Schooner Pickle gears up for 13 April opening at Gibraltar’s Ocean Village
Having spent the winter being transformed from functional sailing ship to comfortable tourist attraction, Schooner Pickle is now ready to meet her public. The 73ft twin-masted tall ship, a replica of the 1799-built original, will welcome her first guests on Saturday 13 April. This will be a ‘soft launch’ before a more glamorous opening ceremony at Gibraltar’s Ocean Village marina later in the month.
Operator Robin James, who captained HMS Pickle from North Wales to Gibraltar last autumn, has been holed up in Ocean Village marina over the winter getting her shipshape for public inspection. “For the delivery trip from the UK to Gibraltar, we obviously wanted Pickle to be as lightweight and unfussy as possible,” says Robin, “so the hard work started once we were alongside in Ocean Village. Cabins are being removed to create museum space, historical artefacts have been shipped across from the UK and we’ve been painstakingly handcrafting deck tables, benches and awnings for the comfort of our guests. We’re now ready for the 13 April reveal.”
Conducted daily, a talk and guided tour of Schooner Pickle will allow visitors to hear and see what life was like onboard a wooden warship during the Napoleonic wars – braving gales, harsh seas, enemy fire and sharing two or three to a bunk in cramped dim conditions. They’ll hear of Lieutenant Lapenotiere’s endeavours commanding the vessel at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar and how Pickle raced to London to give the King the bittersweet news of Lord Nelson’s death and British victory over the combined Spanish and French fleet. Delivered by experienced and really knowledgeable crew Robin promises the talks and tours will be memorable and meaningful – but fun.
Robin continues, “Pickle will not be an impersonal film set or theme park devoid of authenticity. She won’t be full of signs saying “don’t touch” “stay behind this rope” or “no photos allowed” but instead be utterly hands on. Visitors will be able to see and touch weapons, period navigation equipment and the medical instruments of the time such as a saw resembling one that would have been used to amputate Nelson’s arm after he was hit by a musket ball. Information boards will tell the story and we’ll bring it alive with words and anecdotes.”
Pickle’s operators have also been pleasantly surprised by the demand from the Gibraltar community for private hire. The schooner can accommodate 20 guests fully seated on deck or 30 or more for a standing fork buffet with caterers and a full bar service on offer. Weddings, retirement parties, product launches, photocalls, corporate entertainment and of course children’s birthday parties are all possible and welcome. For the latter, children will be able to rummage through a box of pirate dressing-up clothes, put their face through a cardboard cut-out of Nelson and fire authentic looking replica 1805 water cannons that are currently en-route from China. Although rumour has it Robin is considering filling the ship’s bell with foam in anticipation of birthday party-induced tinnitus.
Pickle won’t be sailing this summer as repairs are ongoing to the damaged sails and rigging caused by extreme weather conditions in the Irish Sea and Bay of Biscay last year. Instead “Instant Decision”, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54 DS operated by Bluesky Charter, will be on hand to take guests, should they wish, to places like Rosia Bay where HMS Victory was towed to after Nelson’s death.
Guided tours of Schooner Pickle will take place daily at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm and 4pm. Tickets are priced £12.50 for adults and £7.50 for children with special offers available throughout April (£10 and £5 respectively) and for group bookings. To book online visit schoonerpickle.com.
To keep up to date with all other activity at Ocean Village marina, visit oceanvillage.gi.
