Greenock Tall Ships Races Tall Ships Races Tall Ships Races Tall Ships Races Tall Ships Races Tall Ships Races Tall Ships Races

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Welcome To Greenock

Greenock is establishing a reputation for hosting major events.

Since the Cutty Sark Tall Ships visit in 1999, other events have been hosted including Sea Trek in 2002, the European Pipe Band Championships and weekend festivals on the Waterfront. While the variety and themes have changed, the emphasis has remained on quality, inclusion and fun.

Planning for the 2011 visit by the Tall Ships fleet is underway. It will not be a rerun of 1999, but this does not mean it will not be as exciting!

The Site

The event site at James Watt Dock and the Great Harbour presents a number of challenges, as well as opportunities. The challenges include transforming a working dock and derelict industrial land into an event arena with café bars, entertainment stages and crew facilities within the Victorian sugar shed which has lain unused for several decades. The regeneration of the docks is a flagship project in excess of £100 million for the urban regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde along with Clydeport, the port authority.

Access

Both Glasgow’s airports can be reached by car within a one hour drive from the event site. A combination of established carriers and budget operators offer flights to and from European and American destinations.

Road access is easy as James Watt Dock is adjacent to the A8 trunk road, an extension of the M8 motorway crossing Scotland and linking Glasgow and Edinburgh. For the event, park and ride arrangements will be put in place. Information on the location of car parks and cost of using these services will be provided nearer the time.

There are also two railway stations nearby. Both are on the Glasgow to Gourock line with up to three trains each hour linking Greenock to Glasgow and connecting with ferry links between Gourock and Dunoon and the Highlands.

Bus services to Glasgow and Largs are half hourly and leave from outside the dock entrance.

The Programme

Since Tall Ships events appeal to an audience spanning many age groups, Greenock aims to offer a range of entertainment for all tastes. Due to the influx of international visitors, some of the entertainment will be Scottish, but perhaps with a contemporary twist.

The plan is to have one spectacular highlight event each day along with a programme of smaller events embracing music, drama, carnival and dance.

There will be opportunities to visit some of the Tall Ships. This will give visitors a taste of what it is like to live on the high seas and to learn the ropes!

For 25 or more young people from Greenock and the rest of Inverclyde, there will be a chance to participate in the races and represent Sail Inverclyde on the voyage to Lerwick and on to Stavanger. Those who are going to be aged 16 to 25 years in July 2011, and want more information, should contact Sail Inverclyde or watch the local press for details.

The crew programme will be varied. Sporting activities, disco’s, opportunities to see Scotland and socialise with other race participants will be organised around the all important crew parade, prize giving and receptions for Captains and permanent crew members.

For the visiting public the Parade of Sail is often the most memorable part of the event. Greenock and Inverclyde’s coastline from the docks to Wemyss Bay offers numerous vantage points from which to wonder at the ability of young crews to hoist the sails and set their courses to the West coast of Scotland and onwards towards Lerwick.