20141003

Fleet of Tall Ships more than a century old

Fleet of Tall Ships more than a century old bid farewell to the capital by sailing through the Thames Barrier on final day of regatta

  • Some 50 vessels from around the world arrived sailed through the Thames Barrier, ending a four-day festival
  • Spectators lined the river's banks as they made their way past landmarks including the O2 Arena and Royal Docks 
  • It is London's first regatta for 25 years and the first time a Tall Ships race has both started and finished in a UK port 
By WILLS ROBINSON and STEPH COCKROFT FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 20:49 GMT, 9 September 2014 | UPDATED: 03:06 GMT, 10 September 2014
The ships, some of which are more than a century old, set off from West India Docks, sailing by the O2 Arena and the Royal Docks, before reaching the Thames Barrier.
The procession, the largest fleet of Tall Ships to have visited London in 25 years, arrived in the city following a race from Falmouth.  
The imposing ships have come from around the globe to take part the event, including from Spain, Holland, Portugal, Poland and Russia.
The participating vessels include Tenacious, the largest wooden tall ship of her kind which has been sailed by a crew with physical disabilities from the Jubilee Sailing Trust.
Other boats in the race included the Shtandart, a modern replica of a Russian navy flagship built for Peter the Great in 1703, and the Tecla, which is almost 100 years old.   
The Tall Ships Festival is set over four sites in Woolwich, Maritime Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf and will line the river's banks until Tuesday, before the grand parade down the river.
The event began in Falmouth and saw the ships race from the Cornish Port to the Isle of Wight, before cruising to the capital.  The parade sets off from Royal Greenwich, opposite Canary Wharf, on Tuesday.
Scroll down for video  
Polish training ship the Dar Mlodziezy passes by the 02 Arena as it makes it way down the River Thames, marking the end of The Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival
+26
Polish training ship the Dar Mlodziezy passes by the 02 Arena as it makes it way down the River Thames, marking the end of The Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival
The Parade of Sail on the river Thames, the finale of the Tall Ships Festival in London. The procession started out at Greenwich and proceeded to the Thames Barrier
+26
The Parade of Sail on the river Thames, the finale of the Tall Ships Festival in London. The procession started out at Greenwich and proceeded to the Thames Barrier
A vessel named the Thalassa sails down the river with the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf towering over them in the background
+26
A vessel named the Thalassa sails down the river with the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf towering over them in the background
The historic fleet passes by the O2 Arena with the buildings of Canary Wharf in the background 
+26
The historic fleet passes by the O2 Arena with the buildings of Canary Wharf in the background 
The Dar Mlodziezy passes through the Thames Barrier, the end point on the final day of the Tall Ships Festival. The event is part of 'Totally Thames' a month-long arts and cultural festival 
+26
The Dar Mlodziezy passes through the Thames Barrier, the end point on the final day of the Tall Ships Festival. The event is part of 'Totally Thames' a month-long arts and cultural festival 
Two men lean on railings along the water's edge, watching the Dar Mlodziezy pass through the Thames Barrier 
+26
Two men lean on railings along the water's edge, watching the Dar Mlodziezy pass through the Thames Barrier 
Some of the ships were anchored at West India Docks, waiting for high tide so they can leave the capital 
+26
Some of the ships were anchored at West India Docks, waiting for high tide so they can leave the capital 
The boats, some of which are more than a century old, are spread out over the water as they head through the Thames Barrier under clear skies 
+26
The boats, some of which are more than a century old, are spread out over the water as they head through the Thames Barrier under clear skies 
A crowd gather on the grass banks alongside the Thames to watch the procession. Some use their phones to take pictures of the historic vessels 
+26
A crowd gather on the grass banks alongside the Thames to watch the procession. Some use their phones to take pictures of the historic vessels 
A group of spectators set up chairs on the river's edge to catch a glimpse of the parade. The white sails of the Dar Mlodziezy are in the background 
+26
A group of spectators set up chairs on the river's edge to catch a glimpse of the parade. The white sails of the Dar Mlodziezy are in the background 
A crew member, dressed as a pirate, balances on the bow of the ship as it sails through the Thames Barrier. Another two behind him wave to spectators 
+26
A crew member, dressed as a pirate, balances on the bow of the ship as it sails through the Thames Barrier. Another two behind him wave to spectators 
At the start of the festival, the vessels sailed past famous landmarks, such as Canary Wharf and the City of London, pictured above
+26
At the start of the festival, the vessels sailed past famous landmarks, such as Canary Wharf and the City of London, pictured above
Over the weekend the imposing ships saild past the 02 Arena, pictured above, the Thames Cable car and the Royal Docks
+26
Over the weekend the imposing ships saild past the 02 Arena, pictured above, the Thames Cable car and the Royal Docks
The Tall Ship JR Tolkien is seen sailing sails past the Thames Barrier, one of the several famous spots in London which the ships pass during their journey
+26
The Tall Ship JR Tolkien is seen sailing sails past the Thames Barrier, one of the several famous spots in London which the ships pass during their journey
The Tall Ship JR Tolkien is pictured sailing under the Thames cable car early this morning. Ships have come from all over the world to take part in the festival
+26
The Tall Ship JR Tolkien is pictured sailing under the Thames cable car early this morning. Ships have come from all over the world to take part in the festival
The ships arrived in south east London after racing from Falmouth to the Isle of Wight on August 31. They then made their way to the capital on Friday 
+26
The ships arrived in south east London after racing from Falmouth to the Isle of Wight on August 31. They then made their way to the capital on Friday 
The Tall Ship Stad Amsterdam is pictured sailing past Canary Wharf on the River Thames. Twenty tall ships which will be moored at Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf 
+26
The Tall Ship Stad Amsterdam is pictured sailing past Canary Wharf on the River Thames. Twenty tall ships which will be moored at Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf 
The Tall Ship Tectona, built in India in 1929, is moored outside the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich as part of the Tall Ships Regatta
+26
The Tall Ship Tectona, built in India in 1929, is moored outside the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich as part of the Tall Ships Regatta
The Tall Ship Mercedes glides past the Thames Barrier on the River Thames. It is London's first regatta for 25 years and the first time a Tall Ships Race has both started and finished in a UK port
+26
The Tall Ship Mercedes glides past the Thames Barrier on the River Thames. It is London's first regatta for 25 years and the first time a Tall Ships Race has both started and finished in a UK port
Almost half of the vessels competing in the regatta are members of ASTO, the UK's Sail Training umbrella organisation 
+26
Almost half of the vessels competing in the regatta are members of ASTO, the UK's Sail Training umbrella organisation 
The Tall Ships Festival takes place in four locations: Woolwich, pictured above, Maritime Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf
+26
The Tall Ships Festival takes place in four locations: Woolwich, pictured above, Maritime Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf
More than 100,000 people flocked to the Cornish coast to wave off the vessels taking part in the event. The event in London is also expected to draw out big crowds
+26
More than 100,000 people flocked to the Cornish coast to wave off the vessels taking part in the event. The event in London is also expected to draw out big crowds
The three mast barquentine 'Thalassa' from The Netherlands arrives in London for the start of the regatta
+26
The three mast barquentine 'Thalassa' from The Netherlands arrives in London for the start of the regatta
A man takes pictures of the ships. The imposing ships have from around the globe, including from Spain, Holland, Portugal, Poland and Russia
+26
A man takes pictures of the ships. The imposing ships have from around the globe, including from Spain, Holland, Portugal, Poland and Russia
 Tenacious, pictured above, is the largest wooden tall ship of her kind and has been sailed by a crew with physical disabilities from the Jubilee Sailing Trust
+26
 Tenacious, pictured above, is the largest wooden tall ship of her kind and has been sailed by a crew with physical disabilities from the Jubilee Sailing Trust
Among their towering sails are 11 magnificent square-sail ships, which have been enjoyed by several residents in south east London 
at