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 SHETLAND'S own tall ship "Swan" will be the pride of the islands as she sails off to join the 1999 Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races. The distinctive former fishing boat sailed the North Sea almost a century ago, at a time when the only aids on board were a compass and a foghorn. This summer the beautifully-restored boat will be partly crewed by youngsters from the islands when she takes her place alongside some of the world's most magnificent ships. The rise of the "Swan" to the international sailing scene is a major achievement, particularly as it is just 10 years since her rotting hull was hauled up from the seabed in Hartlepool. "Swan" was built by Hay and Company and launched in Lerwick in 1900. For almost 50 years after that she was skippered and crewed by the Simpson family from the island of Whalsay before newer models crept in and her fishing days ended. She changed from being lug-rigged (two sails) to smack-rigged (up to five sails) and finally to having an engine fitted in 1935. She was sold south and, many alterations later, became a houseboat in Hull. She was later bought by a Hartlepool man, and ended up sunk in the town's harbour and in a sorry state. Furniture restorer and maker Keith Parkes recognised the classic lines of the boat as she languished on the seabed. He bought her, lifted her free and took six months to clean her up. He realised the task ahead of him was far greater than he had anticipated. The Swan Trust, was set up in 1991 and the boat was taken back north to Shetland. Now, with her distinctive tan-coloured sails, "Swan" is a familiar sight in Lerwick and a regular visitor to other Shetland islands. She plays a major part in education, and is taking on an increasingly important role in leisure and tourism in the isles. In this her second season, she is sailing to Orkney, St Kilda and twice to Norway. She is also booked up for weekend trips, day trips and evening cruises. The Cutty Sark Tall ships' Races will be the first time the "Swan" has circumnavigated Britain, and will involve two long non-stop journeys for the crew of 15. The boat will leave Lerwick on July 11th and will take around a week to travel the 800 miles to St Malo. The 500-mile France to Greenock leg of the route is expected to take six days. There should be plenty of fun as well as hard work for those on board, with Shetland band "Fiddler's Bid" travelling as part of the crew. The four musicians will keep their colleagues entertained on the long voyage, before playing to the French crowds in St Malo. They plan to travel on with the "Swan" until Greenock, where visitors will again be treated to their musical talents. The crew is also assured of lively times on the remaining legs of the route. The boat will be putting into ports along the route from Greenock to Lerwick almost every night. And when she leads the fleet from Lerwick, en route to Aalborg, a belly dancer from London will be among the crew. Whether or not she can be persuaded to perform on deck as the boat sails across the North Sea has yet to be seen! Skipper Andrew Halcrow has recently been joined by his brother Terry, as Mate. The Shetland brothers bring a wide experience to the project, having built their own yacht "Elsi Arrub" and sailed her around the world in a five-year adventure. They returned to Shetland six years ago. Andrew, who lives in Scalloway with his wife and three children, said "Swan" was a really good seaboat and was proving very popular. "Most of the folk that have been on her want to come back again." |
