PORTSMOUTH, England — Sea Trek 2001 has cost more than $4 million, and the private venture is still $250,000 short of the money needed, according to its founder.
William Sadleir, Sea Trek founder and chairman of Sea Trek Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization formed to sponsor and manage Sea Trek 2001's international maritime celebrations, said the foundation still seeks sponsors to cover the voyage's costs.
The private venture is retracing the 19th-century overseas migration of converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many of the 1,400 Sea Trek participants have purchased passage for just a few stops on the European leg of the journey, but some will travel all the way to New York, where the two-month voyage is to end Oct. 4.
Some of the tall ships reached Portsmouth, England, today.
"A lot of people think that the need for sponsorship is over," Sadleir said. "The fact is that we are still $250,000 short of the money needed. Essentially, the cost thus far has been borne by donations from three families — the Sadleir, Huber and Sonne families."
The money has been required to provide family history facilities, technical services, transportation of equipment and personnel, the "Saints on the Seas" Oratorio and the music for the several Sea Trek "Rock the Dock" activities, as well as the firework displays concluding events at each port.
The fireworks alone have cost $40,000 for each show.
"The cost of one event like that would have been $80,000," Sadleir said. Sea Trek has been able to negotiate a better deal because of the number of similar firework shows mounted at each location.
Sponsors can contribute to Sea Trek through the purchase of a cast bronze statue, a quarter-size replica of the 8-foot statues presented to the ports of Hull, Liverpool and Portsmouth. (A full-size statue has been promised to Greenock, Scotland, when it completes construction of a family history museum and visitors center.)
The specially commissioned statue, depicting an emigrant family group, was designed by Utah artist Mark DeGraffenreid and sculpted by Utahn Neil Haddlock.
Fifty of the quarter-size statues are available at a cost of $15,000 each. The sponsor's name will be permanently displayed on a plaque.
For information, contact Sea Trek 2001, 3594 N. University Ave., Suite 250, Provo, UT 84604, (801) 932-7990. More information about Sea Trek 2001 can be found on the Web at www.seatrek2001.com.
David M.W. Pickup is a barrister from Burnley, Lancashire, England, sailing on Sea Trek from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Portsmouth, England.