Some had been in situ since early morning, saying they were "up from the crack of dawn to get a parking space".
Quite right they were too, as all spaces in the nearby carparks had virtually gone by 11am.
Others had come prepared with picnic baskets, rugs and disposable barbeques to prepare their lunch.
"We want to give the children and ourselves a great day out," said one mother.
"And the sun has come out to make it for us. The kids think it is like being in the middle of Pirates of the Caribbean."
Earlier in the week, the four-day Belfast Maritime Festival displayed a truly international feel with ships flying flags from Brazil, Uruguay, the USA, France and the Netherlands to name a few.
The 40 vessels set sail for Belfast from Halifax in Nova Scotia last month as part of a 7,000 nautical mile loop which began in Vigo in Spain and took in Tenerife and Bermuda, as well as Charleston and Boston in the US.
The last tall ship race took place in 2000, but they have not stopped in Belfast since 1991...18 years ago.
On Saturday night, Belfast was transformed into a Treasure Island with pirate kings and queens.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, few along Newtownabbey's coastline stood without binoculars or a top-of-the-range camera for the Parade of Sail.
Perhaps one of the best prepared was 61-year-old John Farrell from the Whitewell area. Since the arrival of the Tall Ships he has taken more than 100 pictures.
Recently retired from Translink, Mr Farrell said he did not know how he ever had time to work.
"I am an amateur photographer," he said.
"I am learning from my mistakes, but this Tall Ships event in Belfast is brilliant. I am having a ball. I have two cameras here and my DVD recorder.
"I have been taking pictures of them all week - not even the weather could put me off.
"I mean if you could not enjoy yourself at something like this you don't know how to enjoy yourself. And look at the way it is bringing everyone together. It is a great thing for Belfast and it was needed. I was down at the main event and there was something for everyone, young and old."
Colin Wilmont, 60, from Whitehouse, said he had come to Hazelbank to "avoid the crowds".
"But I am not sure that will happen now," he said.
"There are lots of people still coming. I am just glad that I got left off and didn't have to find a parking space.
"The sun is out, the scenery is magnificent, what more could you ask for on your own doorstep?"