Foyle Days 2011 willcelebrate the city’smaritime heritage

THE Foyle is set to come alive once again with the return of the 2011 Foyle Days event in May.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Apr 2011, 11:44 BST

Foyle Days is a two-day event which will take place on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22.

It will bring a selection of sailing boats, trawlers, tall ships and vessels to the banks of the River Foyle.

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Making a welcome return will be the Johanna Lucretia, a two masted wooden schooner built in 1945. Visiting for the first time, will be the Jacinta, a heritage Fishing Vessel.

In its prime, the 615 ton Trawler won Top Earning British Trawler of the Year with £1.94m raised in 1994 and has became the most famous stern trawler of her generation.

The tour of the Jacinta will include a look at the cabins and galley. Come along and have a look around from 11am to 5pm, both days.

A favourite of the Foyle Days event, Canoeing with Foyle Paddlers, will allow participants to get on the water and give it a try. Sampler sessions across the two days will run at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

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Places must be booked at the Information Desk. For the few who don’t fancy walking the gangplank, get on board the Foyle Paddler’s interactive ERGO kayaks and race with your friends on dry land! This will run across the 2 days from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Foyle Days will also welcome the boating community from throughout the North West. Visitors this year will include, Coleraine Yacht Club, Foyle Paddlers, Foyle Punts, Lough Foyle Yacht Club, Lough Swilly Yacht Club, Moville Boat Club and more.

City of Derry Sub Aqua Club also return with ‘Try a Dive’. One of Foyle Days most popular activities, the City of Derry Sub Aqua Club will be on hand for anyone who wants the chance to ‘go diving’. Celebrating over forty years of diving, club members will relate their stories about excavating on Trinidad La Valencera and the Laurentic. Places must be booked at the Information Desk on both days and runs from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Visit the Clipper stand and learn more about Derry’s entry in the 2011-2012 Clipper Round the World Race, who will be crewing the Derry~Londonderry boat, the countries they will visit and how to get involved with the exciting plans for 2012. ‘Bling your bike’ is back this year in advance of Bike Week 2011. Learn how to dress your bike and have tyres and brakes checked by Halford’s Bike Doctor from 11am to 5pm on both days.

To find out more information on the event visit www.derrycity.gov.uk/foyledays.