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Tall Ships: Four-day Belfast festival draws to a close Tall Ships: Belfast waves goodbye as festival draws to close
(about 1 hour later)
The Tall Ships are leaving Belfast, ending the four-day maritime festival. Huge crowds have turned out to watch the Tall Ships sail up Belfast Lough in a final parade of sail to mark the end of the four-day maritime festival.
Thousands of people have flocked to the city for the event, which featured 50 vessels from 15 different countries.
Belfast is the home port for the start of the Tall Ships Races, which begin off the County Antrim coast on Monday.Belfast is the home port for the start of the Tall Ships Races, which begin off the County Antrim coast on Monday.
The Tall Ships are sailing out of Belfast Lough, making their way towards Bangor, County Down, before finishing their parade at Whitehead in County Antrim. The ships were making their way towards Bangor, County Down, before finishing at Whitehead in County Antrim.
Ahead of the ships setting sail, crowds were treated to a spectacular aerobatic display by the Red Arrows. Before they set off, crowds were treated to a spectacular aerobatic display by the Red Arrows.
The vessels will go on to visit six ports in five countries over the course of the competition. The event featured 50 vessels from 15 different countries.
The PSNI said up to 300,000 people were expected along the Antrim and north Down shorelines to catch a final glimpse of the boats. The Tall Ships will go on to visit six ports in five countries over the course of the competition.
Inspector Stephen Burns said: "Traffic disruption is expected along the A2 corridor between Holywood Exchange to Groomsport and on the Antrim Coast Road from the Shore Road, Newtownabbey, as far as Portrush." Police had estimated as many as 300,000 people would turn out along the Antrim and north Down shorelines to catch a final glimpse of the boats.
They have asked people to use public transport where possible.
Belfast previously hosted the Tall Ships event in 2009.Belfast previously hosted the Tall Ships event in 2009.
The actual race begins five miles off the coast of Portrush, County Antrim, at 10:00 BST on Monday.The actual race begins five miles off the coast of Portrush, County Antrim, at 10:00 BST on Monday.
After leaving Belfast on Sunday, the ships will visit Aalesund and Kristiansand in Norway and then Aalborg in Denmark. After leaving Northern Ireland, the ships will visit Aalesund and Kristiansand in Norway and then Aalborg in Denmark.
BBC Northern Ireland is running a running a live page on the final day of the Tall Ships festival in Belfast. BBC Northern Ireland is running a live page on the final day of the Tall Ships festival.