Aberdeen has been successful in its bid to host the 2025 Tall Ships Race, bringing the spectacular event back to the city for the first time in almost 30 years.
In 1997, and the previous event in 1991, enormous crowds gathered to watch richly decorated sailing ships from around the world chase each other into the harbour.
Aberdeen Inspired, which teamed up with the council and the port for the latest bid, said more than half a million could be expected to watch the return in three years’ time.
It will be marked by the creation of a temporary nautical-themed village within the city, a parade down Union Street, a light show and various other celebrations.
Bob Sanguinetti, the chief executive of the Port of Aberdeen, said he believed the event would “engage a new generation of young people in the city’s rich maritime heritage”.
Tall Ships to take in France and Norway before Aberdeen
Aberdeen will be the third stop on the 2025 Tall Ships Race tour, as the 30 to 50 tall ships travel through the English Channel and over the North Sea.
The race will begin in Le Havre on the west coast of France, then pass through Dunkirk.
After the stop in Aberdeen, they will make the white-knuckle journey across the North Sea to reach Kristiansand in the south of Norway.
The exact dates for the event have not yet been revealed, but in previous years it has been held in the summer.
Congratulating the team who pulled together the successful bid, Lord Provost David Cameron said: “This is absolutely terrific news for the city of Aberdeen.
“Everyone will join me in looking forward to 2025 and welcoming the Tall Ships back to inspire a whole new generation of Aberdonians.
“This is proof, if any were needed, Aberdeen is nothing if not resilient and our cultural renaissance has played a huge role in helping boost the economy with top-class festivals and events such as this.”
Tall Ships Race legacy projects to benefit Aberdeen
Aberdeen Inspired chief executive Adrian Watson said: “The hard work begins now, with the very real potential to build in a multitude of Tall Ship legacy projects that will benefit not only the city, but wider north-east and country.”
First held in 1956, the event involves a two-leg race over hundreds of nautical miles in waters around the coasts of Europe.
It last visited Scotland in 2011 when Lerwick was included in the tour, and it is due to return to the Shetland town next year.
Aberdeen City Council previously made an effort to bring the Tall Ships Race back after the 2017 local elections, but the bid was abandoned within a year.
When the Tall Ships raced into Aberdeen in 1997 and half a million people followed
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