Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Mystery recreated

A piece of Britain's most famous warship is being used to help recreate an historic voyage.

Sailor and adventurer Pete Goss has bought a piece of Nelson's 18th Century flagship HMS Victory and turned it into a chart table for his new craft.

The 36ft (11m) Spirit of Mystery will also incorporate parts of the Cutty Sark and the SS Great Britain when it sets sail to Australia. Goss is recreating the journey of a Cornish lugger more than 150 years ago.

Seven Cornishmen made the journey to Melbourne in the wooden vessel Mystery to escape poverty and seek out a new life during the Australian gold rush. Leaving Newlyn in November 1854, the Mystery travelled about 11,800 nautical miles in 116 days before arriving in Melbourne in March 1855. The only break in the voyage was a week in Cape Town for repairs and replenishment.

Part of the rigging from Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS Great Britain is also being used.

Goss became an MBE in 1997 for the dramatic rescue of a fellow competitor in a round-the-world race.

In December 2000 he made world headlines again when he and his crew were evacuated from the 120ft-long, £4m catamaran Team Philips in an Atlantic storm.

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