Historic sloop slips north to take part in sea festival

The Spider T will be in Grimsby overnight on Saturday and her ports of call will include Bridlington, Scarborough and Whitby as she heads north for the festival, which co-incides with the 200th anniversary of the Bell Rock lighthouse.

The Sheffield Class sloop, which was built at New Holland, near Barton-Upon-Humber, in 1926, will be flying the flag for National Historic Ships, an organisation charged with the preservation of the nation’s maritime history.

She is based on the Stainforth to Keadby Canal and was the runner-up in National Historic Ships flagship of the year award this year, receiving £250 towards promoting the work of the organisation.

The vessel, built by Warren’s to carry bricks up and down the East Coast and a variety of other cargoes, was restored to sail in 2007 after being rescued from the scrapheap by Mal and Val Nicholson and a team of enthusiasts.

Being a member of National Historic Fleet places the Spider T alongside famous vessels such as the Mary Rose and Balmoral.

She sailed to Rotterdam in 2009 as a British representative at the World Ports Day festivities and was invited back to Arbroath after a visit in 2008. “It is a great accolade both for the Spider T, her crew and supporters,” said Mr Nicholson, her owner.

“The visit gives us a chance to thrill people with living history as we visit a variety of ports and resorts during our month-long voyage, making our way as far north to Montrose.”