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 "Spirit of Mystery"

 

THE VOYAGE OF PETE GOSS & THE ‘SPIRIT OF MYSTERY’

The remarkable seamanship and endurance shown by Richard Nicholls and his six colleagues during 1854-55 is being highlighted by Pete Goss, Eliot & Andy Goss and Mark Maidment as their re-enactment voyage now enters its second phase

With their recently constructed authentic replica vessel ‘Spirit of Mystery’  and after only a few weeks familiarization and sea trials they left Mount’s Bay on 20th October 2008 with the aim of reaching Cape Town in time for Christmas.

 

Pete’s daily log has enthralled as he has freely shared his observations, enthusiasm for life and glimpses of the crew’s daily activities.

 

Richard Nicholl’s 1854-55 log by comparison simply recorded the progress of the voyage.

However both skippers repeatedly recorded praise for their small craft as it battled the elements.

 

The ‘Mystery’ took 59 days to reach Cape Town whilst for Pete and the ‘Spirit of Mystery’ that leg took 66 days and it was largely due to the aftermath of a storm that the vessel was carried into Cape Town harbour on the morning of Christmas Day 2008.

 

Quoting from Pete’s log entry for 24th December:

‘Andy had a big breaker and from below Mark and I caught a flash of foul weather gear as he was flicked from one side of the boat to the other like a rag doll on the end of a stick’… ‘nothing was going to have any effect on the tiller and we are all a bit battered and bruised by the effort....‘Spirit of Mystery’ shakes herself and bobs up undeterred like a Cornish Bulldog.

She is an amazing boat and I can’t speak highly enough of Chris Rees and his team for it is these guys that enable us to enjoy the experience’…...

‘I have slowly built up an empathy for the original crew but if ever there was a link back through time to 1854 it would be the words “Our Gallant Little Ship” that often crop up in Capt Richard Nicholl’s log during a storm’

‘Spirit of Mystery’ off the Cornish coast

Image courtesy Pete Goss & Lloyd Images

 

After leaving South Africa on 13th January Pete and his crew have had a mix of days of little progress and others battling severe storms and their arrival at the Heads of Port Phillip Bay is hard to predict – perhaps between 6th-10th March.

Proudly flying the Cornish Flag the ‘Spirit of Mystery’ will be greeted by small craft on the way to a landing and official welcome adjacent to the Royal Yacht Club Victoria, Williamstown.

For daily updates and the exact date and time of the arrival continue to monitor the Pete Goss website: www.petegoss.com

On Sunday 15th March from 4pm onwards at the R.Y.C.V. all who have an interest in Cornish heritage are also invited to join C.A.V. members for an inspection of the vessel at its moorings and an unveiling of a Memorial Plaque to the 1854-1855 voyage of the ‘Mystery’.

 

 

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