- Spirit Of Mystery Being Offloaded In Holland (Photo by Colin Merry)
Spirit of Mystery, skippered by Pete Goss, arrived back in the UK this week. Spirit of Mystery, Pete Goss’s 37 foot replica Cornish Lugger, which started sailing from the Cornish port of Newlyn a year and a half ago will be back in Cornwall. After a short refit period will be visiting various ports and festivals throughout the summer.
The following is a short description of the delivery back from Holland by crewman Colin Merry. “ We arrived in Vrissingham Holland on Thursday and set about getting our bearings. The next day was to have been spent getting stores and fuel for the boat. Finally ‘Spirit of Mystery’ was gently lowered into the water and we started our trip back to England.
Down the Dutch, Belgium and then French coast before turning into the Dover straits in order to cross the Channel. Arguably the busiest shipping lane in the world, we felt tiny as we dodged ships the size of small towns on our way across. (Big ship pinball, with us as the ball!) After thirteen hours the noise of the engine was really getting to us, and it was with relief that we felt the first breeze of the promised NNE. Passing Dover and heading for Beachy Head we raised sail and gave the engine a rest. The wind continued to increase steady until the promised 30knot.duly arrived and we shortened sail for a night passage to the Isle of wight.
Spirit of Mystery Crew (Photo Courtesy of Colin Merry)
We ran a watch system of one man on deck and two resting. It was quite sobering to think that three guys we’re asleep below while on deck I was helming down Channel in a blow! The dawn found us off Weymouth and skirting the famous Portland race we headed out into Lime bay. By now the wind and sea state had moderated and we we’re in good spirits. Top speed over the ground went to Stu with a blistering 10.8 knots! Not bad for a Cornish lugger weighing in at 16tonnes!
Sunset Over Rame Head (Photo by Colin Merry)
The remainder of the trip was quite relaxed in comparision and mother nature even threw in a spectacular sunset over Rame Head to welcome us home. Saturday to Monday, 317 nm. average speed 6knots. and the fun meter off the scale! ‘Spirit’ will now get a much needed refit period then she’s off again to various festivals/rally’s.”
Passing Traffic (Photo by Colin Merry)
You can read about “Spirit of Mystery’s” sail to Australia and follow her through the UK this summer at http://www.petegoss.com/blog.php
Pete Goss on Spirit of Mystery (Photo By Colin Merry)
Spirit of Mystery, the little wooden boat sailed by Pete Goss and his family crew to Australia last year in a re-enactment of a historic voyage 155 years ago, is to return home to Cornwall.
The 37-foot Mounts Bay lugger is currently in Port Kembla, Australia, being prepared for loading aboard a container ship bound for Holland. There she will be unloaded and finish the journey under sail to her spiritual home in Cornwall.
The tough little ship survived storms and a knockdown in the Southern Ocean while sailing the 11,800 mile voyage, which shone a spotlight on the bravery of seven Cornishman who made the journey to seek out a better life and become the smallest migrant vessel ever to make it to Australia.
Spirit of MysteryTacker, which was feared lost forever in the Southern Ocean knockdown. This incident turned out to be the start of her own little adventure. The intrepid little boat drifted over a thousand miles and turned up in King Island between Tasmania and Australia, where she was spotted by local boys and after much detective work and some restoration reunited with Spirit of Mystery.
He said that he was excited about getting her home in time for the sailing season in the UK: “I have to say I have wrestled with the decision as to whether I should sail her home or ship her ever since we arrived in Melbourne. My heart wanted to sail her but looking at life, commitments and other projects I have in the pipeline, it was readily apparent that I didn’t have the time slot. Once I had made it the decision just felt right and I am now really excited about getting her home, we have missed her.”An added bonus for Pete is that the ship is returning complete with her dinghy
Spirit of Mystery will arrive in Holland towards the end of April thanks to Seven Star Yacht Transport, where she will be prepared for the final push home. Pete hopes that he can be on board to sail Spirit up the Tamar and complete an amazing global voyage for the little wooden boat with a big heart.
(Photo Courtesy of Pete Goss / Spirit of Mystery)
Spirit of Mystery is made of locally sourced wood and has history literally built into her. The keel, stem and stern were made from a tough hardwood called Ekki. Fallen Cornish Oak makes up the frames, with Larch for the planking and Ash for the tiller and sweeps. Pete sourced a piece of oak from Nelson’s Victory, teak from the Cutty Sark and a part of the rigging from the SS Great Britain. With so much local history and so many happy memories in her, Pete decided she should return to Cornwall rather than dry up under the burning Australian sun.
(Photo Courtesy of Pete Goss / Spirit Of Mystery)
