Tall ships sail into harbour for start of fleet review Grey skies, hail and unfavourable winds accompanied the flotilla of tall ships that nevertheless arrived punctually through the heads at 11am on Thursday to herald the start of the International Fleet Review. A fire tender spraying fountains of water, an armada of small boats and TV helicopters were there to greet them. Tall ships in Sydney Harbour Fairfax's Tim Barlass got onboard the tall ship Southern Swan to join in with the International Fleet Review. PT1M42S http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2uwzj 620 349 October 3, 2013 - 4:56PM The Young Endeavour led a north line of eight ships while the bark Endeavour led the south line. The wind sorted the more modern ships from the old as vessels with more streamlined hulls such as the Soren Larsen flew half their sails while the Endeavour arrived under bare poles. In all there were 16 ships from New Zealand, Britain and the Netherlands as well as the home fleet. They had sailed the last leg of their passage from New Zealand, Hobart and Newcastle. Under a lowering sky: Tall ships the Bark Europa (Netherlands), Spirit of New Zealand and James Craig (Australia) sail into Sydney Harbour. "It looks like God isn't on our side after all," said James Parbery, at the wheel of the Southern Swan, a malt carrier built in 1922. It has turned out as forecast, not really in our favour, and we are having to motor into it. As we pass around Bradleys Head we may be able to get some sails up. Sometimes the amount of sail is more to do with the character of the skipper in how bold they are in setting sail. The rustle of plastic ponchos distributed to those aboard replaced the flap of canvas, but no one there to witness the spectacle cared, soon developing an appetite for the BBQ buffet and toasting the centenary with a glass of champagne. The weather didn't bother Kim McDonnell and her Icelandic husband Ingvar Masson, who had travelled from Queensland for the fleet review. "It's absolutely fabulous," she said. My husband has an affiliation with boats and a bit of weather can't dampen it. You don't marry a yachtie and not get used to a bit of water. Tomorrow warships from 20 nations will arrive throughout the day to mark the centenary of the arrival of Australia's first fleet of seven warships in 1913. On Saturday the Governor-General, accompanied by Prince Harry, will review the fleet and take the royal salute.