 | ||||
www.Tectona.org.uk
Welcome to the Tectona Trust website
TECTONA off Bolt Head by Gordon Frickers (1978)
Looking beyond… Then seeing it through…
Latest News
TECTONA Update # 2. April 2008.
TECTONA soon to set sail
for UK waters.
Tectona, built in 1928 and the former sail training vessel for the Institute of Maritime Studies in Plymouth, has been with a Swiss youth training charity since 1987. When they recently ceased having a use for the 64-ft 15-berth Colin Archer sailing vessel, she was bought by Roger Crabtree a Somerset GP who intends to return her to Plymouth again for service in sail training.
She needs a major refit to get her up to scratch – especially given the ever more stringent regulations – but it has been good to find that her teak hull is basically sound, and recent work in France is paying off in terms of her gear and equipment. She is now nearing readiness for the 1900-mile voyage from near Marseilles to Devon via Gibraltar and Finisterre. She is due to sail on 12th April and should arrive back in Plymouth in early May, maybe coinciding with Transat week where her rugged gaffer looks may be a meaningful contrast.
The plan then is to get her ready for work again, when she will be used by Cremyll Sailing based at Mashfords to expand their very successful cruises with teenagers and dis-advantaged young people. Dr Roger’s longer term aim is for her also to offer sail training experience to the victims of mental health and drug mis-use problems.
For the voyage back she will be crewed by a group of Roger’s sailing friends and the skipper will be Martin Wenger who has had the post of Tectona’s captain for many years in her previous ownership. “We’re delighted to be skippered by Martin as most of us have a bit to learn about gaff rig,” says Roger. Also on board will be Richard Williams, today a Yachtmaster Instructor, who was himself a cadet on board Tectona in the late 1970s.
The Tectona Project includes setting up a Charitable Trust to raise money for the boat to be used in this way, and Trust status is being applied for – rather slowly Roger admits, because recently the priorities have been splicing in new halyards, sourcing a serviceable 10 man life-raft and checking the bilge pumps!
