1.
LV COMPETITOR AT ANCHOR.
0.04

2.
SLV ANOTHER DITTO.
0.08

3.
LV TWO COMPETITORS.
0.13

4 ,.
SV FLAG.
0.16

5.
SV PAN. PRESIDENT THOMAZ GREETED ON ARRIVAL.
0.25

6.
CU PRESIDENT LOOKS THROUGH BINOCULARS.
0.29

7.
SV BOW OF COMPETITOR.
0.34

8.
CU PRESIDENT THOMAZ.
0.38

9.
LV COMPETITOR MOVES TO STARTING POINT UNDER MOTOR POWER.
0.42

10.
LV ANOTHER DITTO.
0.47

11.
SV TILT - ANOTHER COMPETITOR WAITING FOR 'START' SIGNAL.
0.54

12.
CU PRESIDENT GIVES 'START' SIGNAL.
0.58

13.
AERIAL VIEW: VARIOUS SHIPS UNDER WAY.
1.51



Initials DR/S/JF/KN



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE TWELVE ENTRIES IN THE TALL SHIPS RACE - 8,600 MILES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO BERMUDA - SET SAIL FROM PORTUGAL ON FRIDAY. THE RACE WAS STARTED BY ADMIRAL AMERICO THOMAZ, THE PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT, BY RADIO-TELEPHONE.

IT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT AS ONE AFTER ANOTHER THE SHIPS WENT OVER THE STARTING LINE, ESCORTED BY PORTUGUESE WARSHIPS, AEROPLANES, A FLYING BOAT, HELICOPTERS, AND A FLOTILLA OF MOTOR LAUNCHES.

EIGHT SQUARE RIGGERS, REPRESENTING SIX NATIONS - ARGENTINE, SPAIN, GERMANY, PORTUGAL, NORWAY AND DENMARK -- AND FOUR AND AFT RIGGED VESSELS FROM BRITAIN, ITALY AND GERMANY, ARE TAKING PART IN THE CONTEST.

FIRST AWAY WAS THE ITALIAN NAVY'S YAWL "CORSARIO II" FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY "TAWAO", THE BRITISH SAIL TRAINING ASSOCIATION'S ENTRY. THEN CAME THE PORTUGUESE NAVY'S BARQUE "SAGRES". THIS SHIP PRESENTED PERHAPS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE SIGHT AS SHE SET SAIL. CADETS WERE SPREADEAGLED ON HER CROSS STAYS AND TOP GALLANTS, AND EACH SAIL WAS EMBLAZONED WITH A GIANT RED CROSS.

SPECTATORS LINED THE COAST FOR MILES TO WATCH THE SAILS SET, AND THE GRACEFUL CRAFT SLOWLY SAIL OVER THE HORIZON.