Minesweeper's pride of place in anniversary tall ships regatta
A PORTSMOUTH-BASED minesweeper will swap the heat of the Gulf for the Bay of Biscay when she joins the first leg of a boat race to Portugal.
HMS Cattistock will take pride of place in Falmouth, Cornwall, this weekend to mark the beginning of the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta.
She has been working to clear mines in and around Iraqi waters this year, but recently returned to Portsmouth.
Now, in a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the first Portuguese settlement on the island of Madeira, she will both start the race and take part in the first leg to Portugal.
The 750-tonne Hunt Class vessel will be alongside at the town's Northern Wharf before going out to mark the start line on Saturday afternoon.
Before the 25 tall ships leave, her 45-strong crew will host a reception for about 50 guests.
The reception will include all the captains.
The ships will then race to Ilhavo in Portugal, and then on to their final port of call in Funchal, Madeira.
HMS Cattistock will sail with them on the first leg of their journey to Ilhavo with a member of the race committee.
Lieutenant Commander David Morgan, HMS Cattistock's commanding officer, said: 'We are delighted to be able to support this historic event and are looking forward to following the race across the Bay of Biscay.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
