Festivities hailed as a success >video
WITH the colour of an international yacht race, the sound of pop music and even an aerobatic display overhead, Hull's waterfront came to life.
The passion and pride of a city – whose very existence is owed to its links with the water – spilled over as Hull provided the perfect starting point for the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race.
And although the 10 competing yachts will not return to Hull until July next year – 35,000 miles and 14 ports later – the send-off they received this weekend will surely not be forgotten.
The gruelling competition got underway yesterday, but an amazing line-up of entertainment, including the Freedom Festival with its big-name music acts, created a fantastic build-up to the race.
An estimated 150,000 people packed the city centre and Hull Marina over the weekend, for the biggest programme of events staged in the area for years.
Organisers have heralded the amalgamation of the Freedom Festival with the hosting of the Clipper race as a "huge success" – as have the people of the city.
Before the Clipper race started at 2pm to the sound of cannon fire, the crowds were wowed with a magnificent display by the RAF's aerobatic display team, the Red Arrows.
Nine Hawk jets threw red, white and blue smoke across the sky in a breathtaking performance of spectacular twists and turns.
The first nine Clippers, representing cities, regions and countries from across the globe, then motored out of the Marina.
However, the group of yachts then waited patiently for the Hull and Humber – the region's entry in race – to join them for the collective release into the River Humber.
The expectant crowds clambered for a glimpse of the distinctive yacht with its orange livery that is to be home to an 18-strong crew for the next 10 months.
The collective of non-professional sailors stood and returned the adulation when setting off.
A Royal Marine brass band played the boats out as they took to the river for a sail-past, surrounding by a flotilla of other vessels.
The big moment was then just minutes away, with the Clipper crews making their yachts "race ready", jockeying for position for the start of the challenge.
The Edinburgh Inspiring Capital boat, followed by the entry from Cork went through the start line leading, with the Hull and Humber in eighth in the opening seconds of the race.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world and founder of Clipper, said the event coming to Hull had made the race even more special.
He said: "If you take the race to the south coast they say, "What another yacht race?".
"But we've come to Hull and we've got such enthusiasm which makes it much more fun for us. It was a really lovely day."
* See today's Mail for a full report on the Clipper and Freedom Festival events in words and pictures, including:
How the Clipper crews had an emotional farewell with their families.
What the pop stars made of Hull.
Images of how Hull was rocked around the clock by performers.
Pictures of the city's skies when £28,000-worth of fireworks exploded.
78 Comments
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by Ken, Norfolk
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 11:01AM
“As one of the Hull & Humber crew (I'll be joing the race in Capetown), let me tell you all :-
Hull did a fantastic job last weekend. I was at Liverpool for the start of the previous race in 2007 and it was nothing compared to Hull.
You guys should be proud of your City. A lot of visitors went away with a completely different, and better, opinion of Hull.
Build on this and Hull will be up there with other large cities.
And yes....the Clipper race will finish in Hull on July 17th 2010 with, hopefully, Hull & Humber leading the way.”
by Tony, West of the River Hull
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 8:31AM
“I missed the fire display and fireworks through personal problems. However, on both days and at both main events, I enjoyed the crowds as much as the spectacle. I witnessed only happy, friendly and patient folk enjoying themselves and each other's company. Some stripped off their shirts to grab a last chance of a tan in this much rained upon Island. The music was varied, some of it challenging, but all very entertaining. We chatted to folks from all over the world and from many parts of the UK. Two young chaps trusted me with a Festival T Shirt and I paid them about an hour later. The Police were top form, the children patient and the Teens were just being Teens. I heard and saw nothing harmful or hurtful, though the misserable words sung by the group, the Horseguards, were trully dire and would have made THe Smiths blush, but their musicianship was very enjoyable. The stars on stage were "up-for-it", full of engaging interested contributions. Everyone involved in the weekend's entertainment were marvelous. The volunteer lads and lasses who danced at the Princess Quay on Sunday were a real treat. I was amazed that the Red Arrows managed to perform so well under such low cloud cover. It was great to see the Humber so full of boats, the water jetting display of the two tugs was a real treat. The watchful presence of the inshore rescue boat was everywhere. The Naval P Boat and crew were top form. There were many happy disabled folk who were right amongst the fun. The Local Radio stations did very well and I met a cousin I did not know I had. The Hotels, Pubs and Coffee shops were absolutely teaming with happy chatting folk. Amazing, for this Island, the sun shone through the land events on Saturday and the wind blew up on the Sunday for the departure of the Clippers. I love this City Port and its folk. My one complaint? That damn Myton Gate Road is open again, chopping my beautiful city off from her waterside. Sigh!”
by Carol, Hull
Tuesday, September 15 2009, 7:50AM
“I wonder why an 'insider' with such poor spelling and grammar would be privy to such information?
The clipper WILL return in July next year ( Guaranteed) as this is the finishing point you idiot !
The figures now PROVE this is the best thing ever to happen to Hull ( twice the turnout of Hull fair apparently) and for the people who think everyone was local because the UK did not spout about it should have been there
There were people from all around the world supporting their teams , the atmosphere was electric all weekend ... for once Hull seemed like a Happy place.
Shame the unhappy people didn't want to play out ...but then isn't that normal for those who don't join in to have a go at those who do ?
And Dave I have not been claiming benefits since i left school over 30 years ago and many of the people we bumped into there probably paid more in taxes a year than you earn in a year !
There were families and people of all age groups but of course there were local people there too,along with the usual handful of undesireables but I would expect that everywhere.
The police figures showed there ware no more arrests for antisocial behaviour than any other weekend”
by dave, Thankfully not in hull
Monday, September 14 2009, 11:55PM
“It just goes to show how pathetic Hull is when you spout on about this weekend was the best thing to ever happen here! it's a good job your giro's all came on the friday otherwise the place would have been empty!”
by an insider, clipper organisers
Monday, September 14 2009, 11:45PM
“When will you idiots realise that Hull wil never hold an event such as this again? The Clipper WILL NOT return here ( guarenteed ) and the freedom festival will be much more stringently cotrolled than it was this year!It is a surveyed fact that only 2% of the people were from out of town! The rest were the locals! Dont worry, you spend another £5 million next year for a party for the local chavs and we will head off to a city where we are welcomed and we dont have the " if yu dernt lerk it den ferk errff! " type of attitude we got all this weekend!”
by Long John, Silver
Monday, September 14 2009, 5:59PM
“And make what you will of 'Land of Green Ginger'?
We took the family out to see the yachts coming away from Cleethorpes and past Spurn Head as they went out to sea.
We had a great view of the yachts, and my wife and mother in law had packed up a fantastic picnic for us all to enjoy while we waited. The kids thought the sight of ten yachts bearing down on us amazing!
Thankyou to everyone who contributed in the organising of such a massive event - over the weekend, we saw the fire show, the fireworks, our daughters went to see some of the bands, (and didn't see anyone behaving badly) and the end of it all was a real family day out at the beach.
Great job.”
by Tony, Edinburgh
Monday, September 14 2009, 5:58PM
“Looks like I missed a great weekend in Hull!! I only found out about what was happening on Thursday last week - pity it wasn't more widely advertised.
One question - the Edinburgh clipper displayed the Scottish flag, why didn't the Hull and Humber clipper display the English flag?”
by Chris, Hull
Monday, September 14 2009, 5:28PM
“Clarence, the reason it is called English Street is because it was built by a Mr English in the early 1800's.
Ps. We have a Rotten Herring Row splelt Roten Herren Row which is I believe Platt Deutch for Redman Street.”
by Lee, Hull
Monday, September 14 2009, 4:29PM
“Myself and my girlfriend went into the city centre to watch the firework display on Saturday night, the atmosphere on the marina was excellent. On Sunday we again went to the marina, the display by the Red Arrows was great despite the low cloud! Enough to make me feel proud to be British!!! It comes as no surprise that some people still feel the need to put Hull down, it made a change for the city to have something to be genuinely proud of, the big question would have to be what do we do to top that as I really hope there is more to come!”
by john, Anlaby
Monday, September 14 2009, 2:46PM
“Oh Clarence you london snob if i had your accent i think id commit suicide nothing is worse,and also they swear just as much in our slum of a capital city,and in many accents ive never heard of if you get my meaning,and it seems you came away without getting a knife in your back take care when you get back and dont come here again”