Tall Ships and 2011 Celebrations
ORKNEY is stepping up its game in a bid to make 2011 a very special year for Kirkwall Pier, as it celebrates 200 years of being the main port of entry for the county's capital. 15 July 2011 is the date of celebration for the 200th anniversary of the design of Kirkwall Pier by Thomas Telford.
Refurbishment work will start this summer on the lighthouse at Kirkwall Pier and this will be rededicated on 15 July 2011 as part of that celebration. As this event will coincide with the Tall Ships arrival, it should be a spectacular event in Kirkwall as many other festivities are in the pipeline for this celebration.
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There are 11 ports competing for the Cruise-in-Company vessels to call into their ports and they are: Campbeltown, Islay, Oban, Ullapool, Stornoway, Orkney, Fair Isle, Scalloway, Yell, Unst and Whalsay. The competition will be fierce to attract as many Tall Ships as possible into the Cruise-in-Company ports; therefore a cohesive marketing and awareness campaign has to be instigated to make sure that Orkney features high on the agenda for ship visits.
A working group chaired by Councillor Jim Foubister was set up last autumn to pull together the logistics and marketing for the 2011 celebrations. Commenting on plans for celebrations in Orkney on Thursday to Monday 14-18 July next year, Councillor Foubister said: "We are looking to have special events in Kirkwall on the Thursday and Friday, with a transition day on the Saturday when some of the ships will sail from Kirkwall to Stromness. There will be events in Stromness on the Saturday evening and the Sunday, and then the Monday morning, which coincides with the opening of Stromness Shopping Week."
Councillor Foubister said it was hoped to link together as many community events as possible to promote them to the visiting ships. So what does Orkney need to do to encourage the ships to come here as opposed to going to other Scottish ports? The greater the chance the ship has of earning revenues in a port to support the costs of the race, the greater the chance of getting that port call, says Michael Morrison.
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Sail Trainees
Tall Ship Races Application Form:
This would include the recruitment of sail trainees to join the ships at any part of the race between Waterford and Halmstad. Brian Kynoch, who is organsing the sail training, said: "We currently have nine names and ten places, but we would welcome more expressions of interest, because there is likely to be a drop out rate, with some people maybe thinking it is not for them. Ideally we would maybe like to start off with about 20 names and work from that."
So if you are aged between 15 and 24 by 30 June 2011 and want to have the experience of a lifetime, then contact Brian Kynoch on brian.kynoch@btinternet.com and he will give full details on how to apply to be a sail trainee. Orkney Islands Council has agreed match funding of £7,500 to meet the anticipated total cost of £15,000 providing ten selected trainees. The successful trainees will be required to raise the additional funds either as a group or as individuals. The deadline for applications is 31 July 31 2010.
If you are over 25 and want to crew a Tall Ship this is not a problem as there is no upper age limit for self funding more mature applicants. Once again contact Brian Kynoch and he will advise on the procedure. Full details of the 2010 race and the upcoming 2011 race are available on www.sailtraininginternational.org and www.tallshipsraceslerwick.com.
Orkney's director of harbours, Captain Nigel Mills told Orkney Today: "Marine Services is pleased with the opportunity to support such a worthwhile cause in promoting a number of sail trainees, allowing a time for those young people to mature in an environment rarely experienced by most people. Orkney Islands Council is working hard in partnership with other interested groups throughout Orkney to make the Cruise-in-Company a significant event in the 2011 calendar and is confident that it will be a memorable occasion for all those taking part both ashore and afloat. The sight of large sailing ships was once commonplace in Orkney’s ports and harbours and will, for a short period be again, and we urge the public to join wholeheartedly in the celebrations."
Corporate Hospitality
Corporate Hospitality Form and Charter Rates:
Many of the larger Class A type Tall Ships such as the Alexander von Humboldt, Eendracht, Mir and Sorlandet offer the opportunity of corporate hospitality on board. The vessel can be hired either by the hour, half or full day and catering and music can be provided. This is an excellent chance to savour at first hand the Tall Ships experience and to view Orkney from a completely different angle. Tall Ships will happily contract in advance with companies or groups wishing to take advantage of this. Full details can be provided by contacting michael.morrison@orkney.gov.uk.
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Deck Days
As many members of the public as possible should experience the excitement of being on a Tall Ship at sea. This is why the working group is researching initiatives to encourage the ships to take passengers on short trips in Orkney waters. Known as 'deck days' it gives individuals the opportunity of sampling the thrill of Tall Ship sailing. Further details of this will also be available from michael.morrison@orkney.gov.uk.
The Orkney Passport
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The 2011 working group has devised the Orkney Passport, which is a credit card-size disk featuring images of the historical, cultural, social and geographical links that Orkney is so proud to boast about.
These disks will be presented to all the Tall Ships' participants at the end of the 2010 Race in Hartlepool in August, where Mr Morrison will represent Orkney to promote the County as a Cruise-in-Company port for 2011.
It is hoped that many retail, craft, food and beverage, entertainment and leisure outlets will join the Orkney Passport programme and offer special incentives to the Tall Ships' crews and trainees to increase patronage to their businesses.
Details from michael.morrison@orkney.gov.uk.
Sail Trainees shown the ropes
Last night (8th September 2010) 10 future sail trainees received an induction session on board the Norwegian training vessel the Statsraad Lehmkuhl at Kirkwall pier. Captain Marcus Seidel showed the trainees around the ship and gave first hand valuable information of what it would be like to experience taking part in the world famous Tall Ship Races.
There are already 16 applications from local people to take part in the races as trainees, and full information on how to apply is available above.
