July 26.
I was pleased to see the letter from the Scottish Maritime Sailing
Trust pointing out that its brigantine Eye of the Wind was participating
in the Tall Ships Race from Newcastle to Bergen and Larvik to Esbjerg
(July 24).
Eye of the Wind has indeed flown the saltire to great effect on her
extensive voyage from Tenerife to the Caribbean, then on to Bermuda,
Boston, London, Newcastle, and now Scandinavia. She competed well in the
Classic Regatta at Antigua and was prominently displayed in The Times
sailing past the Thames Barrage with the saltire much in evidence.
In the splendid Newcastle picture of the tall ships in the river once
again she proudly displayed our flag. I saw her as one of the best
handled and sprucest ships in the parade of 130 tall ships down the Tyne
at the start of the 900-mile voyage.
In Scotland we should give much greater opportunities for youngsters
to enjoy the pleasures, discipline, and rigours of voyages such as those
undertaken.
It is most important that in these days of unemployment and youthful
enforced idleness our great tradition as sailors should not be lost and
opportunities should be available to the less well off as well as the
affluent.
Not only youth is served since the Eye carried a blind trainee from
Tenerife to Antigua, and at the last minute a lady pensioner joined in
from Newcastle to Bergen. It is good to know that the best apprentices
from various companies win a tall ship's voyage as a prize.
The idea mooted in the letter that a tall ship should be built in
Scotland and run for the benefit of those keen to participate is an
excellent one. Could we not by the year 2000 have a Scottish-built
brigantine (or larger) with a suitable Scottish name (Cutty Sark, Flower
of Scotland) providing opportunities for all?
Surely Scottish Enterprise, industry, and other charities could raise
the capital and get our unemployed shipbuilders back to work on this
imaginative project. Let's put a little pride back on to the sea from
Scotland.
She would for many years be an excellent ambassador for us as she
carried the saltire worldwide in voyages and tall ship races. Scottish
Maritime Sailing Trust is to be congratulated on its initiative.
Professor Gavin C. Arneil,
150 East Clyde Street,
Helensburgh.
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