Asgard II will lead a parade of sail which includes the Kerry-built Jeanie Johnston, the New Ross-based Dunbrody, the majestic Russian-owned Mir and the US Coastguard-owned Long Eagle to the start of this year's international Tall Ships Race in Waterford on July 9th. The Indonesian three-masted barquentine, Dewaruci, will receive a special welcome, just over six months after the devastating tsunami in south-east Asia.

The south-east port has set up a four-day programme of entertainment for 250,000 spectators and just over 3,000 crew members participating in the initial leg of the 49th annual Tall Ships Race. Although Dublin, Cork and Belfast have hosted legs of the event, this year is the first time that it has set out from Ireland.

The festival committee chaired by Nicky Fewer anticipates that more than 12,000 pints will be drunk by the crew before they set sail - pints of milk, that is. More than 6,000 loaves of bread and some 37,000 potatoes will also be consumed.

Among the Irish fleet will be the Lord Rank,the Bangor-based vessel run by the Ocean Youth Trust Ireland.

The youngest sailor will be 15 years of age, participants with physical disabilities will be on board the Tenacious, owned by the Jubilee Trust, and the Rona Trust (London Sailing Trust) has combined with Deaf Sailing UK to offer young people with hearing impairments a chance to sail the first leg to France on board a 17-metre Bermudan ketch, Helen Mary R.

Among the more mature trainees will be a 58-year-old mother and grandmother of seven who is one of three Argentinian women booked for berths on the Russian ship, Mir.

The Tall Ships Race is run by Sail Training International, and involves between 70 to 100 vessels from 20 countries. Emphasis is on co-operation, rather than competition, and part of the "race" involves a cruise together.

STI has been working for several years with Waterford to plan this year's event, and a full programme of events from July 6th to 9th is available from the race office at City Hall, 051-309900

or website: www.waterfordtallshipsrace.is.

Several of the vessels participating in this year's event, including Asgard II and Jeanie Johnston will also be berthed in Dublin port this month for the Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival from June 17th to 19th.

The Jeanie Johnston, which has been purchased by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA), will be offering trips around Dublin Bay on June 18th and 19th, and tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from the ship on the morning of the sailings.

The event includes an art exhibition, a pirate competition, market and music.

Further details are available from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority at 01-8183300.