Admiral Nelson's famous vessel was lit initially for the Trafalgar 200 bicentennial celebrations, for a high ranking military function aboard the ship that also involved the Band of The Royal Marines 'Beating the Retreat' in the courtyard beside Britain's most famous warship. DPL also lit a life-size model of the X-35 Joint Strike Fighter airplane that was located there for the same event, providing a contrast between old and new military technology.
The Victory illuminations then continued all week into the Festival of The Sea, which started a few days after Trafalgar 200 ended. The Victory lighting scheme was designed by Darren Parker. It was uplit with a series of green and blue 400W metal halide fixtures located down in the dry dock below the hull - creating a surreal aqua effect. Its vast bulk was also lit with six Studio Due City Colors located on the dock side, and from the rear, with two Space Flowers on the upper deck, crossing and beaming through the rigging. This proved highly atmospheric - especially on slightly misty days.
Around the site, on the World Stage, a 15m Orbit adjacent to the Victory, DPL supplied Martin MAC 500 and 600 moving lights plus conventions including Pars and Molefays, trussing and motors, and an Avolites Pearl 2004 console for control. The lighting was run by DPL's Andy Higgins and Jake Sullivan. On the Run Ashore Stage, located at the end of a 20m wide jetty, sandwiched between two warships - the Admiral Levchenko from Russia and the South African RSA Drakensberg - Darren Parker and Tony Beeton took the helm. The stage and the entertainment was open each night to the many working sailors visiting the event, who enjoyed a varied programme of bands form rock 'n' roll to blues, jive and 1980s favourites. Lighting equipment here included PAR's Macs and Molefays. DPL again also supplied trussing and motors and a Jands desk.
Over on the Shanty Stage in front of the food courts, DPL supplied Par lamps to this smaller area that featured traditional seafaring music and song. DPL additionally architecturally lit the food court areas with a series of strategically placed 300W 'wet' lights and 400W MBIs. They were carefully located to highlight the interior of the saddle span roof.
A Russian tall ship, the Dar Mlodziezy was the picturesque backdrop for a stunning performance by silk acrobatic troupe Scarabus. Their show took place down the side of the ship, with the silks attached to the yard arms. DPL up-lit the whole vessel with six Studio Due City Color luminaires, located on the shore side, and focussed on the masts and rigging.
The vessel disappeared on the Saturday and was replaced by her sister ship, the equally beguiling STS Mir. Darren Parker comments: "The schedule was really punishing, but IFOS was a fantastic event to be involved in and an eye-opening experience all round."
(Lee Baldock)
