The barque James Craig in town

[skuthorp]

The barque James Craig is in Melbourne for 2 weeks or so
http://www.shf.org.au/JCHistory/JCstory1.html
http://www.sailaustralia.com.au/James%20Craig.htm
sailing trips are available, she made 11.5 Kts under limited canvas on the trip from Sydney I heard. I may take the mac for a good look round but I imagine I'll be dodging every power boat in the state too.
(If some likes to post a pic I'd be grateful, I can't from here)

[seanz]

JAMES CRAIG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Craig_(barque (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Craig_%28barque))


http://www.sailaustralia.com.au/James%20Craig_files/image002.jpg





http://www.australianheritagefleet.com.au/JCraig/JCRech.jpg
http://www.sailaustralia.com.au/images/JamesCraig1911.jpg




http://www.sailaustralia.com.au/images/JamesCraig.jpg http://www.sailaustralia.com.au/images/JamesCraig2sail.jpeg

http://www.sailaustralia.com.au/images/JamesCraigDk.jpeg

[MarkC]

It is well worth a look - the interior wasn't finished when I looked at it in 2000 - probably well finished and sorted out by now. Awesome looking from the dock - really svelte (I mean for speed, lean) - not mega big, not too huge like some of the sail-traing-ships but looks the buisiness. Shows what can be done.

[PeterSibley]

A real one !

Imagine seeing a port full of masts like that , not bloody ugly container carting machines ..:(

[TimH]

A real one !

Imagine seeing a port full of masts like that , not bloody ugly container carting machines ..:(

Some of us were born 100 years too late...

[Chris.]

A couple of Father's Days ago I was given a day-sail outing on the James Craig - unfortunately there was a major shortage of wind and despite the crew setting very large numbers of sails, we got nowhere near 11.5 knots! But an excellent outing regardless - if you want to join in the crew, you can. Except going aloft of course - OH&S and insurance rules that out. They had an open-ship policy and most areas were open to random ramblers. Other areas were open with crew with you (ie engine room).
Re-entering the Harbour was an eye-opener. Being a Sunday, it wasn't quite as manic as Saturday can be, but even so the Master was clearly having a tough time manouvring a not very manouverable vessel. Too many gawkers getting too close and just a lot of traffic.
Hats off to the sailors who worked these ships before the advent of engines to assist.

CM

[PeterSibley]

Some of us were born 100 years too late...
My Dad told me of seeing wall to wall masts at Outer Harbour in SA ,must have been the early 1920's ,he may even have seen the James Craig . .All there for the grain trade .Even I can remember the still sailing grain ketchs in the 60's ,lovely things and more so because they had a reason to be there....trade not nostalgia .