Tall Ships Race 2023: Fleet arrives in Falmouth for international event

A fleet of tall ships is arriving in Cornwall as part of an international event.

The Tall Ships 2023 event will be hosted in Falmouth for the sixth time, after it was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It will take place between 15-18 August, with live music, receptions and parades among events being held.

About 750 international captains and crew members and 100,000 visitors are expected over the four days.

The Magellan-Elcano race will begin in Falmouth on 18 August, with other legs in A Coruña and Cádiz in Spain and Lisbon in Portugal.

About 12 vessels are expected to sail into the town, including five Class A square-rigged ships.

Ships attending will be from countries such as Mexico, Denmark, Poland, Uruguay, Spain and Italy.

The largest of the fleet taking part will be the Polish ship Dar Młodzieży, a three-masted frigate which is one of the largest training sailing ships in the world.

The Class A vessels will be located within A&P Falmouth Docks and ticketed entry into the docks to go onboard will take place on the first three days of the event.

Kirstie Edwards, Mayor of Falmouth, said she was "delighted" to welcome the ships back to the town after nine years.

She said: "Falmouth's beautiful natural harbour and excellent maritime facilities, coupled with our reputation for hosting amazing events, make our town a natural choice for an occasion such as this.

"Add to this, Falmouth's unique mix of cafes, restaurants, pubs, galleries, independent shops and stunning coastline and we have all the ingredients for another memorable Tall Ships event."

Richard Wilcox, Falmouth Business Improvement District manager, said the decision to charge an entry fee for the 2023 event - £5 for adults and £2.50 for children - was in response to rising costs.

"We have to strike a balance between deriving an income so we can balance the books and make the event a success," he said.

"The price point is kept at a level where hopefully we cannot put off too many people."

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