Inspired by the Tall Ships
Many thanks to SIAN WALKER for this article
Many thanks to Sian Walker for this article on The Tall ships.
On the morning of Saturday 12 June 2021, a Topsail Schooner, the Johanna Lucretia, arrived into Hobbs Point in Pembroke Dock on the high tide. It was a lovely calm day and the sea glistened like glass.
She was built as a fishing boat in 1945 at a shipyard in Belgium but was never used for this purpose. She was sold in 1952 and then in 1954 was converted to be used as a recreational vessel, sailing in Dutch waters. In 1989 she was sold again and Plymouth became her home port.
The Johanna Lucretia had a refit in 1991/1992 and was used for sail training in a number of locations. In 2008 she was sold and sailed mainly in European waters, apart from in summer when she stayed along the Cornish coast.
Having featured in a number of films and T.V shows, she is best known for her role in the Irish reality T.V show Cabin Fever.
Her masts are pine and the rest is made from oak. Having taken part in a number of tall ships races over the years, she was sold in 2018 to the Island Trust. The Island Trust is a registered charity that inspires adults and young people through sailing on tall ships; this increases confidence, self-esteem and mental health, teaches new skills and helps with the making of new friends.
The Tall Ships (Wales) Trust was lucky enough to be granted funding for the week-long visit to Pembroke Dock. Without support and donations the trust struggles to stay afloat and appreciates any donations via its Just Giving page.
The Tall Ships (Wales) Trust’s mission is to bring communities together in West Wales via a tall ships sailing programme and bring maritime history to life, making it accessible to everyone.
The community programmes offer short trips, day sailings and local trips, giving a taster to those who wish to sail on the bigger ships on a full sail training adventure. I’ve sailed on two tall ships and it is certainly an amazing experience.
Seafair Haven has usually been a biennial festival held for a week over three locations, Milford Haven, Lawrenny and Pembroke Dock, since 2006. It used to be held by the Port Authority in Milford Haven, but in 2012 it was taken over by the Tall Ships (Wales) Trust. Due to covid this year it was scaled down to hosting only the Johanna Lucretia at Hobbs Point in Pembroke Dock.
A variety of vessels take part in this festival of the sea, from traditional boats to modern ones and everything in between.
In the evenings, at various locations, there are a number of activities to indulge yourself in, from music to poetry to finishing in the local pub for a pint or two. The finale of the week is the parade of sail, where all the seafaring vessels sail together.
Hopefully this festival will be back in 2022. For more information about the tall ships please visit www.tallships.wales.
Sian Walker says: “I have lived in Pembrokeshire all 38 years of my life. Always loved art and writing and did fashion and textiles at college. Started writing poetry in 2012, self-published a poetry book in 2013 and was opening poet at the Celtic Women’s Festival in 2013, where I shared the same stage with the musician Amy Wadge. I also had my own poetry group for two years in Narberth. I love attending the Hay Festival and people-watching while I’m there. I love all things gothic and quirky and I hate plain socks!! I also love to travel and have been lucky enough to sail on two tall ships. One of my hobbies is to make artificial wreaths for different occasions and I hope next year to attend craft fairs with them. I love the beach and am at my happiest when I’m there with the smell of the sea in the air.
