PRESS RELEASE 14TH AUGUST 2007 8th - 9th September 2007 - Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival SHIPS OF SPLENDOUR SAIL INTO FESTIVAL, SET TO WOW CROWDS Admission is free! This year’s Maritime festival sets to wow visitors, with an array of magnificent vessels sailing into port for this spectacular weekend Visiting tall ships, include the impressive and firm favourite Grand Turk, a replica of an 18th Century frigate which was featured in the TV series "Hornblower". Other vessels include the festival regular cargo sailing vessel Albatros, 2 Royal Navy ships, a Motor torpedo boat, HMC ship Valiant, Gorleston RNLI Lifeboat, Pinnance 1380 – a 1956 RAF Marine Craft and the famous Wherries. This year sadly could be the last year that the Grand Turk is present at the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival, as she is up for sale, with a serious contender bidding to take her to the Caribbean. The Grand Turk was built in Turkey in 1997 and was skippered by Captain Topsy Toner for her first voyage across the Black Sea. Chief engineer Ian MacDougal who helped build the vessel took over as skipper, after her 1st voyage and has remained as captain ever since. As skipper of the Grand Turk Captain Ian MacDougal lives on the ship 365 days of the year with his 26 person crew. The Grand Turk is based at Whitby and sails from April to October, visiting events throughout the UK. The vessels furthest voyage was to the Ukraine. Captain Ian MacDougal said ‘The sale of the Grand Turk will be a huge wrench and I will be sorry to see her go. Furthermore I will be saddened not be present at the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival next year as it is a fantastic event, with a great atmosphere and the crew and I have thoroughly enjoyed the seven years attending the festival with the Grand Turk’. The Grand Turk will be open to the public from 10am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Festival organisers are pleased to welcome the Royal Navy to festival who will be attending the weekend with HMS Brocklesby and HMS Explorer – both vessels will be open to the public. HMS Brocklesby is a Hunt class mine countermeasures vessel and can both hunt mines, using her advanced sonar, and sweep them using influence sweeps. She has a secondary role as fisheries protection patrol vessel. It is one of the largest warships ever built out of glass reinforced plastic. HMS Explorer is one of 14 Archer class fast training boats of the Inshore Training Squadron. Her design was based on a design of an Omani coastguard cutter, from Watercraft Marine. Her Majesty’s Customs will be sailing into the festival with their cutter Valiant, the Gorleston RLNI will be in attendance and Wherries Hathor and White Moth will be showcasing as traditional craft of the River Yare. In the water, festival visitors can expect to see displays from the East Anglian Newfoundland Dogs and rowing demonstrations from La Mondiale – The Columbus Run 11, a 12 man rowing team, who are training for the Atlantic Challenge – a speed challenge designed to capture the world record for fastest non-powered crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival is an action packed programme of Shanty songs, bands, entertainers, tall ships, traditional seafood, craft stalls and demonstrations, not forgetting Horatio Herring and much, much more are the fantastic ingredients for Great Yarmouth’s 8th annual Maritime Festival. This is a spectacular weekend for the family, to celebrate Great Yarmouth’s rich maritime heritage. This year’s maritime festival takes place on Saturday 8th September 10am - 6pm and Sunday 9th September 10am - 4.30pm Great Yarmouth’s South Quay. CHAIRMAN OF THE MARITIME FESTIVAL COMMITTEE And Director of the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority ‘It’s been ‘all hands on deck’ to help make this year’s festival the best yet! Months of planning brings together some of the very best of maritime attractions from around the UK joining some of our best home grown talent. The Maritime Festival without the stunning Grand Turk now seems unthinkable and we are thrilled to welcome back Captain Ian MacDougal who has been with us from the first festival in 2000’ Aileen Mobbs -ends- Info for the Editor: The 2007 Festival is supported by 13 local companies who have become 'Gold Anchor' or 'Silver Darling' sponsors and without their support the festival would not be what it is. The Official sponsors of the Festival are Screen Print Plus, Gardline Group, PKF, Persimmon, Thrigby Hall & Wildlife Gardens, TV Palmer Ltd, Aldreds, J& H Bunns, Vestas, Bateman Groundworks, SBS, ELM Contracts and A.C Pembroke Builder Ltd Images: Media enquiries, please contact: Donna Bidwell, Tourism Division Greater Yarmouth Borough Council, Maritime House, 25 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2EN Tel: 01493 846343; Fax: 01493 858588; E-mail: dbi@great-yarmouth.gov.uk Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival Website www.maritime-festival.co.uk Great Yarmouth Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01493 846347