Miss Helvetia

The project is to restore a steel vessel built as a gaff-rigged schooner in the early 1900's, approximately 35 m long (on deck) and 7 m wide. Her restoration will be done in two stages: The first stage will take place in the port of Basel, in Switzerland, if it confirms that it will put at our disposal, at very attractive financing conditions, for the duration of the reconstruction, an area alongside a quay allowing the installation of a yard, with direct access to the public, who will be able to follow-up directly the progress of the construction. That first stage will include removing all the appendices added to the hull since its origin, reconstructing the wooden deck, the internal and external facilities and, more generally, all the works to be done on board, except the running and standing riggings (and probably the sails), which will be done at the Hobro shipyard, in Denmark, specialized in tall ships and their rigging. The restoration work will be coordinated by Otto Leth, a Danish specialist, who has already restored there several tall Ships, including Brita Leth (www.brita-leth.dk) and the 3-masted Maja (www.skonnerten-maja.dk). The restored Barquentine will be renamed « Miss Helvetia », thereby witnessing her belonging to Switzerland.