Discovering life on the ocean waves

Jun 29 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

The Liverpool Spirit guide to a better life

A HEARTWARMING modern maritime tale began when Sir Michael Bibby, group managing director of Liverpool’s last family-run shipping line, decided to revive an age-old Mersey maritime tradition.

He believed that it would a terrific proposition to run a Liverpool-based tall ship to train youngsters in the art of sail, teamwork and give them the adventure of a lifetime

Then he heard that Fairbridge, a charity which organises adventure trips and courses for disadvantaged young people, was desperately in need of sponsorship to keep running its own tall ship, Spirit of Fairbridge.

As this ship was none other than the former Spirit of Merseyside, a fine replica of a typical Victorian-era Mersey pilot-boat schooner of 1883, it seemed a perfect match of funding and vessel.

With Bibby Line Group being one of the oldest independent shipping companies in the world, Spirit’s prototypes would have guided the company’s ships into the Mersey.

The partnership with Bibby will ensure that most of Fairbridge’s core costs are secure, allowing it to concentrate on funding for young people, equipment replacement and refits.

The £1m, five-year deal was confirmed early last year to start Bibby’s bicentenary celebrations and it means about 30 disadvantaged young people will sail on Spirit each year.

Six Bibby employees can also sail on each voyage. A group of them joined Spirit in Tobermory, on the island of Mull, in April to prepare for taking part in the tall ships event this summer. The Bibby group of 12 employees in two groups of six will team up with young people from Fairbridge to race from Liverpool to Norway and then cruise in company down the Norwegian coast.

“I’m very proud that we’ve been able to support Fairbridge in helping disadvantaged people. This first year has worked really well together,” says Sir Michael.

“Some of young people who come on the ship are trying to escape such awful circumstances that it really puts your own life in perspective.

“It is a humbling experience to be involved in trying to make their lives a little bit better. We’ve had more staff wanting to sail than we have places.

“For the tall ships weekend, Spirit will be berthed in Canning Dock alongside the Pump House pub and she’ll be open to the public whenever possible.

“We’ve negotiated with the tall ships’ organiser Judith Feather and Albert Dock Co to take an empty shop unit in Albert Dock to display Fairbridge material and information.”

Spirit of Fairbridge sails all around the UK from her Firth of Clyde base, but the Bibby support means she visits her original homeport far more frequently than before.

So far, Sir Michael has only had a short trip aboard Spirit in the Mersey, although he hopes to take a longer voyage in October.

“When Spirit was not in Fairbridge use at Aberdeen, we used her for corporate client entertainment. It turned out to be a day to remember,” he recalls.

“Radio Aberdeen was broadcasting from on board and you could hear a lot of people being seasick in the background!”