Sail cargo returns to the Thames
DELIVERY OF CARGO FROM PORTUGAL BY SAILING SHIP 'GALLANT'
TO ARRIVE AT HISTORIC GREENWICH AND WAPPING DOCKS
8TH / 9TH OCTOBER
Sailing vessel Gallant, of the Blue Schooner Company, will arrive in London to deliver a cargo of wine, olive oil, chocolate, coffee, almonds, spices and more, on behalf of a growing community of sail-cargo-pioneers. This group of farmers, sailors, traders and foodies are leading the way in transporting products, people and ideas over oceans by the power of the wind, showing that a fossil-fuel-free future is possible.
It Is thought to be the first substantial cargo arrival by sail ship since the late 1960s. The ship will be received by Raybel Charters and New Dawn Traders who are collecting orders for these exceptional products and planning the unloading events.
Two collection events have been arranged, giving customers and supporters the chance to visit the ship and meet the crew, who have brought the elegant Gallant schooner from Porto, across the Bay of Biscay, along the Channel and into the Thames estuary.
At Greenwich, the ship will be welcomed on to Greenwich Pier at 6pm on 8th October, at an event supported by the National Maritime Museum.
The following day, the 9th October, the Galant will be on the north bank, at the old docks of Wapping, for a collection event at Hermitage Moorings.
The ship will unload several tons of cargo made up of olive oil, olives, almonds, honey and salt, plus Caribbean coffee and chocolate. The coffee and chocolate were loaded on to the Gallant in Portugal, having made the trip across the Atlantic from the Caribbean on another sailing ship, the Tres Hombres. All of these products come from small producers and cooperatives who give the best care to the land and uphold the traditions of generations.
The trip means that London will be joining a trading network of ports in the UK, France, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, in South America and the Caribbean. Curated by New Dawn Traders, this small but growing network connects producers and buyers with sailing cargo ships. Everyone in this re-imagined supply chain is committed to a new way of business: one that honours the farmers, reduces emissions in transport and offers exceptional quality products at an honest price.
The star of the show will be the beautiful ship. The Gallant, built in Holland in 1916, first sailed as a fishing lugger on the North Sea. After a varied career spanning a century, the ship was bought by the Blue Schooner Company, who have put it back to work as a cargo vessel. The ship is one amongst a growing number in Europe and around the world that are nurturing a renaissance in the craftsmanship of sailing, from the construction and maintenance of traditional ships to the art of sailing without fossil fuel.
Sail Cargo is more than just an alternative to the shipping industry, it is a lifestyle that builds community across oceans and borders.
HOW IT WORKS
This is an experiment in rethinking how we trade. By asking supporters to pay upfront for the cargo and to collect direct from the ship, everyone is invested in the voyage. The savings from no-longer-needed distribution, storage or retail marketing is passed on to the buyer. By making quality products affordable and still paying the farmer a fair price, we can grow a market for ethical produce, shipped by sail - one community at a time.
"The farmers we work with are true heroes of this story. They are on the front-lines of our climate emergency, nurturing the land and the communities that depend on it. You can taste this love in the fruits of their labour. Nowhere else can you buy such wonderful olive oil, at such a good price, and which is brought to you with a sailing ship. You can even join as trainee crew and be part of the journey"
Alex Geldenhuys of New Dawn Traders
"As the port ally for London and the Thames, Raybel Charters is delighted to be part of this inspiring international movement. It's incredibly exciting to be bringing sail freighted goods into the Thames estuary, and on to the historic docks and wharves of Greenwich and Wapping. In time we will be able to bring our own vessel, the Thames sailing barge Raybel into the network, providing the last leg of these sail cargo adventures from Europe and across the Atlantic. Raybel is currently being restored at Milton Creek Kent, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund."
Gareth Maeer of Raybel Charters
LINKS AND CONTACTS
NEW DAWN TRADERS
t: Alex Geldenhuys +44 7950 966 380
w: www.newdawntraders.com
e: alex@newdawntraders.com
@newdawntraders
RAYBEL CHARTERS
t: Gareth Maeer +447452743531
w: www.raybelcharters.com
e: info@xraybelcharters.com
@raybelcharters
CARGO PRE-ORDERS: https://raybelcharters.com/sail-cargo-goods/
SAIL WITH: www.blueschoonercompany.com