Two tall ships will spend time in Collingwood this summer along with their crew of youth sailors learning the ropes.
The TS Playfair and the TS Pathfinder are scheduled to dock in Collingwood a couple of times this summer, once in July and once in August.
The brigantines are sail-training vessels operated by Brigs (formerly Toronto Brigantine), which formed in 1962 as a charitable organization created to develop leadership, discipline and citizenship in a maritime environment. The vision for the sail training program was to build character through adventure. Pathfinder was the organization’s first sail training vessel and Playfair joined the fleet in 1973.
All summer long the program offers youth the chance to board the Playfair and Pathfinder for three- to 10-day long trips that include a hands-on lesson in sailing and the experience of life on the high seas (or rather the Great Lakes).
They will carry a complement of up to 28 people: 18 new sailors, called trainees, four petty officers, six wardroom officers and the captain. Aside from the first mate and the captain, all crew members are youth aged 13-18.
The brigantine ship is complicated to operate in comparison to modern sailboats, which was intentional because it requires teamwork to sail it.
The 72-foot-long square-rigged ships will be at the following ports this summer:
- July 20-22: Both ships in Collingwood
- July 30-Aug 1: Both ships in Tobermory
- Aug 7 - Aug 8: Both ships in Midland
- Aug 11 - Aug 14: Both ships in Collingwood, deck tours available
- Aug 25 - Aug 27: Both ships in Kincardine
The ships are also expected to be in some other ports as conditions allow, possibly including Little Current, Lion's Head, Honey Harbour, Parry Sound, Killarney, Kagawong.
The ships can be tracked here: https://www.brigs.ca/
Young people who are interested in sailing on the ships can register on the website at https://www.brigs.ca/
Click here to read about the Playfair in Collingwood in 2021.
