Then I looked at the Tall Ships Youth Trust website (www.tallships.org) and noticed that the Stavros S. Niarchos' sister-ship the Prince William is for sale. I immediately thought it might make a good replacement for the recently lost Asgard II but to be honest I just don't know enough about this type of vessel to know if such a ship would be suitable for purpose. But I suppose it would be no harm for the Irish government and the Coiste an Asgard to take a look....
The Stavros S. Niarchos (named after a Greek shipping magnate) leaves Cork at 11am tomorrow (Monday, 29/9/08)
more info on the Tall Ships Youth Trust website:- www.tallships.org
5 comments:
When the news first broke last year about the Tall Ships Youth Trust selling one of their brigs, I found it pretty disappointing.
http://sea-fever.org/2007/08/24/brig-sale-away/
But you bring up a great potential solution. Several months ago I spoke with TSYT leadership about the vessel because I was working with an organization that had some interest. In the end they decided to chart a different course but this is a world class ship and from my discussions I know that it is very important to the TSYT that this vessel end up continuing in the sail training trade.
Hope somebody in Ireland with authority and a fat checkbook reads your great blog and makes the call. ;-)
Thanks for the comment - and praise for the blog. I agree with you but in the current economic climate it will be a difficult case to make - still the government has given some commitment to continuing sail training and here's a vessel that might be suitable (the Prince William, we could change that name later...) Let's hope somebody has a bit of foresight here and weigh up the huge value the Asgard was to Ireland as an ambassador worldwide and giving young people a chance to broaden their horizons.
Yes, the Prince William would well be suitable to replace the lost Asgard II, especially as the man who captained her and the Stavros Niarchos is Irish.
He is Liam Keating, a Waterford man, who brought both vessels to visit us here in Waterford several times.
They were also here in 2005 for the Tall Ships' Race and made many friends in Ireland.
I will talk with Liam as soon as I get a chance and see what he thinks about it.
Independently from that I have made a few first steps already to urge politicians to seek a suitable replacement for the Asgard II. In my opinion there are several possibilities, and it might be good if people who are interested in sail training would stay in touch and compare their notes and ideas.
Thanks Emerald Islander. There certainly seems to be a case for buying the Prince William. Let's hope someone in high places is listening.
This is all very confusing but I just checked the Port of Cork schedule on their website and what you say is correct - they have her arriving at 13.00hrs on October 1st, which is tomorrow! Anybody know why, and more importantly is she now going to stay overnight in Cobh???
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