A Tall Ship regatta on the Thames will be the biggest draw to the Olympic borough of Greenwich since London 2012, organisers said today.
More than 50 ships from countries around the world will converge on the Thames in September for the five-day event which is expected to bring in more than a million spectators.
Council leader Chris Roberts said the regatta would be the first of its kind in 25 years and help to buoy up businesses in the Royal borough with millions of pounds from tourists.
The vessels will race from Cornwall to the Isle of Wight, before setting sail for Greenwich for the start of the festival which will culminate in a thousand sailors parading through the streets.
Mr Roberts said: “There will be Tall Ships in London for the first time in a quarter of a century for what we think will be the biggest event since the Olympic Games.”
“We expect there will be in excess of one million people coming to Greenwich for this event.
“The support for our businesses will be huge – especially those involved in tourism like our restaurants and bars.”
Ships will be available to hire and sail down the Thames by groups and corporations in the City. Smaller events will be held around several historic sites including in the Cutty Sark Gardens.
Hundreds of London youngsters will be given the chance to learn the ropes by working on the ships.
Bradley Hemmings, artistic director of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, will be spearheading the street parade and promised a “tour de force.”
He said: “We are working with a company that specialises in large-scale, unusual and beautiful sculptures that move through the streets.
“For this show, they have created an aquarium of sea creations. It’s very exciting.”
The Greenwich Tall Ship Festival will take place from September 5 – 9.
