‘Europa’ at the start of the 2005 Tall Ships Race 2005 in the Irish Sea

The 2005 Tall Ships race was meant to start near Waterford in Ireland just south of the entrance to the River Soire. After a parade of sail (under motor) from the Irish city down the river the fleet gathered for the start and waited. And waited. The wind did not blow. Not a puff.

After several hours wait the start was delayed to the next day. It was rearranged for the middle of the southern Irish Sea at a point about 60 miles equal distance from Ireland, Wales and England in the hope of more wind. There was wind but only enough for the fleet of over one hundred boats just to sail across the start line. I was the only photographer in a boat to take pictures. 'Europa' is my chosen picture for this gallery.

‘Europa’ maximized her chances by setting all her courses and studding sails. The Dutch owned barque was built in 1911, originally as a lightship. When she eventually completed a refit in 1993 as a square rigged vessel she has embarked on many an adventurous deep sea passage.

Compare this Tall Ships start with the start of the races off ‘Dar Mlodzeizy’ starts of the 2001 Tall Ships Race off Bergen, Norway and Tall Ships Race off Latvia, Baltic 2003. The main thing they have in common is that all the starts were a distance from their ‘host’ port.

Due to poor wind none of the boats in the race completed the course to Cherbourg within the time limit. Of the Class A Square Riggers ‘Christian Raddich’ won for sailing the greatest distance within the time limit and after a ‘corrected time’ handicap was applied.

Let us hope the wind blows fairer for their 50th Anniversary Race in 2006. Visit tallshipsandtallships.com later in 2006 to see my photographs.