It's "steady as she goes" for Sea Trek 2001 as plans come together for the two-month event that will trace the route of 19th Century Latter-day Saint emigration from Europe, according to voyage organizers.
A convoy of 10 tall sailing ships carrying registered participants will set sail from Esbjerg, Denmark, on Aug. 7, 2001, and will finally dock in New York on Oct. 4, 2001. The voyage includes stops at ports in Copenhagen, Denmark; Gteborg, Sweden; Oslo Norway; Hamburg, Germany; and in Hull, Liverpool and Portsmouth, England. After sailing to the Canary Islands, crossing the Atlantic to the Bahamas, they will sail to New York City.
Because of the nature and purpose of the event, comparison is inevitable with the Pioneer Sesquicentennial wagon trek along the Mormon Trail from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City in 1996-97. That re-enactment garnered enormous news media attention worldwide.
"I think, when all is said and done, this could be as big, if not bigger, than the sesquicentennial trek in terms of the impact on the Church internationally," said William K. Sadleir, chairman of the non-profit Sea Trek Foundation.
Part of its visibility will be the various "Rock the Dock" celebrations planned at the major ports of call. The free events will include maritime exhibits on Mormon migration, online ancestral research demonstrations, history forum and and workshops, tours of the tall ships (which replicate those of the 1850s), live entertainment and fireworks displays. At voyage end, the celebrations will culminate at New York's famed Madison Square Garden.
A musical score and concert, "Saints on the Seas," is being written about the Latter-day Saint experience on the high seas for performance at the seaport celebrations. Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, well-known as directors of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, are working with Kurt Bestor, Cori Connors and others on the music, which will premiere as part of the Temple Square Concert Series before it goes on the road, or on the seas, for performance at each port of call.
And a six-member performing group selected from LDS youth who auditioned for it has been organized by Mark Robinette, Sea Trek entertainment director, to perform at the port cities.
"We've met with the lord mayors and other community leaders from these major cities," Brother Sadleir said. They have been enthused with the venture, he added. "They love the tall ships. Add to that the historical context, which they find compelling, and a dash of Olympics fervor, and it's a great story."
The Olympics reference pertains to the 2002 Winter Games which are planned for Salt Lake City. As a consequence of that, world attention will be focused on the Church and its history, and Sea Trek is a way to tell part of that story, he explained.
"We're working on getting major participation from all these community leaders, and we already have wonderful momentum," he said.
For example, it is expected that up to 2 million people may attend the celebration in Gteborg, Sweden, based on the fact that the docking of the Sea Trek ships there coincides with an annual celebration in the city.
Similarly, in Portsmouth, England, half a million people are expected for the Royal Navy's International Festival of the Seas, at which Sea Trek will be one of the main attractions, Brother Sadleir said.
And on Aug. 23, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will perform "Saints on the Seas," in a concert at the Anglican Cathedral in that city.
Already, Sea Trek has gained attention in Europe as well as the United States. In Norway, Sea Trek officials recently were featured on an interview over national television.
"We are highly regarded by maritime and civic leaders in Norway," Brother Sadleir said, "because through money that we are contributing to charter these historic Norwegian vessels, they are able to renovate these ships in a manner that makes them capable of crossing the Atlantic in any weather condition. These national-pride ships haven't been to the United States since 1963."
In Oslo, Liverpool, New York and possibly in other cities, a lifesize sculpture of an emigrant family will be presented as a lasting memorial to LDS emigration and memento of the Sea Trek voyage.
"In the process of paying tribute to our cultural heritage, we want to make sure we're honoring those who are building Zion in their own countries," Brother Sadleir said. "We want to convey the message that we're coming back to these communities and thanking them for cradling our ancestors. And that we are indeed a worldwide, Christ-centered religion."
So far, some 550 people have signed up for various legs of the journey. Of that number about 80 percent are Americans. Officials hope to see an increase in the registration of Europeans following announcements of Sea Trek in wards throughout Europe next week.
There is still space available on several segments of the voyage, particularly for those interested in the entire crossing. Participants can sail for one day, several days or the entire voyage.
"This is a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the challenges, exhilaration and scenery experienced by our immigrant ancestors," said Brother Sadleir.
Registration can be accomplished through the Internet site, www.seatrek2001.com
