Appeal to buy schooner

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 5

Appeal to buy schooner

A group of Nelson seamen is hoping to raise $150,000 by public subscription to buy the last of New Zealand’s coastal trade sailing ships and bring it to Nelson. The Nelson Mariners’ Association recently signed a contract to buy the 80-year-old auxiliary schooner Te Aroha for $200,000, subject to the association being able to raise the money this year. The association will contribute $50,000 towards the total and will go to business houses and the public of Nelson for the rest. The hand over date for the wooden hulled ship, which is used at present for pleasure cruises in the Hatiraki Gulf, is February 1990. ’ • ■ : The secretary of the Nelson Mariners’ Association, Mr Richard Tidmarsh, said the Te Aroha traded out of Nelson for nearly 50 years and it was still the ship’s. port of registration. Returning the ship to its home port would be a good local contribution to International Maritime Heritage Yean in 1990. It would also give Nelson a centrepiece for any marine activity associated with celebrations for the 150 th anniversary of European ■ settlement in

- 1992. ! Mr Tidmarsh said the ■ $150,000 needed to fill the f contract price was a reaI sonable sum to pay for a 1 maritime facility which would provide new educa- ’ tional, social and tourism opportunities for the region. The ship was ideally suited for its proposed role running educational and youth adventure cruises out of Nelson, he said.: , .. 1 -C It was fitted out with sleeping / accommodation for 22 people after conversion from its former role as a coastal trader and was licensed to carry 63 passengers on daytime cruises. There was a large deck area, much of ; which could be protected i from the weather and it was equipped with three dinghies for ferrying passengers to and from shore in isolated places. Mr Tidmarsh said the Te Aroha had the capacity and facilities to serve almost any small group wanting the sort of nautical experience provided by a sailing ship. It was envisaged that it would operate in Tasman and Golden bays, French Pass, Admiralty Bay and the Marlborough Sounds, all areas it had served in its trading days.