Friday, July 30, 1999 Published at 10:32 GMT 11:32 UK
Port shipshape for tall ships arrival
Weather conditions have hampered the timetable
Around half a million people are expected in the Port of Greenock this weekend to enjoy the visit of The Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race.
All the ships are due in dock by lunchtime on Friday but unhelpful winds on their voyage from France have staggered their arrival.
Pubs and restaurants have brought in extra supplies to cope with demand.
Strathclyde Police said Greenock would be sealed off to motorists from Friday until Monday to ease congestion. Spectators are being advised to use local transport.
Despite the wrong kind of weather conditions, which blew some of the ships off course, race organisers remained confident all would reach the Clyde by their deadline of noon on Friday.
The first leg of the Tall Ships Race got under way on 24 July from the east coast of France close to St Malo.
By Thursday, the ships had crossed the western approaches of the English Channel and were heading north towards Glasgow.
The Tall Ships Race is the world's largest international sailing event, and Greenock will be welcoming 76 ships from at least 16 different countries ranging from Mexico and Russia to Italy and Sweden.
The four-day festival will feature live bands, dance and theatre performers.
Highlights will include fireworks launched from a barge on the Clyde and a parade by ship crew-members, as well as displays from the Red Arrows and air-sea rescue teams.
Event organiser Helen Drummond said: "We know of nearly 80 ships which are definitely coming to Greenock.
"Amongst them are some absolute classics both in size, beauty and tradition. This really is shaping up to be a fantastic event."
The Tall Ships race, sponsored by Cutty Sark Scots Whisky, was first held in 1956 and takes a different route each year.
This year's race runs from St Malo in France to Greenock, and then from Lerwick in the Shetland Isles to the finish at Aalborg in Denmark on 18 August.
The race is organised by the International Sail Training Association, and at least half of each ship's crew has to consist of 16-24 year-olds.
Sailing experience is not required and for many of the young people it will be their first taste of life at sea.