Wynyard Park on board for Tall Ships

Hartlepool’s biggest ever event has secured the backing of the developers behind the region’s most prestigious business park.

Wynyard Park Ltd is throwing its support behind The Tall Ships’ Races 2010 event when up to 100 of the world’s most spectacular sailing ships are due to visit the town’s port.

In a bid to help maximise awareness of the maritime extravaganza, Wynyard Park will site high profile billboards along the perimeter of the 700-acre development that adjoins the A689 towards Hartlepool.

In addition an area of the site could be made available for a park and ride service for visitors.  Organisers have indicated that the event, between 7 and 10 August 2010, could attract up to one million people.

As part of a mission to get businesses behind this unique occasion, Hartlepool Mayor, Stuart Drummond, visited Wynyard Park to view the proposed locations for the roadside hoardings and the proposed park and ride facility.

“I am very pleased to welcome Wynyard Park on board as a supporter for The Tall Ships’ Races 2010.  There’s no doubt that it is going to be a fantastic event for Hartlepool but now it is all hands on deck to make sure that everything is in place to make it an experience the town never forgets,” he said.

Chief Executive of Wynyard Park Ltd, Chris Musgrave added that he was only too happy to be able to offer much-needed practical assistance for the event.

“We’ve had tremendous support from Hartlepool and the Mayor ever since we announced our plans for the site so it is wonderful for us to be able to give something back,” he said.

“Securing a visit by the Tall Ships is a huge coup for the town and we are behind it 100 percent.”

More than a dozen vessels have now indicated that they are going to take part.

They include some of the world’s most spectacular sailing ships such as the 200ft Sorlandet from Norway, Tenacious, the largest wooden tall ship to be built in the UK for over 100 years, Christian Radich, another 200ft Norwegian Class ‘A’ vessel.

As the only UK host port, Hartlepool will welcome up to 100 Tall Ships and up to a million visitors between 7 and 10 August 2010 at the end of The Tall Ships’ Races. The fleet will have sailed from Kristiansand in Norway in the second and final race.

Chris Musgrave concluded: “Wynyard Park is very proud to be associated with this exciting event.”