TALL SHIP ZEBU A WRECK AFTER IRISH SEA STORMS

HOMENEWSINDUSTRY NEWSTALL SHIP ZEBU A WRECK AFTER IRISH SEA STORMS

26 May 2021

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Tall Ship ‘Zebu’ grounded on the sea wall in Holyhead Photo: Holyhead Coastguard

A historic tall ship has been declared a wreck after being battered by a storm in the Irish Sea off Anglesey.

Tall Ship Zebu had become grounded on the sea wall in choppy seas off Holyhead on the afternoon of 15 May. She had come into port two days earlier because of unfavourable wind conditions meaning her journey south to Bristol was unsafe.

Initial assessments of Zebu showed less damage than feared and hopes were high that the ship could be saved. But further storms dashed those hopes. “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I must announce that Tall Ship Zebu suffered further heavy damage today,” said a statement on 21 May.

Horrendous pounding

“For the entire day and throughout the night until Friday morning, Zebu was subjected to a horrendous pounding from both wind and sea,” it said. “Winds from the south up to 70 miles per hour hit Holyhead and jeopardised Zebu’s already vulnerable position.

“Captain Borrett and the master marine surveyor were at the scene whereby it soon became apparent that she has suffered further devastating damage,” said the statement.

The 100 ft Zebu is the world’s first historic tall ship to have an electric auxiliary propulsion system, swapping her old engine for an electric flux motor powered by rechargeable batteries. Built in the 1930s, she was used for festivals and training to keep alive the heritage and history of tall ships.

Tall Ship Zebu will now be removed from the sea wall to ensure the safety of other vessels using the port.

via Boating Business | Tall Ship Zebu a wreck after Irish Sea storms.

Mylor Yacht Harbour is embarking on its latest project – building a Sunbeam to the specification of the 1920s originals but made of GRP, not wood.

The project comes 20 years after the master shipwrights of Mylor Yacht Harbour built a trio of classic wooden Falmouth Sunbeam yachts.

The hull of ‘Tilly’ has been moulded on the Isle of Wight from Alfred Westmacott’s original 100-year-old design.

“Mylor Yacht Harbour has had a long-term relationship with these beautiful boats – building three wooden ones, fully restoring several others and the ongoing maintenance of many of the original fleet,” says Ollie Graffy, whose project it is to bring her to Cornwall. “When the opportunity arose to get involved with building a modern version that has all the grace and style of the originals, performs the same, has a water-tight bulkhead and is much easier to maintain, we jumped at the chance.”

He added: “It’s such an exciting project for our expert teams to re-create a boat that has such great history.”

And he explained that the qualities a traditionally built vessel will be maintained, but the boat will benefit from easier maintenance and a lower cost of ownership.

The project is aimed at heling to secure the longevity of the class going forward.

via Boating Business | New generation of Sunbeam from MYH.