Centenarian sailing tall

Jun 29 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Centenarian sailing tall

Glaciere in Liverpool Marina

HAVING passed her centenary, she’s the ninth oldest operational tall ship in the world. Her brass and copper fittings gleam and, even on an overcast Merseyside day, her brightwork reflects the light.

Hard to believe then, that this historic former Baltic trader, Glaciere of Liverpool, spent six years submerged under the murky waters of Collingwood Dock, in north Liverpool.

The only visual reminder of her continued presence were two rotting masts poking forlornly above the water’s surface.

But then a few years ago this 1899-built Swedish grande dame’s white knight in his shining pick-up truck came roaring to her rescue.

David Murray, brought up in Myrtle Street, Liverpool, made his money in the car-parts business on Merseyside, and was ready for a new challenge.

A dedicated yachtsman, he had sailed 28,000 miles, including an Atlantic crossing with his wife Collette.

Using his extensive diving knowledge, he had Glaciere patched up and raised from her watery grave.

“I intended to restore Glaciere to her former glory and put her back into educational use,” says David, 51.

The project has cost £300,000, but has been a fantastic achievement with a ship who most people believed to be irretrievably lost.

Glaciere’s cargo-hold is now used as a floating classroom to teach PADI open water diving courses, First Aid responder courses and RYA basic sailing and navigational courses.

“We are delighted with what’s been achieved, but we expect good standards of behaviour from everyone who attends courses here,” says David.

“Bad language onboard is not tolerated. Trainees should give this great old lady of the seas the respect she deserves.”

Besides restoration and running courses, David also has a yearning for the challenge of racing across the wide open seas.

Although very much proud to be a Liverpool tall ship, David is graciously representing Manchester and Salford this year, carrying trainees from those cities.

Glaciere’s running mate, the 20-year-old Greater Manchester Challenge, will carry 14 trainees and five crew under the command of Martin Clough, who captained Liverpool’s entry in the 2004 Round the World Clipper Yacht Race.

Meantime, the Glaciere will carry 12 trainees and four crew, but as befits her 109 years of age, will proceed at a slightly slower rate of knots in the race.

Prior to the Tall Ships’ Race, Glaciere has clocked up many miles of sailing around the Irish Sea and West coast of Scotland, on numerous charters for organisations including Merseyside Police.