The Dundee maritime charity Taymara, which provides training for recovering substance abusers and seafaring enthusiasts, will add a third vessel to its fleet, with a 75ft motor yacht arriving next month.
However, there’s a catch a crew will have to sail the Lady Lex to Dundee from her berth in Majorca.
That’s good news for merchant navy trainee Joel Devereux (16) and recovering alcoholic Paul Smith (48), as the lucky pair will form part of the team bringing the loaned vessel back to Dundee’s Victoria Dock.
Paul, who moved to Dundee from Burnley 20 years ago, said he was looking forward to the once-in-a-lifetime challenge of the 2300-mile voyage.
“I’ve been with Taymara for quite a while and just going out on the Tay is a great experience, but this is something else it’s just sinking in,” he said from Palma, where temperatures yesterday were more than 90F. “There’s going to have to be a lot of teamwork.”
He said the time spent with Taymara had helped him come to terms with his drink problem. “I’m always occupied and doing something with the boats, and it’s really helped build my confidence and self-esteem,” he added.
“I’m with the Cyrenians at Brewery Lane at the moment, and they said, ‘Why don’t you go and try it?’ I went last year and I’ve been going back ever since. It’s exciting but at the same time I can’t comprehend what it’s likely to entail. It’ll definitely be challenging.”
Former Grove Academy pupil Joel, from Bingham Terrace, Dundee, is set to enter merchant navy training later this year after volunteering with Taymara.
He said he was “ecstatic” to be taking part in the trip from Palma to Dundee. “I was looking for some sort of work experience last year and my Dad came in and told me about this,” he said. “So I emailed and I’ve been going along ever since.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic to be taking part-I’m really looking forward to it.”
The charity and training organisation have taken the yacht on loan from Newcastle solicitor and businessman Clive McKeag whose other craft Marigot is already in use by Taymara.
Weather permitting, the crew will depart Palma on Sunday for the first leg of their journey, to Alicante.
“We’re setting off on Sunday to pick up another member of the crew from Alicante and then heading for Gibraltar,” said yachtmaster Andrew Jeffrey. “Weather is the crucial thing, because when you’re crossing the Bay of Biscay you can be more than 100 miles from land. At 2300 miles it’s not a small voyage, but we are going at the right time of year, but we have to be careful of the weather, so there’s a force six limit to ensure we get boat and crew back to the UK in one piece.”
The yacht is expected to arrive in Dundee in mid-August when reception events will be held for civic leaders and the managers of local drug and alcohol charities to allow them to learn more about Taymara’s activities.
Taymara manager Bob Richmond, who will also do the trip, said, “We are very grateful to Clive McKeag for this further vote of confidence in our charity.”
Taymara has also bid to buy the North Carr Lightship and are waiting to hear from its owners, the Maritime Volunteer Service.
Current craft Marigot and Badger are used for training and Tay river trips. More details are available at www.taymara.org.