With just over 20 days to go until the highly anticipated Tall Ships Races Aberdeen, a new behind-the-scenes podcast, Aberdeen Tall Ships: Dockside Diaries, will officially launch on 25 June 2025.
Hosted by Pete McIntosh, well-known voice of Original 106 and podcast producer at Mearns & Gill, alongside Sara Milne, Communications Advisor at Port of Aberdeen, the series offers listeners an exclusive look at the people and planning powering the city’s transformation into a world-class maritime festival.
Designed as a short-run series, Dockside Diaries dives into the heart of the event, revealing the stories, strategies, and spirit behind bringing the international Tall Ships fleet to Aberdeen.
Pete McIntosh, podcast host and producer, said: “Dockside Diaries gives listeners an insider’s pass to what goes into creating an event of this scale, and offers a few laughs along the way.”
"Aberdeen Tall Ships: Dockside Diaries" Podcast Hosts with contributor Sir Jim Milne of Balmoral Group
Listeners will hear from a wide range of voices including city officials, event sponsors, community leaders, sail mentors, and charity partners.
Topics covered include volunteer coordination, the music and cultural line-up, sustainability efforts, and iconic highlights such as the Captain’s Dinner and the Parade of Sail.
The podcast welcomes key sponsors of the event, including Sir Jim Milne, Chairman of Balmoral Group and Jilly Powell, Vice President of UK Communications at TotalEnergies, who shares insights into corporate partnership and community impact.
Coleen Grains, a former sail trainee turned mentor, whose inspiring journey captures the heart of the Tall Ships experience shares her story on embarking on her first voyage to a leader guiding the next generation of trainees.
Sara Milne, Communications Adviser, added: “This series showcases the shared passion and effort behind bringing the Tall Ships back to Aberdeen after nearly 30 years - from celebrating our maritime heritage and community spirit to championing sustainability and strong partnerships.
“Port of Aberdeen is proud to welcome international crews and visitors to our quayside for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of festivities and celebration.
Aberdeen Tall Ships: Dockside Diaries will be live on all major podcast platforms from Wednesday 25 June.
