Race of the classics

Improvement works at Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour Marina mean that tall ships will not be visiting the town this spring.

The announcement, from Thanet District Council, which operates the harbour, has been made, as construction works for the new breakwater will be underway when the Race of the Classics takes place. The organisers of the event have already been contacted and alerted to the situation.

The Race of the Classics takes place every year, with a flotilla of tall ships departing from Rotterdam and heading to Belgium and the UK, before finishing in Amsterdam. Although the race has planned to visit Ramsgate in most years, between 2004 and 2009, weather prevented the ships from visiting for the majority of the time. Conditions only allowed for a total of three visits in six years.

Leader of the council, Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “It’s a great shame that we won’t be able to accommodate the Race of the Classics this year, but the improvement work to the harbour is a priority and something that we know people want to see completed. We understand that people may be disappointed to hear this news, but the long term future of the harbour is the most important thing for us. We look forward to welcoming the tall ships and the Race of the Classics back to an improved Ramsgate Royal Harbour in 2012.”