Spirit of Mystery at Maritime Museum

Pete Goss' Cornish fishing lugger replica on display

Highly respected sailor and adventurer, Pete Goss, his crew and the Spirit of Mystery will be at National Maritime Museum Cornwall from the 15 to 26 September sharing their incredible adventure with a number of schools from across the county.

Over 1800 Cornish school children will be meeting Pete and the crew, climbing aboard the Spirit of Mystery, as she floats alongside the Museum’s pontoon, and meeting an ‘original’ member of the Mystery crew from 1854 in a theatrical workshop led by the Museum’s education department and the Cornwall Playing for Success team. Supported by HSBC, the workshops will teach the pupils about local maritime history, food, navigation and our boat-building heritage.

Godd says: “This fortnight is a product of a great amount of collaboration by individuals and organisations who are determined to take learning out of the classroom and offer motivational teaching through more ‘hands-on’ events. Cornwall Playing for Success is a passion of mine and to work with these children, offering them the challenge and opportunity of devising and carrying out their own journey, inspired by our adventure is a privilege.

“Our aim is to inspire dreams, to help the children realise that the impossible is more often than not possible and to stimulate them to learn as a long-term legacy.”

Pete, his crew and Spirit of Mystery set sail for Australia via Cape Town in just a few weeks. The 37ft wooden lugger follows in the wake of seven Cornishmen who made a heroic journey from Newlyn to Australia more than 150 years ago.

Leaving Newlyn in November 1854, the Mystery travelled 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 before heading into the Southern ocean. Pete will be re-enacting this journey in his Spirit of Mystery, a replica boat built by Chris Rees using local wood, following original drawings, using no engine and navigating only by the stars and the sun.

Stuart Slade, Education Manager at the Museum says: “We have been telling and re-enacting the story of the Mystery in our education workshops for a number of years now. To have the replica of this amazing boat on our pontoon just before she sets sail truly brings history alive. Pete and his crew are attempting to relive one of Cornwall’s biggest stories and to share this with over 1800 pupils through the Cornwall Playing for Success event is a unique opportunity for everyone involved. Adventures don’t come much bigger than this.”

Members of the public will also be able to get close to the boat and her crew from 3-5pm on every week day from the 15 to 26 September apart from the 19 September. She’s also available for viewing from 10am to 5pm at weekends – subject to the odd sail or two.

Pete and Spirit of Mystery will be returning to the Museum from the 16-19 October, during the Falmouth Oyster Festival, where again people will be able to see the boat on the Museum’s pontoon. Pete will also be giving a talk in the Museum’s lecture theatre on Friday 17 October at 6.30pm on his latest voyage.

If you want to see Cornwall’s history come alive, then visit the Maritime Museum on the dates given to see Cornwall’s maritime heritage come to life.

Goss and Spirit of Mystery will also be at Southampton International Boat Show.