New voyage for RRS Discovery
The famous ship is undergoing a nine-month repair programme on its masts and rigging.
The RRS Discover is undergoing major restoration work.
Dundee Heritage Trust will spend £350, 000 pounds preserving the vessel's masts and rigging, which will take a total of nine months to repair.
Operator Dundee Heritage Trust has just three weeks to raise 40,000 to help pay for the repair work on the attraction at Discovery Quay, which has already reached more than 50% of a £40,000 crowdfunding target launched last week.
Not only is the preservation work vital, it is a once-in-a-generation event, said DHT officials today.
Paul Jennings, executive director of Dundee Heritage Trust, said: "This is not only a historic vessel we have in RRS Discovery, but history in the making while the rigging work takes place. It's not often that people see such an iconic vessel undergoing such a large-scale conservation project, with her rigging and masts down, but that's what she'll look like in a matter of days."
Jill Sim, a learning support teacher at Rosebank Primary school in Dundee, a volunteer guide at Dundee Heritage Trust, and author of a children's book about the ship, explained why she backed the crowdfunding campaign.
"I grew up in a boat-loving family and so it made sense for me to volunteer at RRS Discovery. I think our children are the ones who will benefit from this fabulous resource in the future. That's why staff and pupils at Rosebank Primary supported it recently with proceeds from a bake sale and it's why I would urge others to come forward and pledge."
Mark Munsie, operations director with Dundee Heritage Trust, said: "As a small independent charity this project is a major cost for Dundee Heritage Trust, and cannot be covered by our existing maintenance budgets. That's why we're running this crowdfunding campaign, which we hope will help secure RRS Discovery for future generations."
Maritime consultant John Watson said: "I've been involved with RRS Discovery since she returned to her home port of Dundee in 1986. This is a fascinating project to be part of. She was one of the last wooden three-masted sailing ships to be built in Britain and she's the only example of that type to survive."