This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8204243.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tall Ships sail away from Belfast Tall Ships sail away from Belfast
(29 minutes later)
The Belfast Maritime Festival has come to an end.The Belfast Maritime Festival has come to an end.
At noon on Sunday a flotilla of the forty ships that had been berthed along quays in the city set sail out of Belfast Lough.At noon on Sunday a flotilla of the forty ships that had been berthed along quays in the city set sail out of Belfast Lough.
Once again huge crowds swarmed to the quays to see the vessels. Thousands lined the shore to wave goodbye as the ships sounded their horns.Once again huge crowds swarmed to the quays to see the vessels. Thousands lined the shore to wave goodbye as the ships sounded their horns.
It is thought that more that 350,000 people attended the festival from Thursday to Saturday.It is thought that more that 350,000 people attended the festival from Thursday to Saturday.
The amount of people on the roads trying to get a good vantage point of the flotilla led to traffic problems. There was traffic congestion on roads either side of Belfast Lough as people tried to get the best vantage point.
Fireworks ended each day of the Maritime Festival.
The M5 motorway was closed for a time. Traffic in Holywood, Helen's Bay and the Loughshore at Jordanstown was also brought to a standstill.The M5 motorway was closed for a time. Traffic in Holywood, Helen's Bay and the Loughshore at Jordanstown was also brought to a standstill.
Nicky Devlin from Belfast City Council said the event had been "phenomenal".
"We have had people from all over the world on our quaysides," she said.
"On Saturday we had 70,000 people over our event site at one time."
For one trainee on the Europa it was time to say goodbye to the boat that had been her home for three weeks.
"I don't want the boat to go, I want to hide away in a dry store so I can go with it," said Roisin McAnallen.
"It's sad to see all the crew for the last time, but most of the Belfast trainees are standing on the dock to wave goodbye.
"It was an amazing experience, a trip of a lifetime."