Round Britain Sailing Pilgrimage in aid of Stella Maris

Russ Fairman

Source: Stella Maris

A Southampton sailor is set to embark on a 2.5 months long sailing pilgrimage around the UK - in aid of seafaring charity Stella Maris.

Russ Fairman, who is based in Southampton, is a passionate supporter of Stella Maris. He aims to raise funds and awareness for the work of the charity, a leading global maritime charity which exists to support seafarers and fishers.

This 2,136 nautical miles journey, which gets underway on Saturday, 29th April, will sail from Southampton and interested boat owners can even join a small flotilla to see Russ off if they wish.

It then makes its way around Britain and is scheduled to stop at 50 ports and holy sites along the way. These include Gravesend, Harwich, Grimsby before heading for Scotland to take in Leith, Lochboisdale in the Outer Hebrides, Campbeltown in Argyll and the Isles, and Glasgow - the charity's birthplace.

The journey continues across to Ardglass in Northern Ireland, Milford Haven in Wales, and Plymouth prior to its arrival back in the south coast in Portsmouth on the same day as Sea Sunday, 9th July, finishing with a Mass at Portsmouth Cathedral.

This eagerly anticipated Round Britain Sailing Pilgrimage will celebrate Stella Maris' 100 years of service to seafarers and fishers and contains many local connections.

Russ said: "Through this endeavour, we can hopefully raise further the profile of Stella Maris and the wonderful work it does in helping the People of the Sea."

Russ will be leading the pilgrimage on board the 'Mintaka', a 34ft sailboat. He is a RYA/MCA Yacht Master (Commercially Endorsed, Cruising Instructor) with over 30 years sailing experience.

There is excitement already building for an initiative which has captured people's imagination after it was originally planned to take place in 2020 to mark the charity's centenary.

The pilgrimage offers a unique opportunity for interested people to join as crew members on the boat for one or more days, and experience one leg of the journey first-hand.

The voyage is expected to be a rewarding experience for all involved. They will navigate the coastal waters of the UK, see beautiful coastal scenery and marine wildlife, and make a difference to the lives of seafarers.

Stella Maris provides a range of services to seafarers and fishers, including welfare, practical, and emotional support, pastoral care and chaplaincy services.

It is the largest ship-visiting network in the world, carrying out 70,000 ship visits around the world each year. This sailing pilgrimage aims to raise awareness and funds to help continue this critical work.

People can also get involved by attending one of the 16 area gatherings that will be held along the way in: Southampton, Gravesend, Harwich, Walsingham, Grimsby, Blyth, Leith, Lochboisdale, Oban, Campbelltown, Glasgow, Ardglass, Cardigan, Milford Haven, Plymouth and Portsmouth.

These gatherings will provide a platform for the public to learn more about the work of Stella Maris, meet the crew, and participate in community events.

This is an excellent opportunity for people to show their support for Stella Maris and further highlight the vital work that the organisation does.

For more information about the sailing pilgrimage and how to volunteer to be part of the crew, please contact the skipper Russ at sailing.pilgrimages@gmail.com or through the website: https://sailingpilgrimages.co.uk/stella-maris/

No previous sailing experience is necessary, just a reasonable level of agility and fitness. Volunteers crewing on the boat can get involved in as much or as little of the sailing operations as they wish.

For more information about the port gatherings and how to attend one of them, please contact info@stellamarismail.org

LINK

Stella Maris: www.stellamaris.org.uk