IT was anchors away for an armada of more than 50 vessels as Belfast Harbour bid farewell yesterday to the Tall Ships.
The ships set sail with the tide yesterday morning for the much-anticipated start of the sailing training race to Norway and Denmark.
The flotilla from more than 15 different countries were seen off in style with a Royal Air Force Red Arrows flypast and thousands of spectators watching as the people of the city heralded the departure of the majestic wooden-masted vessels.
The evocative departure of the historic sailing armada that glided out of Belfast Lough to calm seas, included ships from Ecuador, Portugal, Spain, France, Norway, Sweden and Denmark are competing in the race, which sets sail this morning off the coast of Portrush.
The grand boats gathered to "parade" down Belfast Lough where the shores were lined with spectators, amateur photographers, families and generations from young and old.
In Pictures: Belfast waves goodbye as Tall Ships set sail
The main sails were hoisted gradually and it was several miles out of port before the first white canvas sails were seen to unfurl.
Among the last to leave was the giant Brazilian naval vessel the Cisne Branco, its crew waving goodbye to well-wishers as it nosed its way carefully out into the River Lagan.
The name means the White Swan and the ship was busy all weekend with guided tours while crew scaled the masts checking the rigging. A fireworks display on Saturday night to mark the end of the four day festival illuminated vessels moored alongside the Odyssey arena.
And crew members clad in suitable mariner's attire paraded through the city centre as part of the pageantry that came to Belfast harbour and Titanic Quarter.
The PSNI, who hailed the event as a major success, said up to 300,000 people were expected along the Antrim and north Down shorelines to catch a final view of the boats.
James Pearson (34)from Belfast said he travelled regularly to see the Tall Ships.
"There is something romantic about them, they really are a symbol of a bygone era."
Janice Devine (46), who also turned out to see the ships sail off, said: "I think it is a tremendous endorsement of Northern Ireland, when you think how many options they had of where to start, they started here.
"We need to have more events like this, it created a real buzz about the place.
"It is just a pity we have to say goodbye to the boats."
