Clipper Homecoming Festival

Hello and welcome to Derry- Londonderry. The City welcome as

the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race to the Maiden City. The first

time the fleet has visited Northern Ireland and the city's the Foyle

San Marino has been the centre of this week-long Homecoming Festival.

This flotilla of all shapes and sizes has caught the public's

attention. All week, tens of thousands have been flooding down

to the Riverside to get a closer look at this impressive Armada.

What a start we had to the week as the star of the show, their Derry-

Londonderry Clipper, took centre stage. The boat and her crew have

been known as a legendary, then in a triumphant return last Sunday

after 11 months and 40,000 miles of crossing the world's largest oceans.

As you expect, despite the rain, the city turned out to give them a

Very exciting and thrilling but I am glad to be home! I have waited

along time to see you! Believe me, there was not a dry eye in the

house and we will introduce you to the legendary used throughout the

programme and hear about their adventures. This week is about more

than the action on the water. Thousands had decided on the Lord -

- descended on the north-west and aside from the sights and

spectacles, we have enjoyed a rich music from all sorts and our taste

buds have tingled with the flavours of the Foyle. We have welcomed

visitors from all over the world. Joined a party from the past. I

even got to groups with some sailing myself. Lots to squeeze in.

Where else can we start than with these 10 fabulous yachts that make

up the Clipper round-the-world racing fleet. If you are no expert

on yacht racing, here is the Short Guide... It is the world's longest

ocean-going yacht race, 40,000 miles around the globe. Since then

at Portsmouth last year, the Fleet has visited six continents before

making their way home via Derry. It is a unique event, although every

boat has a professional skipper, the crews are amateur and many have

never sailed before. People from all walks can sign up to experience

this ultimate challenge, circumnavigating the globe by sea.

Each of the 10 Clipper boats is sponsored by a city, a region or

country. Flying the flag for the Maiden City, the 40 six-strong

legendary crew representing all ages and backgrounds. It is

estimated that over 450 million people will see this race,

spreading the name of Derry- Londonderry around the globe. When

Sean Hargan signed up, he wanted to fulfil a lifelong ambition to sail

the world. To keep her old man company, his daughter joined him

for the most recent leg of the race and they sailed across the Atlantic

together, back to Derry. I always had this romantic notion of saving

the world but I really did not think it out. I was well aware that

if you go around the ocean you will hit one or two storms. But, I'm in,

we seem to have a lot of storms! And I suffered from anxiety,

probably worrying about the Stormers coming up and that took

its toll on me at the start. But you get institutionalised and I got

tougher. And I am pleased that I overcame that, and the second part

of the journey, that did not bother me and that was a big mental thing.

To think that I can go through that and not have the anxiety of the

start. I was pretty sick for about 80% of the time, I got really

dehydrated with no energy and I could not keep fluids or liquids

down. I found the whole thing very physically and mentally enduring.

Having my daddy there was great, looking after me and forcing me to

take food because you take it for granted. You just have no energy to

eat and daddy would have made sure I took by fluids and took my

tablets and I was really lucky that he was watching. He was looking out

for me. It was tough. At the end of the day, she is my only daughter.

When she was suffering like that, it was sore on me. It isn't the

challenge of the ocean, it is living with 18 people on a boat.

There are some people there that you have a tremendous experience

worth and you would go over the trenches for them. That sounds

extreme but you are on the danger line and there is great support and

a great admiration from one another and then there are people that you

struggle to tolerate. Their work ethic and that would not be the

same as yours. They would not be natural people that you would

associate with a normal life. And you're stuck with them and you have

to adapt to that. As we came up the Foyle, the whole way up, the

vessels and powerboats and people on the land. We expect that friends

and family but it seemed to be that the entire time was there, which

was great. I am home and I am finished. Just to sit in my own

garden, I have dreamt about that so many times. When I'd not just be

content here?! I can potter about her quite contentedly for quite a

long time! You'll see how he feels after a few nights in his bed. Mark

cloud is the skipper of the Derry- Londonderry and the man responsible

for getting the legendary safely around the world. Is it really that

tough? It is. If it was not, people would not do it. It is tough, the

ceiling and living together on a yacht. It takes a lot to key people

motivated all the way around the world and there is anxiety and fear.

It is very tough. As the only professional, they must be pressure

on you when the high seas starts? Yes, we know what we're doing by

now. The guys at the beginning of the race, it was like training. But

as it has progressed, it has got better and better. These boats are

pretty strong and they look after us. What was the first night like

when it got really busy and they were thrown in at the deep end?

was a shock for some people. Managing a big crew like this,

amateurs, isn't easy. We all managed pretty well, there was a

lot of team work. We got through it. A all accounts there was a great

bond with the crew, any high points? Lots of low points and

tremendous highs. Very low and very high. Coming into here, it has been

magical. And the welcome was superb. On land, they should be getting

time off and you have them working? It never stops around here, there

is a quick turnaround, we have a few days in court but there is a

lot of maintenance to be done with cleaning and rigging. And training

and thinking about the next race. Have you had your feet up? No, I'll

go back to see. Thank you. We will hear from some more of the short --

more of the crew shortly. What is it like to travel round-the-world

in a clever? During a space not much bigger than a bus with 20

other people? Earlier in the way, Gavin got a taste of life on board.

I could get used to life at the helm. Peaceful and serene and look

at the view. But down below it's not quite as glamourous. This is

the galley, it is the home within the home. We eat really well, we

have freeze-dried food, three times a week, but we have corned beef #,

fish pies, we make our own bread in the oven so the mothers will make

bread. The explain... Every day, two

people come off the watch system for the day, from 6 am until 9pm

and they are the mother. Then make breakfast, lunch, dinner, the hot

drinks and fill water bottles. They just look after you. It is pretty

can write down. What is it like cooking when it's different?

oven is on a gamble, it rocks along with the boat but this will be down

here. It is on such an angle and you tend to stand here and clean up

words to the washing up. Things come flying out and we have leaks.

Sometimes we have to protect the food from the salt water. How is

life? Bonby, wept. But it is almost kiss on about. But you're getting

wet and cold up there. We have six hours on and off and then it is

four hours on and off. You're lucky if you get 2.5 hours sleeping.

Every home has a good run and this is it on the boat. This is where

you relax? It is chaos in here. He had six to seven guys in this

little area, trying to get out of their gear. Or happens when you get

hacked off? There is no work to go except your bunk bed. Really, you

just have to get on with everybody and he cannot, you just deal with

it or talk it out as best you can't or just go to your bunk because it

is hard and everybody gets frustrated with everybody. And the

sensitive issue of hygiene? Hygiene on the boat, we are very conscious,

we clean everything twice a day. Especially our heads. This is where

you go to the toilet and also the shower. The rule is, when you have

been to the head, you bond it up, wash your hands and climb up and

throw it into the sea with a loud shout of bombs away! And then come

back and wash your hands. You have a shower on the day that you are

the mother and on the day that you clean the bilge. Twice a week. Not

a lot. They do see the shower in Operation... This is it. Life at

sea. I'm sure you would have to sit down? To have a shower? I want some

privacy! Get out! Can you imagine that! But for the faint-hearted and

I am told that below deck, it was actually a lot smaller than it even

looks on television. The woman leading the team who brought the

boats to Derry is the chief executive of the council, Sharon

O'Connor, and you have had a fantastic we? We have enjoyed

ourselves. Successful? Undoubtedly. That is evident all around you with

many hundreds of people out today. And the tens of hundreds that have

been out over the last week enjoying a colourful spectacle and

lots of educational opportunities all round. In terms of the big

build up to 2013, it has been phenomenal. And the community are

clamouring for more of this. They think it is a success. Why have

been the benefits for hosting this? The reason we are doing these

events is to try to reposition the city in the minds of the public,

not just the international public but the regional public as well. To

get them to take a second look at the City and to reconsider this

place as somewhere that you would want to visit and work-in and

Invest NI. And perhaps lived. In those terms, it is telling the new

story in a visual way and also a lining the City and allowing it to

rediscover this asset, the Riverside and you can see what we

have done. We have had substantial investment. And we are reaping the

benefits all round today. You have put lots of money into this. When

you got the nod 18 months ago, did you think it would be as good as

this? I have only been here for seven months so there was a lot of

work done before my arrival but it has been a great example of that

team effort on behalf of the city. I must be knowledge that I have

seen some of the boat's international aid and I had the

opportunity to look at this and other places and other cities did

not capitalise on this in the way that we have so I have to say that

until you see the scale and substance of this, you don't get a

full appreciation. We have tried to make it a unique experience. Lots

of colour and local connections. A stop over maybe the chance for

the Clipper crews to get their legs on dry land for a few days, but the

work doesn't stop there. The boats need to be cleaned and ready for

the next leg and there has been a steady stream of visitors keen to

have a nosey around on board and chat with the visiting crews.

Greencastle teacher, Michelle McCann has almost completed the

round the world trip. She is on It is just marvellous. I find it

very hard to explain how I feel. I would rank this day as being one of

the best day day in my life. The reception we got from Derry and

Donegal, it was spectacular. It was There were some very, very tough

moments in it and I would say crossing the Southern Ocean was

tough, but exhilarating, there was a lot of down wind sailing and it

was fantastic. It was scary at times, but it was safe and it was

very exciting. Crossing the Pacific was different. Occasionally I

thought in bad times when I was lying in a wrecked bunk on a

wrecked pillow at an angle of 35 degrees, very uncomfortable, sore,

tired and I thought to myself, "Why am I here?" I could be home in my

nice comfortable bed with my electric blanket, but not seriously.

Anyway, I would be so tired, I would sleep anywhere.

I'm an ordinary person with a reasonable happy life, but I've

never done anything like this before and to think of myself as a

circumnavigator, that's just amazing. I wonder if I have changed

as a person? I am not sure about that. I know the experiences that I

have will stay with me forever and I know I seen things in my

character that I didn't know there were. I know there are a lot of

qualities that I didn't know I have and there were a lot of things that

I could have done a lot better. This experience will stay with me

forever. I will never forget it. It has been wonderful.

Well, this is the eighth Clipper race. It is held every two years

and it is the brainchild of Sir Robin Knox Johnston. In 1969, Sir

Robin was the first person to sail around the world non-stop and

single handed and Sir Robin is here in the in the City to join in the

home coming celebrations. Sir Robin, what have you made of the reception

you got in Derry? We have had a fantastic reception in Derry. The

council really got behind this and they made a tremendous event for

the people of Derry, but they put themselves on the map at the same

time. Would you take the race back here?

Well, they have only got to ask. How does it compare to the other

big events around the world? If you go to China, the city we go to

there has the population of the hole of Ireland so it is different.

It is more formal. But when you come here, you have got warmth. You

have got ordinary people genuinely interested coming on board and

wanting to chat to the crews. Talk to our crews and ask them what they

think and they think it is so friendly here.

What are you hoping to achieve with the race? The idea of Clipper is to

let ordinary people do something extraordinary with their lives. The

idea came when I was climbing with Chris bonington. I thought I wonder

how much would cost. It was half as much as to go up Everest. We put an

advertisement in the paper and got 8,000 responses. It is designed to

let ordinary people, 40% of the crew have never been on a boat

before. We train them up and make them safe and start to develop

skills for them and by the time they come back, their skilled

sailors. Do those skills translate out into

life? What translates into life is that self-confidence, that greater

assuredness that they build up through facing nature in the raw,

it does build-up their confidence and you can see them them standing

there looking more confident. It doesn't matter if they are 18, 19

or 70, it is there. It gives them a toughness. It is

more intimidating and hard work than it seems in the hole idea.

Yes, I think people think sailing is gin and tonics, it isn't! It is

hard work. I say racing in a sailing boat is chess with push-ups.

It is very, very tough. Still to come:

We will be taking a tour around one of the largest vessels here.

I will be trying my hand at sailing something a lot smaller!

And we will be sampling some of the flavours of the Foyle.

First, the Clippers are not not the only attraction drawing the crowds

as the Fiddle Convention has rolled into town. It is billed as the

Olympics of the fiddle world and has drawn players of all shapes and

sizes to the north-west. So who could we send along, but someone

who has been on the fiddle for years.

It is not true! How could it be true? I have got such an honest

face! But it is not about me, it is about the fiddlers who have

travelled over the world to meet and play together.

Every year some of the best fiddlers in the world get together

to trade techniques, to perform for their fans and to enjoy the craic.

Others are well, judge for yourself!

For the festival organisers, this has been years in the planning.

This is the north add North Atlantic fiddle convention and it

is the first time it has been held on the island of Ireland.

Fiddlers from all over the world come here? All week, people have

been calling it the Olympics of the fiddle world. The heavy hitters are

here and all the dancers are here and there is a youth programme, and

there is an academic conference. It is fiddle heaven or fiddle hell! We

are calling it heaven. A treat comes from Belfast composer Neil

Martin with a new piece created especially for this event

It is part of the project and 100 fiddle players from Newfoundland

are brought together and I have been commissioned to write music

for them. Tas great social bond and kids over the world appreciate it.

Did you not invent the fiddle p Gerry, we did.

Compared to to these fiddlers, I have a long way to go. Look at

these fingers flash. One group has come from Canada's

East Coast. So what brings you here? We are here with a group of

young fiddlers and we are from Newfoundland in Canada.

Is this a holiday thing? Is it hard work? I think it is a holiday. It

is a trip as well because we have got six young fiddlers with us who

are in Ireland for the first time. Are you a mother hen to the kids?

Well, that's the idea. That's our excuse for for being here.

I am surprised by the talent in my own thattive city. -- native city.

These players have raised the bar for everybody.

We will have a special performance from a great young Derry talent

later in the programme. The home coming festival has

featured boats of all shapes and sizes.

Earlier in the week two two vessels from from the Dutch Navy were the

star attractions. We checked them Well, isn't this every young boy's

dream? Whether playing in the bath or a games console. There is

something exciting about being on a boat exploring the high seas. This

is the Foyle Marina, we have been granted special permission to

explore the biggest ship in town. Excuse me, please don't press any

buttons. You might get us underway! I am terrified about that,

commander. You must be so proud of being in charge of a ship like

this? Absolutely. I am very proud to be the Commanding Officer of our

newest ship. The ship is meant to conduct coastguard-type duties,

counter piracy, counter drugs in the Caribbean and search and rescue.

My normal crew is 50 and I expect to take her out for the first

mission early next year. It is exciting to be on board, we

are going to have a look around. The motto is look, but don't touch.

Now, I was keen to see around this wonderful vessel and no better man

to be tour guide than Chris. This is the business end of the ship?

This is our self-defence weapons. We have canon. This is our canon

and there are rapid fire canon and they are operated from inside and

they are the the striking force of the ship.

This is where I sleep. It is more lux more luxurious than most ships.

I have my own shower. This is our radar interceptor. We use it to

drop our forces off where they want to be. We use it for drugs

trafficking to chase them around, make sure we get them and it is a

smaller ship. It is true and it is a great place

to end. Probably the fastest vessel at the festival. Now I'm signing

off. Let's take this support a spin!

-- let's take this for a spin! Sailing a Clipper yacht around the

world would be hard to imagine if you didn't know the first thing

about boats, the Ocean Youth Trust are on hand to give beginningers

the chance -- beginners the chance I am excited, a bit bit worried,

because I've never been on a sailing boat before, but I'm

excited. I've never been on a sailing boat

either so I'm really excited. I'm looking forward to it.

Jenny, you are the senior instructor. How do you get started

in sailing? Well, there is opportunities like this that you

can come down and try sailing. There is lots of local sailing

clubs around Northern Ireland. If you push it away from you, you will

turn into the wind. When you turn it into towards you, you are

turning away from the wind. You don't need to buy the equipment,

you can rent it and buy it like you would in other sports.

We're lucky with these boats. They are nice and stable so they are

perfect for people who haven't sailed before.

Push the tiller away like this. And duck. Watch your head!

A lot of people will start and be very nervous at the beginning of

the session and the more time they spend in the water, the more

confident they will get. That's it. Watch your head. Watch

your head. Straighten up now. Straighten up now. Well done.

That's OK. A lot of people say maybe they have

lived in Derry for a long time and never been on the river or it is

nice to see the city that you live in from a different prospective.

Well, Mike, how was it? It was great fun. I really enjoyed it.

Did you find your sea legs all right, Pauline? Yes.

Do you think you will be back for more? I would love love to do it

again. We had a great time, but I don't think Dame Ellen MacArthur

has anything to worry about just Sailing around the world and one of

these isn't cheap, costing between �10,000.50 �1,000. To give local

unemployed people the chance to share in experience, the council

offered five bursaries and one of them is with us. Matthew, was this

a life-changing experience? It was, at phenomenal opportunity to sail

to San Francisco and New York. The weather was fantastic and there

were some scary moments along the way. It was all good. Any

preparation for how tough it was going to be? No preparation. It got

so hard sometimes and then when things go wrong, you are working

automatically. Trying to just do your best and get the boat moving.

What were the things that you take it the most? Teamwork, physical

work? I had done a lot of physical work on the boat and being in close

quarters with so many people, you have to get along. Eating and

sleeping with them and working with them, only 68 ft long and there are

no places to hide. Or modesty out the window! Yes, even getting

changed, the first couple of days you are thinking about it and then

you do not care, you just strip off. I don't want to think about that.

What would you say to anybody who was thinking of taking this on?

would highly recommend anybody to try sailing. Especially racing

boats. The adrenalin rush, the speed of the boat going through the

waves, unbelievable. How are things going? Very well. I have a lot of

new things on the horizon and I am working hard. Congratulations.

Derry has always been a great place to eat out and we have been treated

to the most fantastic aromas, for the tented food village at the

Foyle Marina. The flavours of the seafood festival has given the

hungry crowds the chance to savour some great local seafood. For the

young at heart, there was a chance to get up, close and personal with

some of the creatures you can find in the Foyle. For the unsuspecting,

some fishy friends that proved that they could fight back. Don't get

the tentacle up your nose! But as a proof of the pudding is in the

eating, we sent Rigsy on it tasting quests... It would be a shame to

have a show with the action taking place on the Foyle without

discussing the marvels that lurk beneath. This is EoN, an Ulster

chef. Is there any flavour of the fall? There is, you can see this

beautiful array of fish and we will start off with monkfish. 20 years

ago, this would have been thrown over the side of the boat. Now it's

one of the most expensive. These lovely muscles are grown in the

Foyle, beautiful. And this squid - smell that... De to does not smell

of anything. That is how fresh it is. Look at this lovely codfish. I

believe that the waters are richer here and they're eating healthily.

We have great waters. And this is being landed at Greencastle. This

is shipped off to Spain. Beatable. This is part of the court family.

Like brothers and sisters. And we will go back to the restaurant to

cook this. With fish is fresh, keep it simple. No harsh flavours. Some

salt and pepper. Some oil in the pan. I will add my scalps.

Asparagus. The lovely muscles. Just in like that. Some white wine. We

would just add some lovely spinach. Underneath the grow. You are just

using one hand. The spinach is lovely and cooked. Look at this,

just at the end, some nice, fresh parsley and lemon. So until things

that bring out the flavour? Some spinach. -- simple things. Lovely.

Spread those around. I want to put this back on to the heat. I want

you to taste this. How good this is... Taste that? You can taste the

wine and the butter. The lemon. Delicious. The flavours of the

Foyle. You could just eat a bowl of at source on its own! That looked

delicious. Still to come on the programme... We will enjoy some

great music from exciting young talent. Joining in on a trip with

plunderers from the past. I'm looking to the future with a

special take on Derry from Gerry Anderson... Danny and Henryk

O'Sullivan had a compelling reason to join the legendary crew. They

work thousands of miles apart and don't get to spend too much time

together. No better way to fix that than to sail across the North

Atlantic together. As they battled through long, cold nights and

stormy seas, wandering kept them going. -- wandering. Great. Lovely.

At times I find it terrifying. It was exhilarating. An exhausting,

and you try to put that into context and you realise that it is

a unique experience. The journey was pretty rough. 35 degrees. Going

up and down, sideways, left and right. It's like sitting in a

washing machine. It certainly was an opportunity for us to be

acquainted with each other again. We started this process about two

years ago and we but signed up. We completed the training courses

together, we wanted to be on the same boat and on the same watch.

And we have had some great communications. And that has been

absent over 10 years. We have a great family bond and this has

helped to bring us together as brothers and it has been fantastic,

look at the difference in the phone bills! I have known that myself and

Danny as brothers have had a great bond. It has given us a chance to

rekindle the friendship that we had and we are on the same level, or

humour is the same. It has given us an opportunity to spend quality

time together and rebuild that bond that we did have. But on this day,

over the years, it has slipped away because Danny is in Australia and I

am in Ireland and we don't contact each other that much. This has been

an experience that most people will never do in their lifetime. I did

not expect to do this and it has been very positive. I looked at

doing the challenge to get myself out of the box. Julie push myself.

I think I have done that. -- to really push myself. One of the

things that has sustained us through those Topper times is the

fact that we have family, friends and the people of Derry looking out

for us and checking us on the internet and making sure that we're

coming home, and our family are all here and we're looking forward to

seeing them and it is going to be a fantastic time here. Whether it is

short or long, we will enjoy it. You'll see what happens next year.

North Pole, here we come! I would not put it past those boys.

Jonathan is part of the team who moved this maritime circus around

the world. How big an operation has it been? It is big, 10 huge boats

going around the world and a team of 50 people and you will see up

and down the pontoon, maintenance crew, people looking after the team

members on the boats, people with logistics, just a massive operation

that we take around the world with containers of spare parts and

engineering parts. And you are right, this is something that when

you're taking 500 people around the world in total over one year,

visiting 15 countries on six continents... You have to get the

team together and this is a big job. At you provide any support when

they are in the biggest oceans and the world? The professional

skippers on board know what they're doing and on board, even though

they are ordinary people, they come with skills. We have them one hand,

ready, and we can bring the boats together if necessary but if

something happens in the middle of the ocean, we can talk to the

coastguard and medical attention can be given. The crew, skills,

what are you looking for with someone who will be part of the

crew of these boats? Mainly, a sense of adventure. The recruitment

guy tries to put them off and it is still want to do it, we have the

right person but it is that sense of adventure. 40% of the people

have never sailed before but they have had a lot of training before

they get onto the water and we have had people up to the age of 73

doing this. No limits. Everybody says this is an eye-opener? They

kiss, it is tough out there. Dot in terms of the challenging Moshim and

the wind, hurricane-force, blistering temperatures. For not

knowing what's going to happen whatsoever and living with 18

people in a small space. He have taken this race two lots of cities

around the world. How does Derry match up? Derry-Londonderry has

been magnificent and there is an expression here, legendary, and it

has been the case from the people, to the crews, to everything we have

encountered. One of the warmest welcomes we have had. How had the

skippers countered -- coped? They have coped reasonably well. These

are dry puts and they work hard and when they, sure, they partied hard

but now it is clear heads, getting ready for the last parts of the

race. Her key. They deserve to party. If you thought this festival

was all about high-tech ships, you are only half right because earlier

on, I had the chance to ride the waves were some older invaders... -

- with. This week has seen to great maritime invasions on the Foyle.

The first we know about, the 10 boats of the clip around the world

yacht race and the others are time travellers, dozens of Viking

warriors on a mission to plunder. The real Vikings were plunderers

but we're a lot more gentle. We are the Ardglass Vikings. Primarily, we

are a charity group that helps other groups raise money but we are

in Derry today with two Viking longships. These boats are the real

deal. Each is 36 ft long and every detail, from the Dragons head to

the wooden oars, is historically accurate. History is at the heart

of Ardglass Vikings. The Vikings were looking for plunder and we had

so many monasteries in places like this in Ireland when they could

find gold and silver and one thing that people do not realise is that

people were an important commodity. It explains and Ireland was an

important place for that. As for today's Vikings, they might be

Wigan Warriors but away from the battlefield, they are no more

dangerous than the rest of us. During the week I make bridesmaids

dresses. At the weekends I do the Vikings. One highlight is a chance

for young people to experience the Viking life. There was met on board

are from all over the place, from Derry, Donegal, as far south as

Australia and New Zealand and I have to say, they are looking

scared. The excuse me, is this Derry?! We have been here before,

you know! Try putting the orders into the water! He will make me

walk the plank in a minute! There is no such thing as a plank on a

Viking longship! This is no pleasure crews! We are Vikings! And

we roll and wrote... --row and row. Vikings did not have horns and

their helmets. Disneyland put that into play, that does not exist.

When you go home tonight, don't put your hands into the water...

Because they will just swell up. You should get a goose, cut up the

goose and boiler for some time and as the oil runs out, put your hands

into the oil. I had better get my husband almost...! -- husband and

to this. Come on, baby... Lovely... They have opted for a modern

approach. I heard that! This is because you are inadequate and

lacking in power. And pasta, great for the City and the people. A

great experience for young people and this is free, everybody got on

so well. This was a great trip. They are a great bunch of

characters. I enjoyed it. children seem to love it. All good

fun. That has been a huge success for the Ardglass Vikings, with

their swords, hammers and shields. They have successfully married a

historic learning experience with It was great craic, despite the hit

and miss weather all week the festival site has been the place to

We are from Yorkshire and we came to see the festival because we saw

it in Hull and the weather has been great.

It is a good image rather than some of the things that you have seen in

the past and hopefully it will be a boost to tourism.

There was big Navy boats, the Dutch Navy. Unfortunately she is still

here. I thought she might have got It is absolutely fantastic. Tas lot

of fun. I love the sea. I love boats and I love seeing the boats

and the interest there is and families and everybody walking

around. There is a lovely light atmosphere.

For years I would have been wary about coming to the city. It makes

a change to have stuff on on this side and the Waterside, the the

Waterside has been neglected for years.

It is fantastic. There is so much for kids and for us as well to get

a good look at everything that's happening. I have never seen a

Clipper yacht up that close. It brought everybody together and

that's the main reason behind it. There is people here I haven't seen

in years. She met me and said said, "Have you got no home to go to to?"

We spent all week here. It is less than six months before

Derry, Londonderry takes on the City of Culture 2014. What should

we expect as a cultural spotlight hits these famous walls?

Our time, our place. UK City of Culture 2013, Derry, Londonderry,

Stroke City, there maybe a name about the debate, but the people of

this city have always known this is the city of culture except the rest

of the world took sometime to catch And the people of Derry Derry will

approach this from a strange angle. Take these two cows. The old Derry

and the people who came from Donegal to work. The the new Derry

is herement the Clipper Waugh, people coming -- the Clipper cow,

people coming to see us from all all over the world. This is the

Peace Bridge. I was born over there beside the water. When I was a kid,

I was never on this river, I never took part in water sports because I

didn't didn't think it belonged to me. Now this bridge is a lifeline

and the city of culture is a way that people can can show the world

what they can do. They can show them we are not the horrible people

we used to be. We have stopped fighting. This was a link to the

future which was not great, a lifeline. This is a memorial a

Joseph Lock, unveiled by John Hume and Phil Coulter. Music and the

arts always flourished here. What is needed is a kick start,

considering when you think of the talent the young people have. Derry

Docks were always vibrant and exciting. I'm standing here because

I use to work here among the pigs and the grain used to come from the

boats. I used to stand there covered in grain. Look down there,

look at those boats. This could be any city in Europe, Barcelona,

without the rain, of course! But the UK City of Culture is special

because we have to capture the buzz created by the events that go on

and make it the norm rather than the exception.

But the thoughts there of Gerry Anderson, but what should we expect

from the city for 2013? Martin Bradley is chair of the organisers.

You have been at the festival all week. What lessons have you learned

as you look ahead to 2013? It is just brilliant that we have had

this experience this week and we have had a number of events, we

have the Olympic flame coming to the city, we had the Peace One Day

concert, we had the the international film convention, so

there has been a tremendous lead-up of events preparing us for 2013 and

it has been great to see the crowds. All the lessons learned about crowd

control and the parking, all the lessons have been phenomenal and it

sets us in good stead for 2013. You got the nod two years ago. How

much of those events, the torch and the Clipper Festival, how much have

they helped new your preparation as soon as. Well, they have been a

huge help because it is important that we were able to use these as

practise events in terms of crowd control and the parking and the all

other the issues that people don't think goes on to make events like

this happen. Next year and 2013, there isn't a street in the city

that doesn't have an event. We will have the Turner Prize, we are

commissioning new plays, there are choral pieces doing written, we

have choreographers coming to the city and every school child will be

involved in terms of making and performing music. It will be a year

long series of events and this year, events like this are a taster for

what people can expect and the atmosphere and the buzz and the

excitement. The city is physically transforming. We built a new marine,

we have the Peace Bridge, we have new hotels being opened as we speak

and it is all happening for 2013 and it will be a phenomenal year to

be in Derry. You mentioned the children there.

How important are the people of Derry and the surrounding area

going to be in terms of getting 2013 off the ground? Well, I mean,

we can put as many plays and dance routines as you like, but if people

don't participate, that's what makes it. There is a physical

transformation going on in the city, but there is a psychological

transformation. The city is buzzing. There is a confidence in people and

people can see yes, we can put on these events and we can put them on

very well and you can see by the crowds here and the crowds

welcoming the Clipper, Derry people really come out and it will be an

amazing atmosphere and our neighbours in Donegal and across

the water... You could talk forever, Martin. Thank you very much indeed,

good luck for 2013. The next year will give Derry the

chance to show case many of its talents. One of of these is Meave

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 102 seconds

McGinley and she has dazzled Fabulous. Meave McGinley. Now

before we leave you, take a look at this wonderful tall ship, the Earl

of Pembroke which has arrived in the city, but it was a journey that

As it was approaching the city, the Foyle Bridge stood between the Earl

of Pembroke and its berth. Navigating this tall ship to pass

underneath the bridge was a tricky task and the responsibility of the

vessel's skipper. There was pretty close. We had to

dip the mast to ensure our clearance. We were in half a meter

of the bridge. Tell us about the history of the

ship. Originally built in Sweden in 1946. She carried lumber for many

years and then this company got hold of her and built her up to

what she is today. That investment has paid off because she is a movie

star. She has been in numerous movies, we have done a film which

is later out this year and it has famous names and faces in it with

Tom Hanks playing a major part and it was good to work alongside him.

The history and heritage of the tall ship is proving to be one of

the big hits of the festival. It is a great experience for the

children to see how a boat would sail. It has been a great

experience for us to come on. A beautiful boat. Very impressive.

It looks older than it really is. It is a fantastic boat. It is brill

brilliant for the children to see what a real pirates ship is like

and feel as if they are the real Jack Sparrow!

When it comes to sheer elegance, Yes, indeed. What a great old ship.

Well, that's just about all we have time for, but there is a lot more

happening at Clipper Festival over the weekend. There is a concert and

fireworks display just about to get underway across the river.

Tomorrow the city bids farewell to the Clippers at 2pm as the fleet

get back into race mode or the next leg of the journey over to the

Netherlands. The festival continues until Sunday so there is lots of