THUNDER BAY — The Saint Lawrence II Tall Ship made port at Thunder Bay’s Marina Park this Canada Day.
Tall Ship Expeditions Canada, a youth-focused charitable organization, offered tours around the decks of the vessel, providing those interested in and unable to come sailing the chance to step on board and experience the feeling of being on the ship.
“She’s a big vessel, but she’s not that big, so we can only go so much,” said Alistair Beverley, the vessel’s captain.
“And it’s a youth program, but this is the chance for everybody of all ages to come down and walk around and see what it’s like.”
Around 300 or more people were expected to participate in the ship’s tours on Tuesday, according to Beverley.
Having seen many people eager to see the interesting vessel and part of Canadian history, he hoped people may be inspired to do something different with their lives, beyond the day-to-day and mundane.
“People are still interested in sailing and we hear a lot in the news and whatnot about how people are not as interested in the outdoors and whatnot, but seeing this today just tells me that that’s not all true,” said Beverley.
The Saint Lawrence II Tall Ship was built in 1953 for the Sea Cadets by a sea cadet on the Navy sailing vessel HMCS Oriole after he was told he wasn’t allowed to sail.
“He thought that that wasn’t right and that everybody, especially cadets and youth in general, need to get out and experience what it’s like to be at sea,” said Beverley.
For many years, the Sea Cadets operated the ship before it was given to the charity, which continues to run it and provide on-board youth development training through sail training.
“Sailing is the method through which we teach, but we’re teaching personal development, life skills and all those things that you learn from being put into an environment that challenges you,” said Beverley.
For those sailing, Beverley said the typical reaction is that the first few days are “always a lot.”
“The quote I’ve heard more than once is (that) the first few days is like trying to drink water from a fire hose. It’s a lot, but once you learn and once you have those base skills… everything from there on is all just (an) increase in skill and personal challenge,” said Beverley.
However, the big thing about it, he added, is that sailing a ship like this is as challenging as people are willing to make it, but at the same time, it’s an environment that forces people to accept that challenge.
“A lot of the people who come through this program come out of it with that drive and ambition that they’ve learned through being in the environment,” said Beverley.
When going to many development places, Beverley explained, a lot of the scenarios are kind of artificial, whereas when we’re out sailing, things sometimes just have to happen, which gives that element of urgency and drive.
As a youth charity offering youth programming, the whole point of the program is also its all-access, he said, so they have bursaries available and anybody who wants to sign up should visit their website to sign up and try to get on board.
“It’s the experience of a lifetime and you come away with it with more skills than just the sailing. You come away with it like ready for your next adventures and the next steps in your life,” said Beverley.
Beverley added that they’re also always looking for donations.
A youth adventure camp will next see the ship sailing from Thunder Bay to Duluth between July 4 and July 10.
