Sailing ships to bring £10m treasure trove to Scottish economy

Brian Ferguson -

Scotland's economy is set to rake in more than £10 million when Europe's most spectacular sailing event returns for the first time in 12 years in 2011.
Ports around the country are gearing up for a cash bonanza from the Tall Ships Race, as they host the event between visits to Ireland and Norway.

The event will bring more than 70 ships and 3,000 crew members to spend more than two weeks in Scottish ports.

Greenock, in Inverclyde, and Lerwick, capital of Shetland, will play host to the vessels - ranging from small sailing boats to three-masted square-riggers - taking part in the race for four days each.

In addition, the ships participating in the event will be encouraged to take part in a spectacular nine-day non-competitive cruise up Scotland's west coast.

Vessels making the 500-mile round trip are being encouraged to visit one of 12 official "guest ports - including Campbeltown, Islay, Oban, Ullapool, Stornoway, and Stromness and Kirkwall, in Orkney - before arriving in Shetland.

With the first vessels due to arrive in Greenock in the first week of July and the Tall Ships due to bid farewell to Lerwick on 24 July, tourism bosses are expecting the event to deliver an unprecedented boom.

About 180,000 people are expected to flock to Greenock to see the vessels and enjoy a huge programme of entertainment that is being planned. A further 60,000 visitors are expected to descend on Lerwick for the four days of events.

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