COPENHAGEN: The famous historic sailing ship in the world has started its voyage towards Inverness in the following summer and the people from the city have been invited to come on board.
Leader will sail to the city from Aalborg, Denmark, in August, after taking part in the international Tall Ships Races.
The 1892-built Brixham trawler, which has sailed across the globe, won an award at the 2014 event as she was named Oldest Vessel in the Fleet.
Leader will spend several days crossing the North Sea before arriving in Inverness on Tuesday, August 11.
She will spend three days in port before heading off on Friday, August 14 for a seven-night voyage down the Caledonian Canal to the west coast, arriving in Oban, the following Friday.
Harry Gottschalk, of owners Trinity Sailing, said: “Leader will be in the city for a few days and people are invited to come and have a look around her and speak to our crew. We still have a few berths available on board if anyone would like to join a genuine working piece of maritime history for either voyage.
“They could fly out to Aalborg and join her over there to enjoy the spectacle of thousands of tall ships leaving the Danish port and then head home on her. The other option would be to join her in Inverness and then head past Ben Nevis, through Loch Ness before heading on to Oban while learning to sail the blessed thing, the old-fashioned way.”
Leader belongs to the National Historic Fleet, joining the likes of HMS Victory and the Cutty Sark. Her importance stems from the maritime and industrial significance of their design. In the 19th century Brixham sailing trawlers changed the nature of deep-sea fishing. They once existed in their thousands; now only a handful of them remain.
Trinity Sailing also own and operate two other historic sailing vessels: Provident, built in 1924, and Golden Vanity, 1908.
It is a registered charity which works with disadvantaged young people.
