The biggest tall ships event on the Thames for a quarter of a century is getting under way, with about 50 ships in the capital for the Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta.
Over the next five days there will be lots to see on the river and also plenty of activities taking place on dry land, too. Today’s events include a parade of traditional Thames Sailing Barges, a spectacular launch performance from a Catalan theatre group at the ORNC and fireworks on the river as tall ships sail by.
Here are details of what’s on today and every day of the festival.
The beautiful vessels are moored at Greenwich Pier, Victoria Deep Water (on the Peninsula), Royal Arsenal Pier at Woolwich and at Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf. The stunning Polish sail training ship Dar Mlodziezy is at a mooring just off Enderby Wharf.
As in the past two previous years, Sail Greenwich is offering ticketed sailings from Woolwich Pier – check here for latest availability
Morgenster arriving in London yesterday after having sailed up from Falmouth
Morgenster passing the Old Royal Naval College
At over 100 metres long, the Dar Mlodziezy is one of the tallest tall ships to visit London in decades.
Fireworks last night on the Thames as the Tall Ships began their sailings up and down the river
Fireworks seen from the stern of Loth Lorien
Next Tuesday, all of the ships will must at Greenwich before sailing down the Thames at 1.30pm in what should be a spectacular Parade of Sail. Here’s a video from the last time such an event took place, at the Tall Ships Race of 1989.