The Royal Navy warship HMS Cattistock will take pride of place on Falmouth’s Northern Wharf this weekend to support the Funchal 500 Tall Ships’ Race 2008. The 750 tonne Hunt Class mine countermeasures vessel will act as guardship, escort and mark the official starting line for the Funchal 500 Tall Ships’ Regatta, the centrepiece of a year-long celebration marking the 500th anniversary of the first settlement on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Organised by Sail Training International, the fleet of 25 tall ships will gather in Falmouth before racing to Ilhavo in Portugal, and then onto their final port of call in Funchal, Madeira.

And HMS Cattistock will sail with them on the first leg of their journey to Ilhavo, with a member of the race committee embarked.

Whilst alongside in Falmouth, Cattistock’s 45-strong crew will host a reception for around 50 guests, including the captains of the tall ships and other VIPs.

Lieutenant Commander David Morgan, HMS Cattistock’s Commanding Officer, said: “We are delighted to be able to support this historic event and are looking forward to following the race across the Bay of Biscay. The ship's company has recently returned from operations in the Gulf, and is pleased to be back home and looking forward to our involvement in the Funchal 500 Tall Ships Race. During our time in the Gulf our minewarfare skills were put to the test in helping to clear historic Mine Danger Areas in Iraqi waters - this challenging work has already helped to improve the economic future of Iraq with improved trade passing through the port of Umm Qasr. We are all pleased to be back home and our visit to Falmouth is a welcome change to the heat and sand we were facing in the Gulf earlier this year.”

As one of eight Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels made from glass reinforced plastic, HMS Cattistock is pound for pound and inch for inch one of the Royal Navy’s most capable, if not, expensive warships. The 60 metre long glass-reinforced plastic hull minimises the ship’s magnetic signature, a method many modern mines use to detect ships.

HMS Cattistock is part of the Second Mine Counter Measures Squadron based at Portsmouth. Her primary role is to counter the threat of sea mines. Added to this her secondary role is coastal patrol including fishery protection duties around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.