Wishart celebrates Tall Ships success – a triumph for ‘Shetland plc’
Shetland’s MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat Beatrice Wishart has today celebrated the success of the Tall Ships Races Lerwick by lodging a Parliamentary motion.
The Tall Ships Races were hosted in Lerwick Harbour, the only Scottish host port in the Races, from the 26th to 29th July. The annual Tall Ships Races have twice previously been hosted in Lerwick and are arranged by Sail Training International, which provides opportunities for thousands of young sail trainees each year. Cullivoe and Baltasound were also guest ports.
The motion congratulates the organisers of Tall Ships Races Lerwick on a successful week, putting on a programme of events that provided many ways for people of all ages to get involved and welcoming the ships’ crews and trainees to Shetland.
Ms Wishart said:
“The colourful and noisy crew parade, attended by thousands of people, summed up the positive atmosphere at the Tall Ships events in Lerwick.
“Last week was an opportunity for Shetland to come together, for this island community to celebrate its maritime heritage while extending hospitality to crews, sail trainees and visitors from around the world, and ‘Shetland plc’ triumphed.
“Seeing the Swan, helmed by local skipper Maggie Adamson, receive an award at the prize-giving ceremony was a proud moment for many.
“I commend the work of all organisers, event sponsors, volunteers and sail trainees for making the event an enormous success.”
Notes to editors:
Beatrice Wishart MSP has submitted a parliamentary motion with the following text:
Successful Tall Ships Races hosted in Lerwick
That the Parliament congratulates Tall Ships Races Lerwick on a successful week hosting the international Tall Ships Races 2023; understands that this was the third occasion the Tall Ships Races were hosted in Lerwick Harbour; further understands Lerwick was the only Scottish host port in the 2023 Races from Wednesday 26th July until Saturday 29th July, between the Cruise in Company non-competitive leg and the final leg of the Tall Ships Races, with guest ports Cullivoe and Baltasound; further understands that the Tall Ships Races are an annual race series arranged by Sail Training International, which provides opportunities for thousands of young sail trainees every year; appreciates the visit to Lerwick of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and her support and engagement with sail trainees; congratulates Maggie Adamson, skipper of Shetland’s sail training vessel Swan, on the award for outstanding contribution at the prize-giving ceremony; congratulates everyone involved in the spectacular, colourful and noisy crew parade, along with the organisers of the Tall Ships programme of events, which provided many ways for people of all ages to get involved in from performances by musicians to children’s activities; expresses its hope that the ships’ crews and trainees and visitors enjoyed their time in Lerwick experiencing the culture, heritage and hospitality of the maritime island community that is Shetland; commends the work of Sailing Training International, Tall Ships International Ltd, Shetland Tall Ships Ltd, Lerwick Port Authority, Sailing Training Shetland, Shetland Islands Council, emergency services, event sponsors, volunteers, sail trainees and everyone who assisted in making the event a huge success, and wishes the Tall Ships crews and trainees well in the final leg of the Races.