Excitement builds for Tall Ships

NORTHERN isles ferry operator NorthLink has announced an extra sailing at the end of the Tall Ships Race visit to Lerwick to help cope with demand from visitors.

The news comes as the local organisers reveal they will put on the largest firework display the islands have ever seen on the night before the tall ships depart.

NorthLink chief executive Bill Davidson said that their ferries are fully booked from Sunday 24 July, the day the ships leave Shetland, until the following Wednesday.

Local MSP Tavish Scott has even contacted the company asking for extra sailings after being inundated with requests from his constituents.

On Tuesday the company announced they were putting on an extra sailing of the ferry Hrossey on Monday 25 July, leaving Lerwick at 9am and sailing straight to Aberdeen.

The ferry Hjaltland will leave Lerwick at 8pm on the same day, stopping at Kirkwall on its way south.

Mr Davidson said: “The Tall Ships event is providing a huge boost for the Shetland economy and we are experiencing a big demand for places on our boats.”

Meanwhile on Saturday night Skyburst The Firework Company, from Bristol, will return to the isles after their successful display during the 1999 Tall Ships visit to Shetland.

Like 12 years ago, the firworks will be set off on Bressay and illuminate Lerwick harbour, the display starting at 11.50pm.

Tickets for the concerts by the Levellers on Friday night and Björn Again on Saturday are also still available from Shetland Box Office on 01595 745555 or www.shetlandboxoffice.org.

Proect manager Fiona Dally said: “This year’s display, on the eve of the Parade of Sail and the departure of the Tall Ships, is a fantastic way to commemorate the visit of the international fleet to Shetland.

“Special thanks must go to Skyburst The Firework Co. for its contribution of £5,000 worth of fireworks, local display leader Geoffrey Johnson and landowner John Scott for the provision of his land for the display.”