NB: Please note, The Biscay Tall Ships Regatta 2018 has been renamed the Three Festivals Tall Ships Regatta 2018.
We’re delighted to announce a new addition to our exciting line up of future Tall Ships Races – the Biscay Tall Ships Regatta 2018.
Our Diamond Anniversary events may be over for 2016, but we’re busy working on upcoming Races and Regattas for the next three years. The Biscay Tall Ships Regatta 2018 now joins our list of other exciting events – the Rendez-Vous Tall Ships Regatta 2017 and the Tall Ships Races 2017, 2018 and 2019.
This two-leg event across three sea areas will take place in north-west Europe. Liverpool, United Kingdom (U.K.) will be the start port, then vessels will race to Dublin, Republic of Ireland (R.O.I), and onto Bordeaux, France. The Regatta will see an international fleet of Tall Ships undertake a voyage across the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay.
Liverpool, U.K.
Liverpool has hosted a Tall Ships event four times before (1984, 1992, 2008, and 2012). This will be the city’s fifth Tall Ships event, and will mark the 10-year anniversary of it being named the “European Capital of Culture.”
The clock tower of the Liver Building, through the rigging.
Dublin, R.O.I.
Dublin last hosted a Tall Ships event in 2012. That event saw visitor numbers topping 1.25 million, and it showcased Dublin’s fantastic ability to host international events, with more than 2,000 trainees and crew members visiting the city.
Alongside the River Liffey, Dublin.
Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux hasn’t hosted a Tall Ships event since 1990, and we can’t wait to return. This one just happens to coincide with the leading European wine festival, Bordeaux Fête le Vin (Bordeaux Wine Festival), which will celebrate its 20th anniversary during the event.
Solitaire du Figaro, 2015, in Bordeaux.
“The Biscay Tall Ships Regatta 2018 offers a great opportunity for the captains and crews to experience exciting racing in between three attractive and vibrant host ports.
“Liverpool has successfully hosted the Tall Ships Races and Regattas in 1984, 1992, 2008, and 2012. Tall Ships fleets have enjoyed going to Dublin in 1998 and 2012 for the Tall Ships Races, and once in Bordeaux in 1990.
“Race one will be around a number of strategically placed Way Points in the Irish Sea, which will create close racing, with many of the fleet staying in sight of each other until the finish line off Dublin. There will then be a transit to the race two start off the south-east coast of Ireland, before racing the 480-mile leg into warmer waters across the Bay of Biscay.
“This exciting Regatta series will conclude in Bordeaux, where the crews will be able to enjoy the biennial international Wine Festival. We hope that this pre-summer Regatta will be attractive to many vessel operators.”
Paul Bishop, Race Director, Sail Training International.
Biscay Tall Ships Regatta 2018 Route
- Liverpool, U.K (Friday 25 May-Monday 28 May 2018)
- Race One
- Dublin, Republic of Ireland (Friday 1 June-Monday 4 June 2018)
- Race Two
- Bordeaux, France (Thursday 14 June-Sunday 17 June 2018)
We’ll let you know as soon as vessel entries are open.
You can find out more about the Biscay Tall Ships Regatta 2018 on our event page.