It was raining this afternoon so OH and I drove to Lerwick to see the Tall Ships that had arrived in Lerwick on Friday.
What I found out:
There are 37 sailing ships from all around the world. Lerwick is the only Scottish leg of the 2023 Races.
These ships, carrying more than 1300 crew, have arrived from Fredrikstad, Norway a few days back.
Shetland has hosted this event three times – 1999, 2011 and now 2023.
International friendship and sailing training for young folk is the main aim of the races.
Held every year, the races consist of “legs” of hundreds of nautical miles between pre-set destinations.
To participate in the races, young people must make up half of the crew.
All the boats will leave Shetland on Saturday for the final leg to Arendal, Norway. This will be the Parade of Sail – an incredible sight that I remember from 1999.
So OH and I wandered about in the drizzle and saw there was lots going on.
Some superb local shops. I saw friends and bought lovely things.
There is some incredible local artistic talent in Shetland.
This is Mandy Hunter and Ceri Biddle‘s shop.
One of Ceri’s wall-hangings takes two weeks to create. Imagine!
And I am a huge fan of Mandy’s work. I am sorely tempted to ask her to paint my sheep family. It is a rare person who can paint sheep (see the card on the right).
Ok, the weather was miserable but the crowds were out and the atmosphere was superb.
A truly memorable event.