Leeuwin's bells to ring for the 2025 Port to Pub

16 January 2025

Leeuwin’s bells to ring for the 2025 Port to Pub

In a moment which will bring two WA icons together, the ship’s bells from the STS Leeuwin II will ring out on March 15 to herald the start and end of the Port to Pub.

It will be the first time the bells of the tall ship have rung since the Leeuwin was severely damaged when it was struck by a container ship in Fremantle harbour in August last year. The ship masts, spars and rigging were destroyed and have been removed while plans are developed to have the famous vessel sail again.

Port to Pub Co-Founder and Managing Director Ceinwen Roberts said it was an honour to be associated with the WA icon, which was launched in 1985 and has provided life-changing experiences for generations of young Western Australians.

“I was fortunate to sail to the Abrolhos Islands on the Leeuwin when I was 16, and it was an amazing adventure that taught me about overcoming adversity, tackling challenges head-on and the importance of teamwork,” Ceinwen said.

“That’s the same spirit that has become part of the Port to Pub, with competitors and their support crews working together in the name of a shared goal.”

Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation CEO Lawson Dixon said it was a wonderful opportunity to link the two organisations through a passion for the ocean.

“There’s something very special about the Leeuwin and its ability to bring people together to work as a team to overcome whatever the ocean throws at them,” Lawson said.

“The Leeuwin has had a positive impact on the 45,000 people who have sailed on her over the past 40 years.

“After the incident in August, our volunteers, crew and staff have banded together and we are thrilled that the Port to Pub event will mean that the bells of our famous ship will ring out again and inspire those taking on the challenge of swimming to Rottnest.”

There were two bells on board the Leeuwin. The smaller one will be used at the start line and the bigger one will be installed at the finish line on Rottnest Island.

Soloists who complete the 25km event – the longest open water swim in the Southern Hemisphere – will be invited to ring the bell loud and proud, marking the end of their amazing achievement. The peals of the bell will ring out around the Thomson Bay and signal to spectators, supporters and competitors that another challenge has been taken on and completed.

“For the 25km soloists, ringing the bell will mark the end of a massive achievement and a challenge that many have trained for years for,” Ceinwen said.

“For the teams, including so many first-time swimmers, taking off from Leighton Beach to the sound of the Leeuwin bell will be an amazing experience.

“We know that the sound of the bell ringing on the beach can be heard out to sea, so we know that the support crews waiting out on the water will know when each wave of swimmers is starting. It’s going to be a magic moment for so many of them.”

Read more about the Leeuwin and sign up for updates: https://sailleeuwin.com/

by Ben Martin