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Famous tall ship to return to Plymouth’s historic harbour for three weeks
16th February 2017
One of the largest wooden tall ships still in commission is heading to Plymouth’s Sutton Harbour for a three-week visit this spring.
Kaskelot is a majestic three-masted barque and was a huge hit when she last sailed into Britain’s Ocean City two years ago to berth in Sutton Harbour, the historic waterfront quarter in the heart of Plymouth.
This year, the world-class sailing ship will be berthed alongside Quay Road from April 21st until May 15th, and open for visitors to step aboard and explore the famous wooden decks and extensive cargo hold.
Local primary schools are invited to book classes in for curriculum-themed sail training and history visits during the week, and local businesses can hire the traditionally renovated tall ship for meetings or private events during her stay.
There will also be a Ship to Shore arts and craft market with stalls both on board Kaskelot and on the harbourside on Quay Road on Sunday April 30th, including family entertainment and live music.
During Plymouth Pirate Weekend, Kaskelot will offer specially designed hands-on sail training sessions for all the family so you can learn how to set the sails (but from the comfort and safety of the harbour berth). Jessie Atkinson, Ship’s Manager for Kaskelot, said:
“We are thrilled to be sailing back to Sutton Harbour this spring, and extending our stay in Plymouth so even more people can come on board and find out about the ship.
“We’re especially excited about the schools’ engagement programme we’ll be offering to enable primary school pupils to learn more about how to rig and sail a traditional tall ship, and find out about the history of sailing at the same time.”
Mark Brimacombe, Marina Manager, said:
“Kaskelot is one of the finest wooden tall ships of her age still in commission, and has an incredible history. The ship was enormously popular when she last visited Sutton Harbour in 2015 with people pouring down to Plymouth’s waterfront to tour such a wonderfully well-restored ship, and we have no doubt the fascination will again prove a major draw this spring.”
Kaskelot was originally built in Denmark in 1948 and worked as a support vessel for Danish fisheries in the Faroe Islands. More recently the beautiful barque has become famous having appeared in many hit Hollywood films and TV dramas such as Cutthroat Island, Longitude and David Copperfield.
She will be returning to Plymouth on April 21st, and open to the public on weekends from Saturday April 29th until Sunday May 14th, departing the following morning on May 15th.
Visitors can board Kaskelot for £3.50 per adult and £2 per child, and funds raised used to support the ongoing maintenance of the vessel.
The Ship to Shore market on April 30th is free to attend and will feature more than 25 stalls manned by locally based arts and craft traders, as well as food stalls, live music, workshops and family entertainment, running from 10.30am-3.30pm. For more details, visit www.missivyevents.co.uk
During Plymouth Pirate Weekend, special ticketed hands-on sail training sessions will run throughout the day on Saturday May 13th and Sunday May 14th costing £6 for adults and £4 for children, to include lessons on how to set the famous sails as well as a deck quiz and other on-board activities.
Kaskelot will be open for school visits during weekdays between April 21st and May 14th, with 1.5 hour hands-on sessions specially tailored to match school curriculum projects on history, maritime or pirate projects as needed, featuring sail training, a deck quiz and providing a stamped certificate for all those taking part.
Up to 40 children can be accommodated and the price is £5 per child, with no cost for teachers/teaching assistants. To book a sail training lesson for your school, contact Jessie at jessieatkinson@sportcel.com Also contact Jessie to enquire about corporate hospitality opportunities on board.
The visit from Kaskelot is the latest in a serious of hugely popular tall ships to Sutton Harbour. Last October, Plymouth welcomed the three-masted Russian frigate Shtandart, an immaculate reproduction of the 300-year-old original built by Tsar Peter the Great, and Sutton Harbour has also hosted visits from famous Spanish replica the Nao Victoria and Westcountry trading ketch The Irene. Keep up to date with events in Sutton Harbour by visiting the website www.visitsuttonharbour.co.uk, follow @Sutton_Harbour on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/suttonharbour
Find out more Kaskelot’s activities this year at www.facebook.com/svkaskelot and by following @SVKaskelot on Twitter.