The sailing barge Victor on Ipswich Waterfront has been up for sale for the last year, but the Maritime Trust is hoping that the boat, made in 1895 in Ipswich by Horace Shrubsall, stays in the Waterfront and offers more to residents in the town going forward.
For the last 15 years it has been used for private boat trips, travelling down the Orwell.
Ben Good, chair of the Ipswich Maritime Trust, said: "We want to be able to use the boat as a community resource, so this summer, we are operating a number of activities on the Victor to demonstrate that it can be used for other things, in addition to trips.
"We don't want to lose a bit of Ipswich's maritime heritage but also I think the project will expand its accessibility for young people and children to experience it."
The project is being run to demonstrate that there is interest in saving the Victor and a hope of raising money so the Maritime Trust can purchase the boat, ensuring it remains part of Ipswich Waterfront's future.
They have already engaged with more than 1,000 young people via school assemblies, classroom visits, school visits to the wet dock and to the Victor and some sailing trips.
This is all part of a broader scheme called the Ipswich Heritage Harbour Project to create opportunities for young people around maritime heritage in the town.
This project is being supported by the Heritage National Lottery fund and Associated British Ports, which runs the Port of Ipswich, have supported the education project.
The boat, built in the times of Queen Victoria, is set to celebrate its 130th anniversary in November this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment