Community / Wind farm developer backs Tall Ships as preparations ramp up
VIKING Energy wind farm developer SSE Renewable has signed on as a major sponsor of the Tall Ships next year as preparations continue for the big event.
As part of the deal the company will act as a sponsor for the main stage at the Holmsgarth event site.
The news comes a year ahead of the Tall Ships Races making a welcome return to Shetland in the summer next year.
Lerwick was previously a host port in 1999 and 2011.
SSE Renewables is about half way through constructing the 103-turbine Viking Energy wind farm in the central Shetland mainland.
Shetland Tall Ships Ltd project manager Emma Miller said: “SSE Renewables and Viking Energy will use Shetland’s exceptional wind power to generate an incredible amount of clean energy once the wind farm is operational.
“It seems fitting that the Tall Ships event is sponsored by a company that, like the incredible ships that will visit Lerwick next year, will make such an effective use of the wind resource.”
Viking Energy’s community engagement manager Julie Graham said: “It is great to be part of such an amazing event that will bring people from all over the isles together along with visitors and crews from many different countries.”
Preparations for the big event are continuing in earnest, with more announcements expected in due course.
Talks are continuing over the music line-up, which in 2011 saw the Levellers and ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again headline.
As the one-year countdown kicks off, a drop-in event is being held at the Shetland Museum auditorium today (Tuesday) until 8pm to give people more information about how they can get involved.
One of those attending is sail trainee Jack Sumner, who recently returned to Shetland following a trip on the historic fishing vessel Swan in the 2022 Tall Ships Races, heading to Denmark and the Netherlands.
During the trip the Swan team won three awards.
Fifteen year old Sumner, from Fetlar, said it was a “great learning experience”.
“The race was amazing,” he said. “The weather was really nice.”
Some of the roles on board included helping with the sails and steering the boat, as well as cooking and cleaning.
There were a total of ten trainees on the trip, which was described as a “once in a lifetime” experience.
One of the awards the group won was ‘most welcoming ship’ in the Esbjerg port in Denmark.
Lerwick will host the Tall Ships between 26 and 29 July next year, with the two main berthing sites Victoria Pier and Holmsgarth. These sites will also host the majority of the entertainment.
The town is also the arrival port for the ‘cruise in company’ element of the Tall Ships. The fleet will leave Fredrikstad in Norway on 18 July and instead of racing to Lerwick, it will have the opportunity to stop at various guest harbours on the route to enjoy local hospitality and visit local attractions and landmarks.
There are still opportunities for guest harbours to sign up to take part in the cruise in company leg. In 2011 ships visited Unst, Yell, Whalsay, Scalloway and Fair Isle.
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