Intended to replace the lost Asgard II, the Atlantic Youth Trust Charity chaired by Round the World sailor Enda O'Coineen, says a 164ft Tradewind schooner it has identified will act as the new ‘flagship’ for introducing young people across the island of Ireland to maritime and careers.
In addition, the Charity says the tall ship will have a key role to play in the areas of research, innovation, tourism promotion and providing a support outlet for vulnerable young people.
O’Coineen, a former Director of Coiste an Asgard, says "we have long since championed the need to replace Ireland’s lost sail training vessel the Asgard II in a dynamic and creative new way".
“This would be a strategically important move for ensuring we are well-positioned to maintain our island’s rich maritime heritage, skill set and knowledge. This will be vital for connecting future generations with the ocean and adventure who might normally never get the opportunity. As we emerge from the Covid 19 pandemic, the urgency for supporting projects like this has never been more important as we seek to address growing mental health challenges facing our young people.”
In looking for a solution to this, the Atlantic Youth Trust have identified, a 164ft Tradewind schooner lying in Sweden which is an ideally suited replacement for delivering youth maritime development and sail training. The ship is to be renamed the Grace O’Malley, after the so-called Mayo ‘Pirate Queen’. Built of steel in a modern structure, and elegant lines of a 19th century Tall Ship, she is considered fit for purpose to high safety specifications.
The Grace O’Malley, is a 164ft Tradewind schooner. The ship is a realistic and modern version of her Edwardian counterpart. She is a replica of a timber merchant schooner originally built in Denmark in 1909.
Built to the same design of Lars-Erik Johansson and constructed in Sweden by Kockcums Submarine Yard, she was launched on 10th August 1980.
In 1986 she sailed to Quebec to take part in the Canadian 450th-anniversary celebrations. Under new ownership, she was re-fitted in 1990 and again in 1993.
The interior was fitted out by the Vindo Yacht Yard and the mast and rig in Skagen, Denmark. She is built with submarine standard steel, teak clad superstructure, teak laid decks and oak capping rails.
This elegant and traditional vessel is fully coded with an E100 Pax Certification for 100-day guests and 37 overnight passengers/trainees and crew. She also features:
- Powerful topsail schooner rig with 99ft main-mast.
- Thirteen sails setting 800 sq.m. 550hp Scania diesel engine.
- 250hp Hundested bow-thruster
- Two 46kw generators and 29kw generator
- LOA 50 m / 164 ft long keel sail
- 9 m / 26 ft steel plate RB35972
