THE world’s largest wooden sailing ship is expected to pay a visit to Jersey this year.
Götheborg of Sweden is due to make an appearance at the Barclays Jersey Boat Show, which takes place between 29 April and 1 May.
It will be the first time the ship – which is a replica of an 18th century Swedish East India Company merchant vessel that sank off Gothenburg in 1745 – has visited the Island.
She will be moored alongside the Albert Pier during the show.
Harbourmaster Bill Sadler said he was ‘delighted’ to welcome the ‘unique ship’ to the boat show.
‘The show regularly attracts more than 30,000 visitors, and Götheborg will undoubtedly be one of the main attractions. The ship will welcome visitors and provide a special opportunity to glimpse what life was like for an 18th century sailor,’ said Mr Sadler.
Götheborg expedition director Kristoffer Bennis said the boat’s crew were ‘looking forward to a great visit to the Channel Islands’.
The replica vessel was launched 20 years ago after a ten-year building project, and the Boat Show will be her third stopover on her 2023 European Tour.
The ship will arrive after sailing through the Straits of Gibraltar, along the Portuguese coast and across the Bay of Biscay. After stopping in Jersey, Götheborg is due to continue heading north towards her home port of Gothenburg.
Last year, the vessel made 13 stops in 11 countries across Europe. More than 60,000 people visited the ship during that time and 500 people served aboard her as deckhands.
