Sailing Ships Through the Ages I Have Known

Seasoned sailor Douglas Lindsay looks at vessels he has sailed and worked on: from reproduction older-type ships to modern sail training ships.  With each, he will discuss its origins, where it fits into history, the struggle to create the modern reproduction, and then his experience of sailing on them.  Every ship has a complex tale to tell.

1)  The trireme 'Olympias' on which he is sailing master. This one in particular has a strong human interest element as there were 170 rowers on board.  With back-up teams well over 200 people were involved with each of the trials carried out over 3 weeks in July/August at Poros in Greece.  In 1993 it came to UK and was rowed on the Thames, and there is a distinct possibility that the Trireme will be back on the Thames this summer in connection with the Olympic celebrations – this to be confirmed but looking likely.

2)  We then jump a few centuries to the galleas 'Matthew', Cabot's vessel for the voyage to Newfoundland in 1497.  

3)  Then there is the 'Golden Hinde' - the one just across the river from Little Ship  Club, which Douglas captained across the Atlantic in 1991.This was a survival story against the odds. 

4)  Next up is 'Maria Asumpta' sadly lost on the Rumps near Padstow in 1994.

5)  We move on to 'Kathleen & May' the 3-masted schooner which is the only survivor of the vast fleets of coastwise cargo-carrying sailing ships which used to be found around the UK.  In the early 2000's she was restored to full sailing health after nearly decaying beyond redemption. 

6)  'Spirit of Winstead' comes up next.  She is a brigantine adapted from a Baltic trader built in 1953. 

7 & onwards  The talk finishes with a brief look at some modern sailing ships:  'Royalist'  'Lord Nelson' and 'Pelican of London' all sail training ships in the modern idiom.