A tall ship will be visiting Saugeen Shores this week.
The Brigs Youth Sail Training ship STV Playfair is expected to be in Port Elgin June 27th, Southampton on the 28th and then back in Port Elgin on the 29th.
Deck tours are planned for Thursday the 27th in Port Elgin from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and also on Saturday, June 29th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Port Elgin.
There are deck tours scheduled for midday in Southampton on the 28th.
It is doing a youth training event from Port Elgin to Owen Sound called ‘Race up the Bruce’ from June 29th to July 5th.
Brigs Youth Sail Training is a charitable organization that teaches youth aged 13 to 18 leadership skills and how to sail a tall ship. Their website says, ” Our purpose is the provision of an environment, aboard ship and in the Winter Program (classroom based) that fosters and rewards self-confidence, teamwork, responsibility, custodianship and leadership in youth.”
After ‘Race Up The Bruce’ its next event is called ‘Mission to Manitoulin’ which will see it go from Owen Sound to Tobermory from July 7th to 15th. Then it heads from Tobermory to Parry Sound from the 15th to the 27th, and then over to Midland, Collingwood, Kincardine and Port Colborne.
According to Brigs Youth Sailing’s website, the TS Playfair was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. It was designed by Frances A. MacLachlan and built in Kingston, Ont. It’s close to 60 feet long.
Not due to be in Port Elgin this week, Brigs Youth Sailing also sails another ship, the STV Pathfinder, which is a purpose built (1963) sail training ship, also designed by MacLachlan. It’s also about 60 feet long.