21-metre-high sailing vessel set to depart Montrose on next leg of research journey

A striking 21-metre-high ship will set sail from Montrose for the next leg of an “epic” research voyage around the British coast.

The Pelican of London, built in 1948, docked at the town’s port on Friday morning carrying 42 academics, researchers, and students.

The crew are circumnavigating the British Isles over 59 days for Darwin200 UK, launched to commemorate famed naturalist, geologist and biologist Charles Darwin’s journey around the world between 1831 and 1836.

It is a pre-cursor for a follow-up global voyage planned for next year and aims to increase youth interest in marine environmental science.

The tall ship’s captain Ben Wheatley described the trip as “unique” and said all those involved are contributing to a landmark study.

The 40-year-old, who has worked on tall ships for over two decades, said: “This sail is special.

“The work we are doing will improve our understanding of local waters.

“We are two thirds of the way around the coast now and it has been stunning.

“Some of the highlights have been sailing beside the Isle of Rum and Skye past The Cuillin mountain range, as well as Caithness and Sutherland.”

He said: “We have been mostly lucky with the weather in Scotland but we’ve had strong winds too.

“We sailed 90% of the way from Skye to Montrose, using the engine the rest of the time — mostly getting into the ports.

“It’s been an epic journey so far but also very important for our understanding of the sea around the UK.”

The team have been taking sea water samples at various depths to test chemical and plastic pollution as well as regularly checking the water temperature.

They have also been recording visual sightings of marine mammals such as porpoises and seals.

The boat itself, used as an arctic fishing trawler for its first 20 years, was later sold to Norway and converted to a coaster.

It was then restored by retired Commander Graham Neilson and repurposed in 2007 as a sail training ship for the charity Adventure Under Sail.

It has an interesting history including being impounded for smuggling a whole cargo of vodka from Finland several decades ago.

Adventure Under Sail now manages the ship and delivers sail training for young ocean scientists with the students on board this time around from the University of Plymouth.

The crew, who are not able to venture into local towns when they stop under strict coronavirus rules, have kept busy by continuing experiments and research while docked in Montrose.

Mr Wheatley added: “The logistics of organising the journey during the pandemic has been a nightmare but it’s very important to be safe of course.

“Everyone has been medically screened and tested and we have been restricting contact with people the whole way.

“The staff at the port in Montrose have been very helpful.”

The ship departs Montrose on Monday at 6am and will arrive back in London on September 22.