The Tall ships race is coming to Hartlepool this weekend.  If you're going to see them, read on for advice about travel and parking, and links to the event website. 
Hartlepool will welcome around 60 vessels and up to one million visitors when it hosts the Tall Ships event between 7 and 10 August.
 
Road signs on all major routes to Hartlepool will direct traffic to the Park and Ride sites on the outskirts of town or the Park and Walk sites which are located nearer to the Tall Ships Village. Parking costs £10 per car per day which includes a return shuttle bus service for those using the Park and Ride.

Yesterday the Spanish vessel Hansa and the Latvian Spaniel arrived in Hartlepool Marina. The Indonesian Class A ship, Dewaruci, is due to berth in Hartlepool today at 11am. Smaller boats, Challenger 2 and Challenger 4, Lietuva, Dashar, Dar Szczecina and the Tomidi have also arrived in the Marina this morning.

The vessels are sailing from Kristiansand in Norway in the second and final race. Hartlepool Borough Council has teamed up with PD Ports and Hartlepool Marina to organise the event.

For further information log onto www.hartlepooltallships2010.com, contact the Hartlepool Tall Ships office on 01429523636 or e-mail tallships@hartlepool.gov.uk