GREENOCK

Greenock waterfront has been undergoing major changes over the last decade. From an area with a world-wide reputation for ship-building and marine engineering, it has survived the decline of heavy industries by adapting and evolving.

Today the area is at the forefront of new technology and the former industrial areas along the banks of the Clyde have been re-developed to offer state-of-the art commercial and leisure facilities.

It is along 3 kilometres of this waterfront that one hundred tall ships are expected to berth at the end of the first leg of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races 1999. For four days, from Friday 30 July to Monday 2 August, Greenock will be in festival mode.

Over half a million visitors are expected to view the fleet, and the team at Greenock Tall Ships 1999 Ltd is planning a major land-based carnival to entertain crew members and the visiting public.

The site will be in three zones, themed water, fire and air. Within each there will be a licensed entertainment venue, catering merchandising and all the infrastructure required at a major out-door event. On the first day, a huge welcoming parade will kick-start the festivities and from then on there will be music, dance, street theatre, displays and demonstrations, and exhibitions until the Parade of Sail, starting at 1500 hours on 2 August, draws the event to a close.

One aspect of the festival in Greenock, which is perhaps different from the norm, is our emphasis on community arts. With assistance from urban aid and sponsorship, an ambitious Community Arts Programme was Launched in the spring and has already involved local people in music making, theatre skills, puppet making, sand sculpting and collage. All the skills developed and works of art produced will be utilised once the ships arrive and will live on long after the last tall ship has sailed to Lerwick.

The team at Greenock Tall Ships 1999 Ltd is relatively small. There are six trustees on the Board of the company representing its three main supporters - Clydeport plc, Renfrewshire Enterprise and Inverclyde Council. The management team comprises the event organiser, the entertainment manager and the site manager supported by an administrator and the community arts co-ordinators. Then six working groups made up of over sixy individuals provide professional advice on finance, entertainment, infrastructure, marketing, berthing and facilitating ships and liaison services. These are busy people getting busier as time ticks away towards July 1999.

Further Information from: Greenock Tall Ships 1999 Ltd, Royal Bank House, Cartsburn East, Greenock. PA15 1EF Tel: +44 (0) 1475 722582 Fax: +44 (0) 1475 551255

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