Sun smiles on weekender
More than 50,000 flocked to Hull for the successful Wilberforce Weekender events that stretched from the Humber to Queens Gardens.
Events kicked off in triumphant style as the Hull and Humber won the Wilberforce Cup clipper race from Rotterdam to Hull and even the sun graced the city with its presence.
Crowds gathering on the waterfront to greet the arrival of the 10 Clipper yachts who took part in the Wilberforce challenge cup yacht race – a major warm up event prior to the start of the round the world race later this year.
Yachts representing New York, Western Australia, South Africa and China were among the fleet, which trailed in behind the winner the ‘Hull & Humber’ Clipper on its debut outing in front of a home crowd.
The waterfront theme continued on Saturday and Sunday as people packed the waterfront again to witness the thrills and spills of the first Hull and Humber Grand Prix in the 2007 Zapcat National Championships. The colourful catamarans raced together in small packs and thrilled crowds as they battled for victory reaching speeds of up to 50mph.
Meanwhile across the city in on Saturday afternoon Sankofa Sunplash had revellers celebrating African and African Caribbean culture with food, stalls and music. 
Highlights included Seikou Susso performing his infectious musical poetry, Khady Black, Sierra Leone’s biggest female reggae artist all topped off with headline act Kasai Masai’s whose energetic sounds and dancing got the Sankofa crowds on their feet dancing along.
On Sunday it was rugs, picnic hampers and a relaxing atmosphere in Queens Gardens for the start of the 10 day Jazz Festival. The nationally renowned Savannah Jazz Band, Jazz Vehicle, and pianist David Barton treated the audience to an afternoon of classic, big band, New Orleans and Dixieland Jazz.
Hull Jazz organiser David Porter said: “We were so pleased to be involved with the Wilberforce Weekender, as Jazz has always shined bright in the struggle to free fight for freedom”
A spokesperson for the Wilberforce Weekender organisers wanted to thank everyone who supported the weekends events: “Thanks to the thousands of people who joined in the fun this weekend. They are a huge part of what made the events such a success. We also would like to thank the people who took the time to sing the Wilberforce petition, we got more than 1,200 signatures just that weekend.”
If you haven’t signed the petition yet, you can do it here now online by cliking on the icon at the top right of the page.
Published: 31/07/07
