British Tall Ship set to dock at Barbados by November 8

by Bajan Reporter / October 27th, 2007

The ?Pelican? is Britain?s latest tall ship. A greyhound of the deep because of her innovative design. She sailed from Weymouth bound for the Caribbean in September 2007 with a full crew. She is a sail training ship owned by a UK partnership in Portland Dorset. The sail design is innovative and is based on that used by the Barbary Pirates, which is turn is based on that used by Arab traders.

The mainstay in the building and development of this ship is Graham Neilson. After a career in the navy Commander Neilson took up a second career developing opportunities for young people through long sea voyages. He found the hulk of a Dutch sailing lugger and converted her into the Brig Astrid. The Astrid served as a sail training vessel for many years. Commander Neilson then found the 33m (135ft) hull of a former French Arctic ship. The keel of this vessel made it perfect for conversion into the tall Ship Pelican of London.

The Pelican will undertake a mixture of long sea voyages and shorter trips. She is bound for the Caribbean where she will stay until March when she will return to European waters to compete in the tall ships race in 2008.

Opportunities are available for people of all ages to join the ship as crew members either for the long sea passages or shorter trips. The ship can be used by a variety of organisations from research to specialised events.
She will probably feature in films and documentaries in due course.