About Belinda

Hello! My name is Belinda Cree, and I’m one of the seafaring trainees in the 2019-2020 cohort of SHTP2. Thanks to National Historic Ships (and the National Lottery Heritage Fund), I’ll be spending the next year learning how to maintain and operate historic vessels with the help of my host partner organisation, The Excelsior Trust!

You’ll be able to follow along with me and the rest of the trainees every month as we go to college and then join our placements.

I’m from Bangor, near Belfast, in Northern Ireland.. I studied Filmmaking and Screenwriting at the University of the West of Scotland, and it’s my plan to keep making films throughout my adventures on the seas!

I got into sailing about two years ago, and I’d quickly racked up about 1000nm & my Competent Crew –  The reason I applied for this traineeship was it just seemed like the perfect opportunity to build up my experience on the water while contributing to the day-to-day operations of my potential placement. Having the backing of a project like this meant I could afford to make the move to England and commit to pursuing sailing historic vessels as a career

Read more about the Excelsior Trust and the opportunities available as part of the SHTP 2 project.

Latest blogs

UPDATE AUGUST 2021Right at the end of July there (after I wrote that month’s blog), we had our first residential of the season (and my first ever as crew!). This was with the Royal Association for Deaf People (R.A.D.)... Read more

UPDATE JULY 2021 - Previously I mentioned the primary school day sails – we had some intrepid rookie sailors joining us from a couple of local schools... but there was one class that didn’t get to make it during that programme... Read more

UPDATE JUNE 2021 - Getting the vessels ready for signing off, two weeks of school groups and the Pioneer Cup... Read more

UPDATE MAY 2021 - 3, 2, 1... READY FOR LAUNCH, with the spars back on board and the main & mizzen sails hanked on – Pioneer was ready to head out to her usual spot in the river this month... Read more

UPDATE APRIL 2021 - Back for round 2. That’s right! I’m back on my placement – a new placement this time. After a long break over the winter months, I’ve returned to the Shipshape programme to join Pioneer Sailing Trust as their trainee for 5 months... Read more

UPDATE OCTOBER 2020 - I left my placement vessel Excelsior at the beginning of this month. Then after that was the long awaited and thoroughly enjoyable masterclass with the other SHTP 2 trainees in Bristol, wrapping up this portion of the project...Read more

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020 - I’m keen to make the most of the opportunity to get the vessel in the best position possible I can before the winter refit...Read more

UPDATE AUGUST 2020 - I was mis-sold the “English summertime” – it’s hot here! Too hot!...Read more

UPDATE July 2020 - Quite a pattern with me is putting what happens at the end of the month into the next month’s blog...so with that in mind, last month two awesome teenage volunteers joined me on board!..Read more 

UPDATE JUNE 2020 - I'm quite invested in doing a good job that will serve the vessel well in the future, especially as I currently have the time to do these things...

UPDATE MAY 2020 - We also had a masterclass this month! That was very cool – and super educational, I got a lot out of the session. It was with Tom Cunliffe,,,,

UPDATE APRIL 2020 - I’m quite keen to make the most of this extended period of refit/maintenance and leave the boat looking very well looked after....

UPDATE MARCH 2020 - It’s all hands on deck (literally) as we prepare Excelsior for her survey and the start of the season!... Read more

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2020 - Well, after a jam-packed final fortnight at the International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC) — where we managed to fit in sail making and repairs; welding and lofting — the time has finally arrived for us to join our placement vessels for the season!...Read more

UPDATE JANUARY 2020 - This second term at the International Boatbuilding Training College has focused on the more specific boat maintenance skills that we will need on our placement vessels (and beyond)...Read more

UPDATE - DECEMBER 2019 - It was great to produce something practical – especially a tool that once completed I go then go on to use in the next exercise with a chisel....Read more

UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2019 - I enjoyed getting an insight into the background of where boatbuilding materials come from and the considerations that go into selecting and preparing materials before they are made into something beautiful that floats!...Read more

UPDATE OCTOBER 2019These three weeks have simultaneously felt like they’ve lasted for about three minutes and three years. I can’t wait to start the next stage!..Read more

WELCOME TO THE PROJECT

Belinda Cree