire Venue Fire Zone. I lam-l lptn. Live bands. Cafe Society Air Zone. I lam—l lpm. Live acts including Drumatic. Cool Sounds and aerial performances from te PooKa at 2 m. 4 m and 8pm.
Oakmall S oppmg Centre Stage Air Zone. I lam—8pm. Various performances. H20 Club Water Zone. I lam—6pm. music and performance; 7.3()pm- midnight. Craig McMurdo and That Swing Thang.
Glasgow Airport Trailer Stage Fire Zone. Noon—3pm. Scot FM live:
4-I lpm. lnvercl de bands.
HM Coastguard Air Sea Rescue Fire Zone. 3pm.
Red Arrows Display 5pm. Fly-over by the world-renowned Red Arrows team. Mardis Gras Carnival All zones. from 7pm. Fancy dress. music. dancing. performance — the lot.
Royal Marines Concert Greenock Town Hall. 8pm.
Pirates Fire Zone (Lidl Car Park). l0pm.
7 Pyrotechnics performances.
Fireworks Display Off quayside. l0.45pm. Spectacular pyrotechnics will light up the sky and illuminate the fleet spread out below.
MONDAY 2 AUGUST
Parade Of Sail ()l‘f quay side. 2.30pm. This will be the most impressne e\ent of the whole weekend. Arrive early to w arch the crews scramble aloft. hoist the sails. weigh anchor and head out to sea. The ships will be selling a course for l.erwick before undertaking the second leg of the race to Aalhorg in Denmark. The fleet should be visible along the coast as they cruise down the firth of (‘ytle past Ailsa Craig and round the Mull of Kinty re.
Live programmes on all stages. llam~ 5pm. Glasgow Airport Stage Fire Zone. lpm. Celtic singer Moira Kerr.
H20 Club Water Zone. I lam~ 5pm. Music and performance.
Glasgow Airport Trailer Stage I-‘ire Zone. Noon—3pm. Scot l-‘M live.
TRAVEL
By road
There is very limited parking in Greenock. but a Park & Ride serx ice is in operation and priced at £l0 per car. Sites are clearly signposted and special arrangements are in place for disabled visitors. Special btis services run from all main depots in the west of Scotland. For further information on has services contact Arriva (0l4l 56l 4242).
By rail
An enhanced rail service will run throughout the weekend. with three trains to Greenock per hour priced at £4.40 cheap day return from Glasgow Central. Trains will run until immediately after the firework display on Sunday. For further information on rail services. contact Rail Enquiries (0345 484950). By ferry
Two services are available: (‘aledonian MacBrayne (0l475 650l00) and Western Ferries (0| 369 704452). Accommodation
To book accommodation. Contact any of the following Tourist Information Centres: Greenock (0l475 722007). Glasgow (0l4l 204 4400). Dunoon
(()l 369 703785). Largs (0l475 673765). Dumbarton (0l389 742306). Helensburgh (0l436 672642). Information
Contact Greenock Tall Ships office (0l475 55l256).