NEWSLETTER 1

Building is no routine job
February 2007 'Swan fan Makkum' was handed over to her new Italian owners. Ever since, dull moments have not been our greatest problem. Creating a fine schooner out of an old hulk involves preciously few routine jobs. Even Lex Tichelaar, seasoned restorer of numerous old sailing vessels, needed a new approach to replacing worn out parts. The old hull was digitally scanned, so that new frames and hull plates could be made exactly to shape and size of the original. They virtually sucked themselves into place.

Under class, but no concrete please
It was quite difficult to find an internationally approved classification society willing to survey our rivetted hull of 1920 vintage. We were happy to learn that the Dutch Shipping Inspectorate had agreed to carry out the survey.
When the survey problem had at last been solved, the shipowner donned his overalls and proceeded to remove concrete from the hull's inside. Fortunately he was accompanied by Barend Bagger and his gang, otherwise Willem would still have been chipping away by March. View the workers at My Gallery film no. 3.

Blasted and pink primer pimped
The hull was subsequently sandblasted by a grumbler who abhorred the extra work generated by an ancient hull, rivets and corroded sections. Beautifully pimped in pink primer, however, the schooner has by now left Welsec's sandblasting plant. Alongside a quay, flogged by chilly Southwesterlies, she is awaiting her first IJselmeer passage to Urk (My Gallery film no.4.) Â She will then be hauled out again and get a box keel fitted at Metz shipyard of Urk, to augment windward performance.Â
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Character building
Apart from organising 'Wylde Swan's construction, our office is planning how the vessel will be run. 'Wylde Swan' will in fact be a new venture. Like the 'Swan fan Makkum' the schooner will compete in Tall Ships Races against the biggest windjammers, but the crews -and their accommodation- will differ significantly from the old brigantine's. Rather than luxuriously appointed double staterooms, the youngsters will find seamanlike hammocks.
Sail training vessels tend to be run by naval and merchant marine academies and used by their cadets exclusively. Youngsters who happen not to be a cadet will only rarely have the opportunity to enjoy the team spirit and personal fulfilment that sailing a windjammer can bring.
They can, on board 'Wylde Swan', however, through any college or youth care scheme that fathoms the value of sail training. During holidays, youngsters may also sign on individually to take part in STI Tall Ship Races, their 'bunk' sponsored from EU or local government subsidies or by companies.
Our office devotes much energy to convincing potential sponsors of sail training's value for developing leadership qualities and spotting talent. During events, sponsors will be welcome to entertain their clients on the ship -and spread the gospel of sponsorship in the process. Read more about the project on our website.