Sailing Pilgrimages - Pray, Praise & Sail
Russ Fairman’s ‘Round Britain Sailing Pilgrimage’ Celebrating Stella Maris’ 100+ yrs of service
This round Britain sailing pilgrimage, on board ‘Mintaka’ (Dufour 34 Performance sailboat) owned and skippered by Russ Fairman, was undertaken to celebrate Stella Maris’ 100 years of service to seafarers & fishers.
Starting Southampton (St Joseph’s) on Saturday 29th April 2023 , finishing in Portsmouth Cathedral 9th July on SEA SUNDAY .
We sailing 2,433 miles in an anticlockwise direction out of the Port Southampton, visiting 65 ports with a blessed Stella Maris Icon replica, after its world circumnavigation with Trustee, John Hood. Praising and thanking God for the global reach of Stella Maris, and the support provided by local communities in Britain. The Icon is a shared symbol that was be sailed by over 60 crew, made up of friends & supporters, who passed on the Icon to the next crew in the next Port of call, as a sign of unity and fellowship. Celebratory shoreside Gatherings, at 22 port area locations, were fun and prayerful, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary. Our aim is to celebrate and honour Mary, Our Lady Star of The Sea, who’s faithful intercession always points us to Jesus and to support the wonderful pastoral work of Stella Maris.
The Pilgrimage also raised over £20,000, generated 60 pieces of media coverage about Stella Maris: 1 piece on TV, 9 on radio, 25 in newspapers, 10 in websites, 5 in newsletters, and 5 in magazines. Accrued nearly 70,000 views on social media for Stella Maris (Facebook: over 55,000 views, Twitter: almost 9,000 views, LinkedIn: almost 6,000 views). Over2,500 likes, reactions, comments, and shares on social media for Stella Maris across Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn – So deemed a great success by Stella Maris
The Sailing Voyage was conducted as a pilgrimage, saturated in Prayer and joy filled fellowship – Reflecting on Mary’s Words “Do whatever He tells you” Jn 2:5
Participation
Crew on the sailboat
Over 60 friends of Stella Maris sailed on this amazing pilgrimage (for 1-7 days) with Russ the Skipper - Most had no experience of sailing Pilgrimage boat 'Mintaka' Dufour 34’ is owned and skippered by Russ Fairman MCA RYA Yacht Master (Commercial) with 30+ years experience
Port Area Gatherings
100th Anniversary Gatherings at 20+ Port Locations, organised by Stella Maris. Fun get togethers with supporters, to greet and send off crew, with an opportunity to come and see the Sailing Pilgrimage Boat. Refreshments, speeches, prayer, praise & fellowship on the quayside or at a nearby venue or church. Some gatherings included Processions and Services - Scroll down for more details, on our facebook page @sailingpilgrimages.
Greet the boat (60+ Harbours)
In addition to the 22 main Area Gatherings, there was over 60 other location opportunities where people greeted the boat and participate in the pilgrimage. Here the Stella Maris Icon replica was passed from the incoming to the outgoing crew at each stop over. Scroll down to find the dates and times of these intermediary stops.
Miraculously the boat arrived on time at every pre-organised Celebratory Gathering, keeping to a published schedule - Thanking God and Jesus for his protection and support
Pilgrimage Services (& Possible Processions)
Celebratory Stella Maris Services @ Southampton, Dover, Gravesend, Walsingham Basilica Slipper Chapel, Grimsby, Leith, S Uist (Lochboisdale) Oban, Glasgow, Northern Ireland (Ardglass) Cardigan Our Lady of Taper, Milford Haven, Plymouth & Portsmouth Cathedral. Most had impromptu walking procession with the Stella Maris Icon replica, between the boat and local church
Journey with us on facebook
Boat was trackable on VesselFinder.com using boast MMSI number 235026191 Its was great fun to journey the whole way round with the acrtual crew on facebook. Keeping up to date on shoreside events , track the boats position at any time, share in the experiences of the crew & attend any streamed Services The Sailing Pilgrimage took 10 weeks, covering 2400 miles, calling into 65 Ports (berthed in accessible adjacent marina) in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales. Click on the link or goto www.facebook.com/SailingPilgrimages
Prayer & Fundraising
Thank you to all those who prayed for us, especially those in Stella Maris prayer groups . We were very grateful for the prayers for the crew's protection, the Gatherings and the ongoing success of Stella Maris. Thank you for your generous financial support of Stella Maris that enables them to do incredibly valuable work to support the welfare of seafarers and fishers. These global seafarers, essential to our UK economy, food and energy supplies, receive very low income, are away from their families for many months, and are often discharged in remote locations without the means to return home.
Sailing Crew
- 65 Friends of Stella Maris signed up for this amazing pilgrimage (sailing for 1-7 days)
- Participants were required to be 18 years of age or older (16yrs + with a guardian or parent)
- Reasonable level of fitness required, however no previous Sailing experience is necessary.
- Crew of 1-6 people, including skipper (Crew safety will be the paramount sailing consideration)
- Information on any sailing experience or known health issues, was required in advance.
- Selected crew participated on any part of the voyage, for 1 or more days (sleeping on board)
- We miraculously kept to sail to a schedule, despite having a contingency for weather and gear failures, so participants were asked to commit to a time slot and be flexible on ‘get on’ & ‘get off’ locations – Skipper will liaise with you
Sailing Itinerary
| LEG…… | Start Date…………….. | Finish Date………….. | PORTS OF CALL (Stop Over locations for Crew Changes) |
| Leg 1 | 29 Apr Sat | 29 Apr Sat | Southampton (Ocean Village) to Chichester |
| Leg 2 | Sun 30 April | Fri 5 May | Chichester, Shoreham, Dover, Ramsgate, Queenborough, Gravesend , |
| Leg 3 | Sun 7 May | Sun 7 May | Gravesend, Harwich (opposite Felixstowe) |
| Leg 4 | Tue 9 May | Wed 10 May | Harwich, Lowestoft, Wells Next Sea, King’s Lynn, Grimsby, |
| Leg 5 | Fri 12 May | Fri 19 May | Grimsby, Scarborough, Blyth, Lindisfarne, Eyemouth, Leith |
| Leg 6 | Mon 22 May | Fri 2 June | Leith, Dundee, Stonehaven, Peterhead, Whitehills, Wick, Kinlochbervie, Stornoway, Lochboisdale, SU, |
| Leg 7 | Sun 4 June | Wed 7 June | Lochboisdale, Mallaig, Tobermoray, Oban, Gigha, Campbeltown |
| Leg 8 | Sat 10 June | Sat 10 June | Campbeltown, Glasgow (Transport Museum Pontoon – St Aloysius’ Walk – Clyde) |
| Leg 9 | Mon 12 June | Sat 17 June | Glasgow, Wemyss Bay (Kip Marina), Lamlash, Troon, Stranraer, Bangor, Ardglass (NI) |
| Leg 10 | Mon 19 June | Sat 24 June | Ardglass Holyhead, Porth Dinllaen, Fishguard, St David’s, Milford Haven |
| Leg 11 | Mon 26 June | Say 30 June | Milford Haven , Padstow, Penzance Newlyn, Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth |
| Leg 12 | 2 July Sun | 9 July Sun | Plymouth, Teignmouth, Weymouth, Poole, Portsmouth (GunWharf) |
Pilgrim Services at most of the 20 Port Gatherings - Here's a selection
SOUTHAMPTON - Sat 29th April
St Joseph's Church Service Time 11.00AM, Location SO14 2AH, followed by reception in the hall and then a Procession Walk to the boat from St Joseph's to Ocean Village Marina:
WALSINGHAM Thur 11th May
The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham Service time 6pm, for a procession into Walsingham for a Service and evening meal. Boat crew will procession in the day from the Boat at Wells Next the Sea and attend the Pilgrims Mass at 4pm, before the main Gathering at 6pm, all welcome.
LEITH Sun 21st May
St Mary's Star of the Sea Leith - Service starting at TBC, followed by a procession with the Icon to the Boat at Granton Marina EH5 1HF (1.5miles)
GLASGOW Sun 11th June
St Aloysius -Service starting 12 noon, followed by a reception at 1pm and then procession to the Boat at Riverside Museum York Hill Pontoon on the Clyde G38RS (2.5miles)
CARDIGAN Sat 24th June
Our Lady of the Taper Cardigan -Service stating at 10:30 AM, followed by a Procession Walk to the beach (2.3 miles) Beach for a family picnic celebration
PORTSMOUTH Sun 9th July
St John’s Cathedral - SEA SUNDAY service with the Royal Navy starting at 12.00 noon preceded by a Process from the boat with the Icon from Gunwarf Quay Marina PO1 3TZ to St John’s Cathedral before the service
Port Gatherings / Services - Schedule
| Date | TIME | AREA GATHERING | GATHERING LOCATION | BOAT LOCATION |
| 29 Apr Sat | 11.00 AM | Southampton | St Joseph’s Church SO14 2AH | Ocean Village Marina SO14 3QF |
| Tue 2 May | 10:00 AM | Dover | St Pauls Schools, churches together, tea | Dover Marina |
| Sat 6 May | 18:00 PM | Gravesend (Thames) | St John The Evangilist DA12 1EN | Gravesend Pontoon – Town Pier, Gravesend DA11 0BJ |
| Sun 7 May | 08.30 AM | Gravesend (Thames) | St John The Evangilist DA12 1EN | Gravesend Pontoon – Town Pier, Gravesend DA11 0BJ |
| Mon 8 May | 10.00 AM | Harwich | Our Lady Queen of Heavan Harwich | Ha’penny pier pontoon CO12 3EJ |
| Thur 11 May | 6.00 PM | Shrine Walsingham | Walsingham Shrine NR22 6AL | Wells Next Sea or King Lynn TBC (Weather !) |
| Sun 14 May | 11:00 AM | Grimsby | Humber Cruising Association | Fish Dock DN313SD |
| Wed 17 May | AM/PM | Blyth | Royal Northumblerland YC & Mass? | Royal Northumblerland YC |
| Sun 21 May | 10.30 AM | Leith | St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Leith | Granton Harbour EH5 1HF |
| Mon 22 May | 7.00pm | Dundee | Dundee Cathedral | Tayport Harbour – Harbour Rd, Tayport DD6 9BG |
| Wed 24 May | 9:30 AM | Stonehaven | St Mary’s Arbuthnott Place, Stonehaven, AB39 2FY | Old Pier Stonehaven AB39 2JU |
| Thur 25 May | 9.3 | Peterhead | St Mary’s church | Peterhead marina |
| Sat 3 June | 18.30 PM | Western Isles (Lochboisdale) | Our Lady ofSorrows | Lochboisdale Harbour |
| Tue 6 June | 10:00 AM | Oban | St Columba | Oban Transit Marina |
| Fri 9 June | 10.00 AM | Campbeltown | St Kieran’s | Campbeltown |
| Sun 11 June | 12:00 | Glasgow | St Aloyisus | Riverside Museum York Hill Pontoon G38RS TBC !!!!! |
| Sun 18 June | 11:30 AM | Northern Ireland (Ardglass) | St Nicholas Catholic Church | Ardglass Marina |
| Sat 24 June | 10.30 AM | Shrine Cardigan | North Road Cardigan SA43 1LT | Milford Haven Marina |
| Sun 25 June | 09.30 AM | Milford Haven | St Francis of Assisi | Milford Haven Marina |
| Sat 1 July | 10.00 AM | Plymouth | St Mary & St Boniface Cathedral | Queen Anne’s Battery Marina (Brendan to Confirm) |
| 9 July Sun | 10:00 AM | Portsmouth | St Johns Cathedral SEA SUNDAY | Gunwarf Quay PO1 3TZ |
Stella Maris
Stella Maris, previously known as, ‘The Apostleship of the Sea’, was founded in Glasgow in 1920. At this time Britain had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world, employing many thousands of British seafarers. The Apostleship of the Sea ran large seafarers’ hostels in all the major port towns. Nowadays ships are bigger and crews are smaller, and increasingly recruited from developing world countries where wages were lower. Owners registered their ships under so-called flags of convenience to avoid stringent regulatory controls.
While the nature of the work has evolved, Stella Maris’ founding belief is that every seafarer deserves fair working conditions & respect for their human rights. Today there are 230 chaplains in over 300 ports across 41 countries from Australia to the USA, supporting crew’s physical, mental and spiritual welfare.
Celebratory PORT AREA GATHERINGS
Fun get togethers with supporters, to greet and send off crew, with an opportunity to come aboard the Sailing Pilgrimage Boat.
100th Anniversary Celebratory refreshments, speeches, prayer, praise & worship on the quayside or at a nearby venue or church. Some gatherings include Processions and Services as detailed above in the schedule.
Other shore side events and gatherings will be arranged and advertised locally
Our Facebook page is a great way to find out more and keep up to date with what’s happening
60 + Crew CHANGES
65 people crewed the boat sailing around Britain on this Sailing Pilgrimage, staying on board for 1 to 7 days.
Crew changes were made at over 50 harbours as described in the Itinerary above. Was wonderful that so many came and meet the crew and local Stella Maris supporters, to greet or send off the new crew representing their Port.
Impromptu gatherings were also held to celebrate the 100th Anniversary and mark the passing of the Stella Maris Icon from crew to crew, Port to Port.
Our Facebook page is a great way to find out more and keep up to date with what’s happening
Holy Sites & Coastal Pilgrimage Routes
Celtic missionaries such as St Columba and St Fursey, crossed seas in small boats to pioneer new communities and find God in creation at the edges and margins.
The Holy Spirit enabled them to discover their true selves, through harmonious connectedness with nature, and lead others to Jesus.
Spending time at sea in prayer is transformative, and life changing for many.
Our Sailing Pilgrimage will be visiting many Holy Sites and tracking along ancient coastal pilgrimage routes. Reflecting on and praying with the Saints of old.
Pilgrimage Routes & Sites Encountered
| Adjacent Coastal Pilgrimage | From | To | Miles | Holy Sites | Web Link |
| OLD WAY | Southampton | Canterbury | 240 M | Bosham – Chichester – Arundel – Steyning – Botolphs – Battle – Lyminge – Canterbury | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/old-way-to-canterbury/ |
| The Augustine Camino | Ramsgate | Canterbury | Shrine of St Augustine in Ramsgate | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/augustine-camino/ | |
| Rochester Cathedral Pilgrimage | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/rochester-cathedral-pilgrimage-in-a-day/ | ||||
| St Peters Way | Greenstead | Bradwell Essex | 40M | oldest wooden church in the world, St Andrew’s, Greensted | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/st-peters-way/ |
| The Pilgrim Ways to Walsingham | Cley/Blakeney Harbour | Walsingham | Catholic Slipper Chapel – Bascilica of Our Lady | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/pilgrim-ways-to-walsingham/ | |
| Beverley Minster To Bridlington Priory | Bridlington | York | 47M | priory church of Saint Mary, Bridlington. | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/beverley-to-bridlington/ |
| Way of St Hild | Hartlepool | Whitby | 47M | St Hildas Church Hartlepool / Whitby Abbey | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/way-of-st-hild/ |
| Northern Saints Trail | Sunderland | Lindisfarne | Durham Cathedral resting place of St Cuthbert | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/northern-saints-trails/ | |
| St Oswald’s Way | Heavanfield | LinisFarne | 97M | Heavenfield; Bamburgh; Holy Island/Lindisfarne | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/st-oswalds-way/ |
| The Forth to Farne Way | Lindisfarne | North Berwick | 72M | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/forth-to-farne-way/ | |
| St Margarets Way | Edinburgh | St Andrews | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/st-margarets-way/ | ||
| St Duthac’s Way | St Andrews | Aberdean | 97 M | St Andrews | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/st-duthacs-way/ |
| Northern Pilgrim Way | Tain | Kirkwall | 127 M | Shrine of St Duthac, Tain/Shrine of St Magnus in Kirkwall on Orkney | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/northern-pilgrims-way/ |
| St Columba’s Way | Iona | Oban | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/st-columbas-way/ | ||
| St Ninian’s Way | South Queensferry | Carlisle | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/st-ninians-way/ | ||
| Anglesey (Ynys Mon) Pilgrimage | Holy Head | Caernafon | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/anglesey-pilgrimage/ | ||
| The North Wales Pilgrims Way | Holywell | Bardsey Island | Holywell in Flintshire, kneel underwater on St Beuno’s Stone | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/north-wales-pilgrims-way/ | |
| Southern Way of St David | St Davids Cathedral | Pembroke Dock | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/southern-way-of-st-david/ | ||
| Cornish Celtic Way | St German’s Priory | St Michael’s Mount | St German’s Priory to St Michael’s Mount | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/cornish-celtic-way/ | |
| The Mary and Michael Pilgrims’ Way | Carn Lês Boel | Avebury | 350M | St Michael’s Mount; St Neot; St Cleer; Crediton; Glastonbury; Doulting | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/mary-and-michael-pilgrims-way/ |
| The Celtic Way (SW Section) | Tourquay | Bridport | Glastonbury; Sherborne; | https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/the-celtic-way/ |