Epic voyager Spirit of Mystery arrives in Sydney

by NSW Maritime on 5 Jul 2009 Spirit of Mystery, the 37ft replica wooden lugger that has voyaged 12,000 miles from Cornwall to Australia this year, is due to sail into Sydney Harbour today at 8.30am.

The historic craft has been built and skippered by British adventurer Pete Goss to follow in the wake of the original Mystery, which completed the journey in 1854 becoming the smallest migrant vessel to make it to Australia.

Spirit of Mystery will be one of the special marina exhibits at the Sydney International Boat Show at the end of July. The boat is open to the public during the whole show, and Pete Goss will give daily talks on his heroic voyage.

The original Mystery was an open Mounts Bay lugger built in Newlyn and sailed to Australia by seven Cornishmen wanting to try their luck in the Australian gold rush.

Pete Goss has built Spirit of Mystery 154 years later to celebrate their achievement, sailing to Australia with a crew including his brother Andy Goss, brother in law Mark Maidment and young son Eliot, 14.

The vessel is as true to the original Mystery as possible and, although there are concessions to safety, there are no modern electrical or navigational systems, with navigation by the sun and stars.

Information on the craft, her crew and her voyage will be available at the Marine Precinct at the Sydney International Boat Show, where Pete Goss will be working with NSW Maritime to promote safe and responsible boating.

There will be 15 Marine Precinct safety partners including the new Marine Rescue NSW organisation. NSW Maritime, the Boating Industry Association of NSW, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australian Maritime College, Marine Rescue NSW, the Australian Hydrographic Service, Marine Discovery Centre Bondi Beach, Surf Life Saving NSW, Department of Lands, Marine Teachers Association of NSW, NSW Water Police, Yachting NSW, Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, Sydney Region and the Regional Fishing Alliance of NSW.

To test the knowledge and resourcefulness of younger seafarers, NSW Maritime will conduct a Treasure Hunt with clues available throughout the Precinct. The major prizes include a harbour sail aboard Spirit of Mystery, a rare chance for the public to join the crew and learn firsthand about the Goss family’s historic voyage.

The 42nd Sydney International Boat Show will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre & Cockle Bay Marina, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia from 30 July - 3 August, 2009.

For more information about Pete Goss and Spirit of Mystery, please visit www.petegoss.com.