Gipsy Moth IV to grace Australian waters once more
July 2006.
On Sunday July 9th 2006, the famous sailing yacht Gipsy Moth IV will sail into Sydney Harbour amongst a flotilla of supporting craft. Gipsy Moth IV’s journey to Australia has not been without adventure, in fact, few thought Gipsy Moth IV would ever return to Australia when Sir Francis Chichester sailed out of the Harbour into the Tasman Sea in January 1967 to complete his solo circumnavigation of the globe. Sir Francis beat his critics and successfully sailed 54ft ketch Gipsy Moth IV back to Plymouth in the United Kingdom to become the first person ever to sail a solo one-stop global circumnavigation.
As a national hero, Chichester received a Knighthood from The Queen and Gipsy Moth IV was placed in a dry-dock in London next to the famous tea clipper ship, The Cutty Sark so that the general public could view Sir Francis’s yacht. Sadly, after almost 40 years of exposure to the elements and a lack of regular maintenance Gipsy Moth IV’s future was in jeopardy.
Yachting Monthly Editor Paul Gelder recognised that this piece of maritime heritage was in danger of being lost forever and launched a campaign to save Gipsy Moth IV. After months of searching for a solution, Paul Gelder and The Maritime Trust approached the Cowes based sail training establishment and registered charity, the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA). With the backing of the charity’s Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal the UKSA paid £1 and a Gin & Tonic to The Maritime Trust for Chichester’s yacht and revealed ambitious plans to restore the vessel and sail her around the world again, except this time taking deserving young people either recovering from major illness, from deprived backgrounds or those that have faced major challenges in their lives, on the voyage of a lifetime.
The project received immense support from the start with funds pledged from the Lister Charitable Trust, private donor Stephen Thomas, The Maritime Trust and a place on the 2005-2007 Blue Water Rally including logistical support and all fees paid. On November 17th 2004 Gipsy Moth IV was lifted from her dry-dock and transported to Gosport Boat Yard, Camper and Nicholsons, the yard where she was built almost 40 years previously. Support from the marine industry flooded in, with offers of materials and services free of charge and against all the odds Gipsy Moth IV was re-launched on the 20th June 2005 by three young people who would go on to sail part of the global voyage.
A summer packed full of events followed with three Royal engagements and a nostalgic trip up the River Thames in London back to Greenwich where she had been languishing in her dry-dock just 12 months previously. Dame Ellen MacArthur, Shirley Robertson OBE and Virginia Chichester, Sir Francis’s daughter in law, helped navigate the yacht to Greenwich where they were met by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal who re-dedicated the yacht for active service and wished the yacht luck for her forthcoming round the world voyage.
On the 25th September 2006 Gipsy Moth IV departed Plymouth on a 2 year circumnavigation that would celebrate not only Chichester’s achievements but also Yachting Monthly’s 100 year anniversary. When Gipsy Moth IV arrives in Sydney she will have travelled almost 17,000 miles and will have given over 36 young people the chance to sail aboard the boat. Gipsy Moth IV has provided young people with the inspiration and determination to achieve their potential and many have gone on to undertake yachting or watersports courses at the UK Sailing Academy that will equip them with the skills needed to pursue a long and successful career in the marine industry. An education programme linked to the yacht’s voyage is engaging thousands of young people around the world and the technology installed on the yacht is enabling students to live the experiences of the crew through video diaries and regular e-mail logs.
The voyage has not been without its challenges and on the 29th April 2006, the Gipsy Moth IV Project faced its biggest challenge to date. After departing a small atoll North East of Tahiti, Gipsy Moth IV struck a reef and suffered damage to her starboard side. None of the crew were hurt in the incident but the Gipsy Moth IV Team faced a difficult few weeks ahead as the yacht was rescued from the reef and transported to Tahiti for initial repairs before being transferred to New Zealand for more comprehensive work.
In yet another wave of support for the project and its valuable work for young people, Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton offered the project one of his sheds in the Viaduct Basin in Auckland and use of the America’s Cup team’s facilities. A specialist team of boat builders, surveyors and engineers have been working around the clock to repair the classic yacht in time for the calendar of events waiting for her in Australia. The repair team, including Chris Fewtrell, Bob Bradfield and Bob Wilson will receive a special commendation for their hard work over the past few weeks in the form of a visit from the UKSA’s Patron Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The Princess will spend time meeting members of the skilled team before flying to Sydney for her Royal engagements.
In an amazing story of triumph in the face of adversity, like Chichester, against all the odds Gipsy Moth IV will sail into Sydney Harbour on schedule. A varied calendar of events to involve those who remembered Chichester’s visit in 1966 as well as a new generation of Gipsy Moth IV enthusiasts will be taking place across the City. It is hoped that the Australian leg of this historic voyage will attract more project supporters and inspire young people to embrace adventure and leadership like so many others have since the project began.
Ends.
Further information
David Green - CEO UKSA
07970 628439
dgreen@uksa.org
Anna Symcox - PR Manager
07709 485674
anna.symcox@uksa.org
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NOTE TO MEDIA
For further press information, please contact:
Anna Symcox
PR Manager & PA to the CEO
United Kingdom Sailing Academy
Tel: +44 (0) 1983 203016
Fax: +44 (0) 1983 295938
Mob: +44 (0) 7709 485674
Email: anna.symcox@uksa.org
Web: www.uksa.org |
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United Kingdom Sailing Academy
UKSA is recognised as the world’s leading Sailing Academy. It is a registered charity and non – profit making organisation supported by the Lister Trust. Based in West Cowes on the Isle of Wight it has superb, modern facilities with residential accommodation and operates a fleet of over 300 craft. UKSA provide a wide range of courses aimed at adults, young people and the disabled. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal is Patron to the Academy and Dame Ellen MacArthur, Nick Moloney and Shirley Robertson OBE are their Ambassadors.
Yachting Monthly
Gipsy Moth IV's second world voyage celebrates the 100th birthday of leading marine publication Yachting Monthly magazine and the 40th anniversary of Sir Francis' celebrated single-handed voyage.
Isle of Wight
Gipsy Moth supported through the Inspire Project.The Isle of Wight Economic Partnership, is proud to support Gipsy Moth IV, as title sponsor under the banner of our ‘Inspire’ project. Gipsy Moth is carrying the new Isle of Wight branding around the world to promote the Isle of Wight as a top destination for business, tourism and lifestyle.
Through support from the Inspire project, 120 young Isle of Wight people will have the opportunity to attend a two day residential activity and sailing course at the United Kingdom Sailing Academy. During this course 15 young people will be selected to fly out and join Gipsy Moth as crew and sail her from one of her global destinations to the next, giving them the opportunity to visit places such as New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Bali, Phuket and many others.
Gipsy Moth is the ideal vehicle to promote the Isle of Wight as she epitomises the spirit of adventure that we have here on the Isle of Wight
IWEP Contact:
Pippa Phillips: +44 (0)1983 535819 Email pippa.phillips@iwep.com or visit http://www.iwep.com
Corum Swiss Timepieces official time keeper for the Gipsy Moth IV Project
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