Tolkien about a wonderful ship with a fascinating past
She’s a beautiful tall ship with a classic name and she is coming to Sunderland.
That’s the JR Tolkien and she becomes the latest of the visiting vessels to get the Echo’s attention.
JR Tolkien is a 137ft gaff topsail schooner which now sails out of Holland.
But that’s only a small part of her fascinating history–and what a past it is.
The former sea-going tug was originally called the Dierko, and was first built in East Germany where she was regarded as a technical wonder.
But after the re-unification of Germany, she ended up in Holland where she was converted to become a schooner – and an elegant class B two-masted topsail one at that.
She was also renamed in honour of the British author JRR Tolkien.
She can take 30 trainees and has a permanent crew of four people.
She is entered into the races by Jacobus CA van der Rest and sails from her home port of Amsterdam.
More than 40 ships have now signed up for the Sunderland leg of this summer’s Tall Ships Races.
The races are expected to bring a £10million to £15million boost to Sunderland’s economy and a fleet of impressive vessels is expected to arrive into Port of Sunderland.
Anyone wanting more information about The Tall Ships Races 2018 should follow the latest news at www. tallshipssunderland.com on Twitter@ Tall Ships Sun do ron Facebook at Tall Ships Races Sunderland.
The Sunderland Echo would love to hear from people who will be playing a part in the races.
Whether you are a sail trainee who will be boarding for the adventure of a lifetime or a captain at the helm, get in touch.
Perhaps you are a Wearside business or organisation which is getting right behind the spectacle. Whatever your reason, get in touch and email chris.cordner@jpress.co.uk