Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival Tall Ship Sailings on the Morgenster

Dutch square-rigged tall ship the Morgenster, one of the visiting vessels at this year’s Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September, is also offering sailing trips.

Morgenster was built a sailing herring lugger. Launched in 1919, motorised and extended in 1927, she fished for herring until 1970. Then she went into the sport angling business, before a brief interlude as pirate radio vessel, Radio Del Mare.  The current owner and skipper Harry Mueter, bought the Morgenster in 1983, restored her and she began life as a sail training vessel in 2008.

Booking for the Great Yarmouth cruises is now open online at www.maritime-festival.co.uk, or Great Yarmouth Tourist Information Centre, t 01493 332200.

Sailings depart from the south end of South Quay and last from 2½-3½ hours.
Thursday 5 September at 9am and 5pm – £32 per person
Friday 6 September at 6.30pm – £35 per person
Saturday 7 September at 6pm – £39 per person
Sunday 8 September at 6pm – £39 per person.

Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival, on Saturday 7 September (10am to 6pm) and Sunday 8 September (10am to 5pm), celebrates the town’s proud maritime past and our maritime future with visiting ships, live music, street entertainment, arts, crafts and children’s activities.

The Festival takes place on South Quay; activities and entertainment are free (except for river and sailing trips). A donation of £1 per visitor towards Festival costs is welcomed.

Shanty and maritime music is performed throughout the weekend at three different venues on South Quay. Visitors will be able to go onboard Dutch square-rigged tall ship the Morgenster, which will be also be offering sailing trips.

Steam tug Challenge, the last steam tug to work on the Thames will be in port. The Challenge, part of the National Historic Fleet, is best known for the role she played in Operation Dynamo, evacuating troops from Dunkirk in 1940.

Visitors will be able to meet Admiral Nelson, Mrs Hamilton, Lofty the Lighthouse and Horatio Herring; enjoy military re-enactments from East Norfolk Militia, street theatre from Inner State, punch and judy shows with Professor Pulson and face painting and balloon modelling.

For more information see www.maritime-festival.co.uk.