The Deliverance replica can be saved — but only if the interior of the ship is closed to the public, say preservationists.

With Bermuda's 400th anniversary celebrations on the horizon, the future of the replica 17th century ship is looking bleak unless a benefactor can be found.

Despite efforts by the St. George's Foundation, Corporation of St. George's, and Government towards establishing a partnership with a business or non-profit organisation, the estimated $1-million renovation costs have deterred potential new owners.

That could change, however, if the costs came down — something which officials are now exploring, according to St. George's Foundation chairman Henry Hayward. He told The Royal Gazette that if enough carpentry volunteers can be found, the renovation costs could fall by up to 75 percent.

"We are talking about whether the Deliverance can be restored to the point of the exterior looking in good shape with new rigging, but not opening up the inside to the public," said Mr. Hayward. "We are currently exploring this possibility, which would prove much less expensive and less of an overhead in terms of annual maintenance.

"It has been said that it will cost up to $1 million to have the ship completely restored, but it is no more than a wooden building and so it could be fixed up to look presentable. "I could see the costs coming to maybe a quarter of that, to $200,000."

Mr. Hayward said: "We have people with ideas about how it could be refurbished, and are hoping carpenters will volunteer their time. We are looking for people who are good at woodwork, and may also approach the Government apprentice workshops for carpenters.

"There could be possibilities there, but if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please contact me."

Since the ship's owner Nick Duffy moved to France a few years ago, the Deliverance has fallen into neglect and disrepair, with officials threatening to demolish it unless a new owner can be found. Mr. Duffy, who once ran the ship as a popular tourist attraction, is willing to hand it over free of charge but any benefactor would have to pay for the renovation costs plus annual maintenance and a lease to the Corporation of St. George's.

The 54-foot long replica of the 17th century Deliverance is constructed from wood but has concrete foundations. The square-rigged model ship was built 40 years ago by the Bermuda Junior Service League in tribute to the vessel which accompanied the Patience to Jamestown, Virginia, in the New World in 1610.

The Deliverance not only commemorates the first settlers to Bermuda but has also hosted cocktail parties, concerts, art exhibitions and weddings from its location at Ordnance Island.

Mr. Hayward said: "It is a very important historical monument but also, when it was built it was part of the community and an important tourist attraction for St. George's. When the cruise ships come in the passengers all come off and take pictures in front of it. Immediately they get a history lesson into St. George's and Bermuda, and how this ship was also important to the US, with the settlement of Jamestown.

"The Deliverance is part of the St. George's landscape."

Some of the women behind the original creation of the replica ship also spoke out yesterday about their concerns that the Deliverance could be demolished.

Hope Bowker, President of the Bermuda Junior Service League at the time, listed Diana Deal, Ann Brown (now Mrs. Warren Brown), Nancy Valentine, Audrey Smith, Nola Haycock and Joyce Watlington as among the members who helped to raise the funds to build it.

She said: "A group of girls came up with the idea for the Deliverance. Everyone didn't think we were going to make it so we were very proud of what we accomplished.

"Now we are in our 70s but the project was so important at the time. We went through a lot and we feel that this ship really means a lot to Bermuda."

Mrs. Bowker, a retired real estate owner from Paget, said: "What upsets us so much is that this is the Year of Heritage. We must come up with something to save it."

Nancy Valentine, also known as Hutchings, said: "I was very involved in the early stages. We started this as a project after we made some money from the Junior League Follies (fundraising at City Hall) in the mid-1960s.

"At that time there was no museum or anything to celebrate Bermuda's maritime heritage on the Island. We conceived this idea with P.M. Wright, who made models of the Deliverance. We also got a lot of help from Cyril Smith, who worked on the plans, and R.C. Anderson, who did the rigging for us. By the time we had finished the project around 1970 we had received a lot of free help."

Mrs. Valentine, a decorative artist from Warwick, said: "We felt the project was of historical importance to Bermuda and so were ecstatic to complete it.

"Now I would like to see the Sea Cadets or young people involved in the Bermuda Sloop Foundation to take this on as a summer project, to work on it as volunteers. I feel very sad that we have just been through Heritage Day and now part of our heritage may be torn down."

Another Bermuda Junior Service League member of those days was Annelies Scheland, who took part in the fundraising musicals of 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Jamestown', 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and 'The Boyfriend'. Mrs. Scheland was also one of the original tour guides, dressing in colonial costumes to tell the story of the Deliverance to visitors.

Mrs. Scheland, of Smith's, said: "I would feel very sad if the ship had to be taken down as I feel part of it. I would like to see the Government give some money towards it, particularly as Government is spending a lot of money on other things and yet this is part of Bermuda's history.

"We were very proud when the Deliverance opened — it was a nice accomplishment, and so I feel it would be a real shame for it to be torn down."

Anyone interested in helping to save the Deliverance should contact Mr. Hayward on 337 4567.