They’re wild about the latest addition
A Dutch ship has joined the fleet which will head for Sunderland next year.
In the latest of our profiles on the vessels bound for Wearside, we focus on the Wylde Swan.
She will be 98-years-old in 2018 but she is no slouch in the water. The Wylde Swan is built for speed and is also the largest two-mast topsail schooner in the world.
Officials describe her as a ship built to win races, cross oceans and be sailed with passion.
Wylde Swan was the overall race winner and winner of the Friendship Trophy in 2011.
The crew’s aim is to provide as many young people as possible with the opportunity to take part in the adventure of a lifetime. Trainees are encouraged to join in and make most of the skills learned while working as part of a multi-national team.
One sail trainee recently described the experience.
“What is the best of all? Being out at night, at the helm, while the others are sleeping,” they said.
“In a way, that is such a rich feeling. Others have so much faith in you. They can nicely go sleeping while you’re in control.
“In the beginning, I was afraid. I thought: ‘Could I handle that responsibility?’ Now I feel like a king.
“You know what it is, you’re never alone. You do it with your team, crew and coaches.
“They know exactly what you can and can’t do. When they think I can do it, I can. It seems like there is a new boundary I cross every day.
“With a heavy heart, I count the days until it’s over.”
Wylde Swan is a topsail schooner and she is more than 140ft long. She can take 36 trainees and has a permanent crew of 14.
Watch out for more ship profiles in the weeks to come.
For further information about The Tall Ships Races 2018 follow the team at www. tallshipssunderland.com, Twitter @TallShipsSund or on Facebook at TallShipsRacesSunderland