City asked to submit bid for tall ships race in 2011

WATERFORD has been asked to submit a bid for the Tall Ships’ Races in 2011, a move which is being interpreted locally as a major indication the multi-million euro event could well be back to the south-east in five years.

Sail Training International (STI), the group behind the event, has asked Waterford to submit the application following the phenomenal success of last year’s event in the heart of Waterford city.

The request for an application is similar to a short-listing procedure, locals say.

Waterford City Council yesterday confirmed it is to enter discussions with a number of partner organisations including Port of Waterford and Fáilte Ireland with a view to preparing a formal bid for the race in 2011.

The council has had initial discussions with STI and a delegation led by the Mayor Hilary Quinlan, city manager Conn Murray and 2005 host port chairman Nicky Fewer made an outline case to STI at their annual conference late last year.

They will develop a more detailed submission to the race organisers that will outline Waterford’s case to host the massive sail training event in 2011.

The city’s status as the first host port for last year’s race series earned it €30 million in direct economic returns and an estimated e6m worth of positive publicity.

Ms Quinlan hopes the city will succeed.

“None of us lucky enough to be in Waterford last July when these ships and the sail training community and trainees who crew them were in our city can fail to have been won over by the magnificent event.

“The atmosphere was electric; the crowds who came from all over Ireland and beyond were here to have fun and did. Young and old mixed together and there were many lasting friendships formed.

“Ours is a growing city and it is right that Waterford City Council should be ambitious for the future. Working to secure landmark events like the Tall Ships’ Races fits well within this and I know that no effort will be spared by all our partners regionally and nationally to ensure we get a positive result for this bid.”

City manager Conn Murray said last year proved that, when challenged, Waterford was capable of hosting a major international event that attracted some 450,000 people to the city.

“Building forward on this, we have maintained close contact with Sail Training International and - in conjunction with our partners - are now preparing to work on a detailed submission to them setting out our case for hosting the 2011 event.

“As was the case when Waterford won the right to host the 2005 event, there will be considerably more potential host ports bidding for the right to host the Tall Ships than will ultimately do so.

“However, our hosting of last year’s event also generated tremendous goodwill among the sail training community across Europe and beyond and we are hopeful of a positive outcome to the bid process.

“We also know that Waterford will be in an even stronger position to host the massive crowds the event attracts by 2011 as the Waterford City Bypass (second river crossing) and the dual-carriageway linking the city with Dublin will both be in use.”