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Royal Navy ship HMS Gloucester will be arriving in St Mary's on the afternoon of Friday 1 May 2009 to support the 20th World Pilot Gig Championships. The 5,200 tonne, Type 42 Destroyer will anchor up in St Mary's Bay for the duration of the competition.

The Warship is currently training in Operational Sea protocols for overseas deployment with a team from the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) on board during the visit.

As part of her training in defence diplomacy, the ship will be acting as a Guardship for the competition in which Royal Navy teams from Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and HMS Raleigh are participating in.

The World Pilot Gig Championships 2008

Despite the light hearted nature of the visit, every aspect of Gloucester's programme and the way the ships's staff conducts itself will be accessed by the FOST team to ensure that her procedures and routines comply with the exacting standards laid down by the Senior Service.

The Commanding Officer of the Gloucester, Commander Iain Lower, is a former Truro School pupil, who says: "We are very much looking forward to spending time in St Mary's. I hope as many local people as possible will come and see the ship for themselves this weekend. I'm sure that the gigs will provide a fabulous spectacle, as well as a bit of fun."

On the Friday evening, the Gloucester will host a reception and a capability demonstration for invited guests from the local community, as well as gig championship organisers.

Also on Sunday 3 May, the ship will throw open her gangway to local residents, where she will be open to visitors from 11am-3pm. A boat from the St Mary's Boatmen's Association will ferry visitors to and from the ship.

Keep checking the 主播大秀 Cornwall website for coverage of the 20th World Pilot Gig Championships before, during and after the weekend.