In celebration of Benjamin Britten’s centenary year in 2013, I will lead a world-class line up of musicians, poets and composers on a unique voyage to the Orkney Islands aboard my classic sailing yacht Concord.

This challenging voyage will start from the River Alde alongside the famed Snape Maltings concert hall. Taking with us the inspiration of Britten’s music, we will capture a unique picture of the sea and create new music to be performed along the East Coast of Britain during 2013. Along the way we will sail in to selected ports with strong musical associations, engaging the community, orchestras and composers in the unfolding story of our journey.

Read more about Concord and the voyage in this article from Classic Boat Magazine, released just after the 2010 London Boat Show where Concord won the coveted Restoration of the Year award.

Where is Concord now?

In May last year we sailed from Fowey in Cornwall where Concord has been restored over the past two years. Renowned folk musician Lester Simpson piped us out of the harbour at sunrise as we left to catch our tide round Start Point. The skirl of his pipes echoed back from the rocks as we moved out to sea and headed East for the shallow waters and fearsome tides of the Thames Estuary. Concord is now based in Suffolk, where she was built in 1937.

Opportunities and Benefits

The unique nature of this project offers potential sponsors and grant fund organisations varied and effective communication opportunities ranging from the purely local level (eg. at workshops or outreach performances) to truly national – indeed international – coverage, through print and electronic media in distinct targeted regions: England, Eire, Wales and Scotland.  To be associated with this project by being “aboard” for the entirety of the voyage will maximise exposure potential across a large and diverse cultural audience in four countries.