From the warm waters of the Caribbean to Iceland and now Grimsby, the Alexander von Humboldt II has sailed around the world in the last two years. Reporter Laura Stuart-Cook toured the vessel during its stopover in the town...
WITH masts towering at 40 metres above water level, some 1,360 square metres of sail and thousands of metres of rope, a German tall ship proved quite a spectacle when it arrived in Grimsby Docks.
The three-masted barque's home port is Bremerhaven, but it has travelled around the world helping people of all ages to discover a passion for sailing.
Run by a not-for-profit organisation called Deutsche Stiftung Sail Training, everyone on board is a volunteer who wants to spend time at sea.
A crew of 27 arrived in Grimsby on Monday, but the ship can accommodate up to 70.
Waiting to take a tour was former trawler owner Bill Crampin, of Crampin Steam Fishing Company fame, and his wife Karen.
Bill, who sold the family firm to the Ross group, said: "I actually live in Nottingham now but my family were trawler owners in Grimsby until 1967.
"I know Peter Berendsen, who is senior officer on the ship, and he kindly invited to show us around.
"We're going to take him out for dinner and show him around the area to say thank you.
"It's an absolutely stunning ship and it was wonderful watching it come into the docks."
Although it looks historic, the Alexander von Humbolt II – named after the famous discoverer – was actually only built in 2011 and combines state-of-the-art technology with old-world charm.
Ship's mate Christian Sedelmaier explained: "We still have traditional maps and books for navigating and an old-fashioned compass, but we also have modern satellites and GPS systems.
"The ship combines old and new so that it is very safe, but also has the charm of a traditional three-masted barque.
"We don't have TV or radio, but we do have air conditioning and under-floor heating, so it is very modern and comfortable."
Volunteers sleep in two, three or four-berth en-suite rooms with a crew lounge, bar and large dining room.
Able seaman Jirka Menke added: "We don't need modern entertainment because we are so busy. It's wonderful being at sea, meeting new people and seeing new places.
"We find that 90 per cent of people who sail with us once want to return again.
"The group was founded to promote sailing people to young people and those who aren't quite so young!
"We pick up new volunteers in each of our main docks and most people only stay on board for a week or two but they learn a lot during that time."
After departing Grimsby at 2pm yesterday, the vessel is en route to the Netherlands, where it will dock, before returning to Germany.
To find out more about Deutsche Stiftung Sail Training, visit www.ales-2.de
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