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Gavin Morgan
23 April, 2007
SHETLAND'S classically restored sailing vessel the Swan is preparing for a busy
summer season with a packed schedule already planned.
 The
107 year old former fishing boat, which is used for education and chartered
trips, will be visiting the northern isles, the Scottish coastline and Norwegian
fjords this summer.
In June the Swan will join around 30 other vessels in Wick for the Moray Firth
Flotilla, alongside other old boats including yoals, fifies, scaffies, zulus and
bauldies
From here the fleet will move along the coast stopping in at ports to attend
specially organised attractions with ceilidhs, musicians, street theatre, dance,
barbeques and exhibitions.
The flotilla will end up at the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy on
30 June, where The Swan will spend the weekend before returning to Shetland.
Trips are also planned along Scotland's west coast in July, when people are
invited to join the boat for planned visits to St Kilda and the maritime
festival in Stornoway, which runs from 9 to 15 July.
People can join the boat at Kyle of Lochalsh for a week's boat trip from 15 to
22 July. Prices per week for adults are £406, youths aged 11 to 17 must pay
£315, and it costs £196 for children.
The regular annual trip to Norway will take place in August and will involve
fishing, swimming and exploring onshore around the fjords.
Skipper Jane Brander said: "It is just the most fantastic vehicle for sail
training. It's not a luxury vessel but people that come aboard for charters
understand that it is all about mucking in."
The Swan was bought by businessman Keith Parkes in 1989 when she was lying
submerged at Hartlepool docks with just her masts showing. Mr Parkes partially
restored her before selling her to The Swan Trust, set up in Shetland
specifically for the purpose.
The Swan was relaunched on 11 May 1996, after major work, and began operating
again in 1998. In that first year she did 40 trips, carrying 450 trainees on
board.
Now the boat takes out more than 1,000 trainees each year for short sail
training trips from schools in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, but the
boat is open to people of all ages and special needs groups.
She has also taken trainees to participate in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Races at
ports in France, Denmark, Ireland and Holland as well as around the UK.
For more information go to:
www.theswan.shetland.co.uk
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