Only a handful of places across the UK have a maritime heritage as rich as the one to be found in Great Yarmouth, and it's something the town has been celebrating for some years now. The 2006 Maritime Festival on the South Quay will feature a host of new attractions to the festival, along with some old favourites. The spectacular Grand Turk returns, a replica 18th Century frigate which starred in the TV series Hornblower, makes a welcome return to the east coast town. It will be open to visitors on both days of the festival, before sailing off to star in a new series called Longitude. JST Tenacious Making her debut at the festival is the JST Tenacious, the largest wooden tall ship of her kind in existence. Owned and operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, she's taken nearly two thousand physically disabled people to sea and is one of only two vessels in the world purpose built for the task. Tenacious docks at the South Quay on Friday, 8 September, a day after Grand Turk. Her first visit to the maritime festival has been welcomed by the town's Mayor, Councillor Sue Robinson.
 | | JST Tenacious in full sail |
"It's no secret that I am disabled and I am pleased to welcome JST Tenacious to the maritime festival as it enables access to people of all physical abilities and demonstrates just what people are capable of," she said. In addition to the Tall ships and the North Sea Clipper Albatross, the Royal Navy mine sweeper HMS Atherstone will be the feature of the armed forces at the festival. It belongs to the Hunt class of warship, the largest ever to be built from glass reinforced plastic. The Atherstone saw active service in Kuwait in the first Gulf War, and it's crew profess to having a 'go anywhere, do anything, in any kind of weather' attitude. Land-lubbers The festival also features entertainment on the quay side for all ages, including some of the best shanty groups in the UK. Royal Navy simulators will give you the chance to experience a ride in a Lynx helicopter, a Sea Harrier or a Royal Marine assault craft. There'll also be craft marquees, heritage walks, art and model exhibitions and demonstrations from the RNLI and the East Anglian Working Newfoundland Dogs. The Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival takes places on Saturday, 9 and Sunday 10, September, 2006. For more details call 01493 846345. - Photo credit: Tenacious image courtesy of Jubilee Sailing Trust
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