Places features

Great Yarmouth is gearing itself up for some 30,000 people to attend the free Maritime Festival 2008, to watch a number of displays on and off the water over the course of the event on Saturday, 6 and Sunday, 7 September, 2008.

Heading up the festival is the Dutch brigatine Mercedes tall ship which will dominate the skyline of Great Yarmouth's port.

As well as looking magnificent with her two tall masts and numerous sails, visitors to the festival will be given the chance to experience her at sea.

Home coming

Nostalgia will literally be drifting in as YH89 the Lydia Eva, the last surviving steam drifter, is welcomed back to her old mooring by the Town Hall.

While her boiler and engine still require some work, she's been completely restored having been out of the water for much of the past decade.

The Mercedes is one of the festival highlights

Built in 1930 at the King's Lynn Slipway, she only worked as a fishing vessel for eight years before being superceded by diesel trawlers.

"We hope this festival will be as good, if not better, than the previous festivals - and certainly this year's will be different," said festival chairman Aileen Mobbs.

"We've got the old favourites, like the Newfoundland Dogs, Hemsby Herrings, Royal Navy simulator and new things like boat building displays and crafts.

"We've got a possible late edition in the Excelsior, which is unable to dock in Ipswich because of the weather.

"Gorleston's RLNI crew who will be doing their usual river rescue displays - and they'll be joined by the independent crew at Caister, who are making a return," she added.

Muriel D

A new sub-sea survey vessel - to be named Muriel D after the wife of late George Darling, the founder of Gardline Shipping - will be blessed on the quayside.

Natural England will be organising numerous children's craft activities, while boat building displays will educate and entertain those interested in traditional skills.

There's also a nautical cookery displays, with fish the main ingredient of every dish.

Charter walks have also been planned to mark the 800th anniversary since King John granted Great Yarmouth's borough charter, and maps and displays will be available in the Heritage Tent.

The Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival takes place at the South Quay on Saturday 6 and Sunday, 7 September, 2008.