16/07/2008
Nautical novices
A wave of Liverpool youngsters are to compete in the 2008 Tall Ships' Races after the city launched a special sea-faring search.
Up to 40 FREE berths were available for youths aged from 16-24 to be part of one the most spectacular highlights of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture.
The successful applicants this year, none of whom needed any sailing experience, will be stepping aboard 'The Stavros S Niarchos' on the first leg to Maloy in Norway. And some will be getting their sea legs in this week as they assist in bringing the Class A vessel to Liverpool from London.
The Liverpudlian sail trainees will be joined by a further eight locals funded by the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. In total 3,000 trainees will be in the city to participate in a host of activities throughout the amazing, free, four-day maritime extravaganza. The highpoint of their social diary will be the Crew Parade on Saturday afternoon around the ECHO Arena Liverpool.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Deputy Chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: "The 2008 Tall Ships' Races will be an unforgettable week and its fantastic that so many of our youngsters will be at the very heart of it.
''This a once-in-lifetime opportunity for them to not just learn maritime skills but about themselves and other people and cultures. I'm sure all of them will be excellent ambassadors for the city in what is undoubtedly our most important year.''
Judith Feather, Head of Events at Liverpool Culture Company, said: ''The Tall Ships Races' is an amazing opportunity for young people to learn so much be it maritime skills or valuable lessons about themselves, friendship, teamwork and other cultures. The competition for places was fierce and we are lucky to have such a great crop of youngsters to represent the city this year. To be leaving their home town in such a fantastic occasion will be an experience that will live with them forever.''
The Liverpool Culture Company and Liverpool city council's Education Services has funded a youth sail training programme since 2005 - Liverpool's Year of the Sea - placing more than 200 youths on the high seas.
1. LIAM ROSS, SPEKE, AGE - 17
2. SOPHIE BELL, WAVERTREE, AGE - 16
3. JOSHUA ALEXANDER BELL, LUSITANIA ROAD, WALTON, AGE 16
4. NICHOLAS GRIBIT, AIGBURTH, AGE 24
5. JAK BUZZEO, KENSINGTON, AGE - 22
6. HEATHER JANE CHADWICK, WEST DERBY, AGE - 16
7. STEPHEN BEARD, TUEBROOK, AGE - 17
8 LAUREN BYRNE, WEST DERBY, AGE - 16
9 CLAIRE GUEST, ALLERTON, AGE - 21
10 KATE GUEST (AS ABOVE - TWIN SISTER)
11 DANIEL BIRD, SPEKE, AGE - 17
12 CLARE MURPHY, CHILDWALL AGE - 18
13 ELIZABETH WALSH, DOVECOT, AGE - 16
14 MAX STARCK-STEVENS, GARSTON, AGE - 17
15 NATHAN GRIMES, DOVECOT, AGE - 16
16 BETHANY HIGGINS, SPEKE, AGE - 17
17 JONATHAN VEACH, WAVERTREE, AGE - 18
18 CLARE McGOLDRICK, L6 AGE - 21
19 PAUL REGAN, VAUXHALL, AGE - 20
20 LEE WILSON, SPEKE, AGE - 17
21 JOSHUA LYON, GARSTON, AGE - 19
22 PHILIP SPYROPOLOUS, AIGBURTH, AGE - 22
23 CHRISTOPHER BENSON, CITY CENTRE, AGE - 20
24 JONATHAN ELDRIDGE, VAUXHALL, 20
25 EMMA DONEGAN, WALTON, AGE - 19
26 JONAS MOGILEVEC, CITY CENTRE, AGE - 22
27 DANIELLE GORTON, CITY CENTRE, AGE - 19
28 JACK STANDRING, KENSINGTON, AGE - 23
29 NICOLA CULLEY, EDGE HILL, AGE - 22
30 ZACHARY STAVROU-DOWD, MOSSLEY HILL, AGE - 17
31 MARK YOUNG, GARSTON, AGE - 20
32 WILIAM HAYES, ANFIELD, AGE - 22
33 MICHELLE GREEN, ANFIELD, AGE - 16
34 JENNIFER JONES, NORRIS GREEN, AGE - 18
35 JAKE ROSS-WHARTON, CROXTETH, AGE - 18
36 LAURA McKENNA, GILLMOSS, AGE - 16
37 SARAH WRIGHT, CLUBMOOR, AGE - 16
38 KERI-ANN (KEZA) MILLS - SPEKE, AGE - 17
39 LUCY ANN CHADWICK - SPEKE, AGE - 16
40 AIMEE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN - CHILDWALL, AGE 19
The fleet of 60 Tall Ships are expected to start arriving on the River Mersey from Wednesday, July 16 with the majority of the larger Class 'A' Tall Ships will moor in the Wellington Docks - two miles north of the Albert Docks. Approximately 800,000 people are expected to see them.
The event officially opens at 12noon with activities until 10pm on Friday, and from 10am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday. Liverpool's Tall Ships celebrations climax from 2pm-4.30pm on Monday, July 21 when the fleet gather for the spectacular Parade of Sail, led by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll.
The first race to Maloy, Norway begins at 1pm on Wednesday, July 23. The Tall Ships' Races are organised by Sail Training International as a means to showcase the activity that is sail training. The Tall Ships' Races are supported by Antwerp.
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