TALL Ships fever reached a peak on the Tyne as some of the biggest vessels taking part in the race arrived on the river yesterday.
Thousands lined the banks of the Tyne to cheer as several spectacular ships sailed along the river, completing the leg from Cherbourg, in France, at the start of the four-day Tall Ships Festival.
The biggest cheer was reserved for the largest British vessel, the Prince William.
Many of its 48-strong crew, made up of mainly novice sailors from the North-East, lined the 45-metre masts, singing and shouting to friends and relatives on the riverbanks.
The square-rigged sail training vessel berthed at Spillers Wharf, Newcastle, to a crescendo of cheers, with the crew treated like returning war heroes.
It was among a dozen of the tallest ships that arrived on high tide, with almost half the 100-strong race field berthed on the Tyne by last night.
The stragglers arrive today, with a midday target, as all the vessels, berthed from the Swing Bridge to Spillers Wharf, will be open for public viewing at differing times today.
There will also be music and street entertainment on both banks of the river, with the spectacular sight of the Millennium Bridge due to tilt from 11am to 11.15am and between 3pm and 3.15pm.
More than 2,000 crew members from the ships will take part in a celebratory procession around the Newcastle Quayside tomorrow, with a prize-giving outside the Baltic arts venue, on the Gateshead side of the river, at 5.45pm.
The ships will be open for viewing at various times until Thursday, when they leave the river from 8am with a parade of sail down-river out to sea, where they will start on the last leg of the race, to Frederikstad, on the south-west tip of Norway.
Overall race leader so far is the Christian Radich, a Norwegian Class A ship, with the Tenacious, crewed by British people with disabilities, in overall second spot.
Cariinne Hitching, of race organiser Sail Training International, summed up the euphoria.
"Everyone seems really happy and excited. It's a spectacular view as more and more of the ships berth on the river.
"The sea crossing has been quite rough for some of the crews, who you have to remember are mainly first-time sailors, so theywill be glad to get on to dry land."
Durham's adopted warship, HMS Invincible, making its farewell visit before being mothballed, after a 25-year affiliation, will start the last leg of the race by sounding its hooter, at 4pm on Thursday.
Crew members took part in a farewell fun-day in Durham yesterday, featuring an It's a Knockout-style event, won by Pearson's Plonkers, from Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets.
Crew members will parade through the city today after a special service at Durham Cathedral, at 4.30pm.
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