NE1’S NEWCASTLE CITY MARINA HAS A BUSY SAILING SEASON AHEAD

MAY – OCTOBER 2014 NE1’s Newcastle City Marina may only be 2 years old but already it has a packed programme of events that have become key milestones in the city’s events calendar with a number of new entries planned this year that will attract an increasingly international audience of yachties, sailing enthusiasts and other water sport enthusiasts, not to mention the hordes of spectators who line the Quayside to enjoy the spectacle. It took only 6 months from concept through to completion for NE1 to deliver the Newcastle City Marina – and now its seasonal events programme covers the same period from May – October.  Now that Newcastle City Marina is firmly established on the marina map, yachting enthusiasts have a new stopping off point on round Britain sailing trips, and the marina provides a welcome new city centre tourist attraction providing events and activities that are helping infuse new life into the river Tyne. 25 – 26 May Royal Northumberland Yacht Club Regatta One of the first events in the annual marina calendar is the Royal Northumberland Yacht club regatta where the club stays at the Quayside Marina following their annual race from their home port of Blyth to the River Tyne. The club is calling this their ‘Tiny Tall Ships Tyne Trip’ and around 20 yachts are expected to take part in the race.  NE1 is also adding to the party atmosphere by awarding a prize luxury hamper to the ‘Best Dressed’ boat coming up the river.  So expect flags, bunting and lots of fancy dress too!  The yachts are expected to arrive at 2.00pm on Saturday 25^th May 2014. 29 – 31 May 1^st open weekend To get the season off to a flying start NE1 is hosting a free open weekend at the Newcastle City Marina. People with boats will be able to moor up free for the weekend and be treated to special hospitality including complimentary drinks and the Sunday papers delivered free of charge.  For those without boats, the weekend promises to offer a wonderful spectacle on the Quayside with a marina filled with yachts. Marina visitors and the public will be able to enjoy the newly re-installed; Quayside Seaside which will opens the same weekend, from 29 May and remains in place throughout the summer.  NE1’s Quayside Seaside is a pop up beach on the banks of the Tyne, offering visitors 500 square metres of beautiful white beach equipped with deck chairs, volley ball court and buckets and spades – an ideal vantage point to watch events and activities at the Newcastle City Marina. 21 – 27 June Dutch Yacht Fleet Visit to Newcastle On Thursday 26^th June 2014 a fleet of Dutch yachts will arrive at Newcastle City Marina after a 3 day expedition across the North Sea.  The intrepid sailors will set sail from the Dutch coastal port of Ijmuiden heading initially to Hartlepool.  After a well-earned rest day they will join other local sailors to compete in a friendly boat race on Wednesday 25 June. NE1 Ltd has worked closely with the Dutch Kustzeilers Association to organise the trip that will see Dutch sailors racing their North East contemporaries and then sailing into Newcastle for a day of celebrations. On Thursday 26 June, the whole fleet will sail ceremoniously up the Tyne with a parade of sail flags and bunting to be greeted by a welcoming committee on Newcastle’s Quayside with a brass band and ceremonial dinner in the evening. The boats moored up on the Newcastle City Marina will provide a wonderful spectacle and a great tourist attraction on the banks of the river. 1 – 7 July Superyacht Visit On Tuesday 1^st July 2014 an American superyacht will berth at the Quayside.  The Florida based yacht MV Sovereign will be staying for up to a week in the city centre and is sure to be quite a spectacle.  With super yachts, NE1’s Quayside Seaside and a busy summer programme for the city centre – the Riviera is coming to town! 19 July Newcastle Triathlon 2014 The marina will provide an ideal vantage point to watch proceedings when the city’s first river triathlon gets underway on Saturday 19 July. Thousands of competitors will take to the river from HMS Calliope opposite Newcastle City Marina and swim up to 1.5 km before jumping on their bike to cycle up to 40k miles and return to the Quayside for the finishing line. This is the first time the event has been staged in the Tyne and the organisers, VO2 Max Racing Events, are expecting a great day of racing in an event which is billed as a future classic. 23-24 August Old Boat Gathering Contact number: Phil Smith – 0191 536 1851 On Saturday 23^rd August the North East Maritime Trust will be organising a gathering of historic boats.  The event is sure to deliver as much enjoyment for the spectators as those taking part.  Dozens of historic vessels will be mooring up at the Marina for an event which will include music, sea shanties and people dressed in period costume. 30 – 31 AUGUST 2014 NE1 Zapcat Grand Prix powerboat racing For the 3^rd year running, NE1 is hosting the NE1 Zapcat Grand Prix powerboat racing on the Tyne.  A thrills and spills powerboat race on a tight course mapped out between the Tyne and High Level bridges.  Teams from all over the UK travel to Newcastle to compete in the event which now has a firm place in the UK Zapcat league championships. The event attracts hundreds of spectators who crowd the Quayside to get the best view of the high speed action, which is often likened to Formula One racing on water.