Festival launch is all smooth sailing

AS FESTIVAL starts go, it doesn’t get much better, louder or more spectacular. Fog horns sounded, captain’s bells rang aloud and thousands of confetti-like blue and white shards of light plastic were catapulted into the air as Waterford marked a six-year wait for the official launch of the Tall Ships Race 2005.

The tens of thousands who gathered on either side of the quays watched in delight as four high-speed Air Corps Pilatus PC-9’s zoomed through the sky in formation. The dramatic fly-over was also watched by the city’s first citizens and ambassadors as they gathered in the revamped William Vincent Wallace Plaza.

It was timely and fitting that the Class A Indonesian Dewaruci sailed up the Suir just moments ahead of the launch. The three masted barquentine, which is staffed by the Indonesian Navy, was sponsored by Waterford City Council.