Gullmarn, Colin Archer, boat of maritime heritage

Sailing through Time : Your Support preserves Ancient Boats and Maritime Heritage for Future Generations The Captain is gone, long live the Ship Assist us in fulfilling the captain’s final wish – the revival of this Colin Archer vessel, a significant maritime heritage, built in 1907! GULLMARN is the namesake of Sweden's longest fjord, situated to the north of Gothenburg; GULLMARN, derived from Old Finnish, translates to 'THE SEA OF GOD.' Commissioned in 1907 as a pilot boat by the reknowned Norwegian architect Colin Archer, GULLMARN stands as a genuine heritage. - ARCHITECTURALLY, this vessel is truly exceptional, distinguished by its design, its ability to navigate through all weather conditions and across all seas, and its remarkable longevity of 116 years to date. - HISTORICALLY, it boasts a legacy of multiple journeys around the world, notably during the first half of the 20th century. - FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, the three meticulously kept logbooks, authored by diverse crews, including Swedish sailors, adventurous young Australian women, and brave British soldiers, offer a wealth of insights, anecdotes, and testimonials on human nature, life on board, sea navigation conditions, and the varying ways of life in the islands and countries they visited. In 2007, my father, Pierre Le Séac’h, acquired GULLMARN in the Netherlands. I had the privilege of being part of the crew that brought it to its nowadays home port in Brittany : Benodet. My father's immediate affection for the vessel led him to embark on its restoration journey, working tirelessly and independently for four years, armed with limited resources but boundless dedication. This was his way of making the vessel his own and intimately understanding every facet of it. Subsequently, GULLMARN primarily engaged in coastal navigation along our enchanting Brittany coast. It actively participated in prestigious gatherings of traditional sailing vessels, occurring every 2 and 4 years in Douarnenez and Brest. It also made multiple appearances in the 'Route de l'Amitié.' The boat held a special place in his heart, sustaining his spirit of dreaming until the very end. However, in September 2020, an unfortunate mishap left the boat in a deteriorated state once more at the Corniguel shipyard in Quimper. This stroke of bad luck deeply affected my father, and the shipyard project came to a halt. In September 2022, he received a grave medical diagnosis, leaving us with no time to spare. GULLMARN needed to return to the water, and every moment became precious. Regrettably, my father passed away on May 31st, and he won't witness GULLMARN’S being afloat again. Yet, the project had kept his spirits alive every day until the very end. I am determined to see this project through and fulfil his ultimate wish. It serves as a poignant way for me to keep his memory close. However, there is still work to be done, and we humbly seek your generosity to make it possible.