In 2001 Willem Sligting fell for the battered but shapely hull of a 1920s steam trawler, after the war used as a herring market chaser in the stormy North Atlantic. Willem fancied her as a training vessel, with lofty schooner rig, the decks roaming with eager youngsters. ‘A handkerchief will do for speed’ a Register Holland surveyor said, admiring ‘Wylde Swan’s lines. The hull was stripped bare, concrete ballast removed. ‘Wylde Swan’ was subsequently grit-blasted and put ashore at Urk, for ultrasound inspection of the hull’s plates, laser measuring of her dimensions and carrying out the needed work. Read more on the history page.

Or follow the building project on           http://gallery.me.com/joachimderuijter#100028&bgcolor=black&view=grid

^{'Jemo', the future 'Wylde Swan' at Lerwick in the early 1960's, loaded to the gunwales with herring casks.}

The purpose of the Wylde Swan project

The purpose of the project is to run a sail training vessel on a commercial basis. Comparable vessels, which dominate popular events such as Sail Amsterdam, are usually owned by naval and merchant marine academies, and crewed by their cadets exclusively. At the
same time, sail training is enjoying increasing attention as a social tool, creating a market for independently run vessels, offering sound sail training against sensible commercial rates.
Experience with training youngsters on sailing vessels gives reason to assume that it has a positive effect on self reliance, responsibility and team spirit: highly valued traits for dependable citizenship, which the public as well as the corporate sectors seek to stimulate.
The maritime sector for its part is interested in sail training as a means of communicating its attractions to youngsters.

Wylde Swan will be a remarkable ship

in a fast expanding field of maritime activity: the world's biggest two masted schooner, a potential winner of Tall Ships Races, fitted out as a sail training vessel and crewed by sailors who have been professionally prepared to act as sailing tutors.
These features mark 'Wylde Swan' as an interesting proposition for organisations that appreciate the character building value of sail training.
We consequently see promising opportunities in an expanding market, which will further the vessel's long term value as an investment asset.

'Wylde Swan' targets organisations involved in education, youth care or sail training, which do not normally have a sail training vessel at their disposal. During holidays youngsters may sign on individually for STI Tall Ships Races, in international exchange programmes, subsidised by EU or local governments.
Corporate social responsibility has matured beyond its usefulness as a marketing tool these days. Companies are genuinely interested in youth advancement, widening the pond from where to fish for talent in the process. 'Wylde Swan' devotes much energy to convincing potential sponsors of sail training's value as an effective tool for making the most of human resources.
Such sponsors may use the ship to entertain their clients during major maritime events, such as Sail Amsterdam, Kieler Woche or the Volvo Ocean Race -and convince others of the blessings of sail training.