New voyage of discovery for HM Bark Endeavour
Image: Ceri Oakes
The replica of one of the most famous ships in the history of maritime exploration is being prepared for a new voyage along the North York Moors coast to Whitby.
In August a partnership led by Whitby businessman Andrew Fiddler purchased HM Bark Endeavour, one of only two full-scale replicas in the world of the ship commanded by explorer Captain James Cook for his voyage to Australia and New Zealand.
The partnership’s auction bid of £155,000 safeguarded the replica’s future as a North East visitor attraction, having beaten competing bids that could have seen the ship moved to Portsmouth, London or Dubai.
The ship will remain in Stockton over winter to undergo extensive refurbishment and much-needed repairs. This will involve the huge logistical operation of moving the vessel from its current position on the river Tees and into a dry dock to enable the refurbishment programme to be carried out.
Andrew plans to spend nearly £750,000 refurbishing and repairing the 33m long Teesside-built ship and then relocate it next year from its berth at Stockton-on-Tees to Whitby, where the original Endeavour was built in 1764.
HM Bark Endeavour will be re-opened as an historic tourist attraction and centre of learning for schools and colleges, with the aid of product development and business support from the Coastal Communities Fund project being delivered by the North York Moors National Park Authority.
The arrival of the legendary tall ship in Whitby in 2018 will coincide with the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s departure from Portsmouth on board Endeavour to observe the transit of Venus at Tahiti, circumnavigate and chart New Zealand and chart the East coast of Australia.
Mr Fiddler said: “To have secured one of the most distinctive and historic maritime attractions is fantastic particularly as I have had a lifelong passion for the sea. Not only did I serve in the Royal Navy but I also participated in Endeavour ’90, a six-month circumnavigation of the globe which included visiting Dutch Harbour in the Aleutian Islands where Cook landed.
“Now we have to carefully work out a complex programme for sensitively refurbishing the ship so that once again HM Bark Endeavour can tell the story of life at sea in the 18th century.”
Catriona McLees, Head of Promotion and Tourism for the North York Moors National Park Authority said: “We are delighted to help support a project that has such a strong resonance with the National Park particularly with Cook’s early years being spent near Roseberry Topping and Great Ayton before he moved to Staithes and then onto Whitby where his maritime career began.
“The ship will be a great draw for visitors and encourage them to make their own discoveries of the wonders along our coast.”
Cllr Derek Bastiman, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council said: “The council is absolutely delighted that this impressive full-size replica of HM Bark Endeavour has been bought locally and will make Whitby its new base in the near future. As one of only two such vessels in the world, not only will it be a proud moment for the local community, it will be a fantastic visitor attraction and a valuable contributor to the Yorkshire coast economy.
“We look forward to working with the new owner on their exciting plans, which will include promoting Whitby as its new home and ensuring it can be properly accommodated within the harbour area, without compromising existing operations.”
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