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| James Craig |
The James Craig is a
three-masted, iron-hulled barque restored and sailed by the Sydney
Heritage Fleet. Built in 1874 in Sunderland, England, by Bartram,
Haswell, & Co., she was originally named the Clan Macleod.
She was employed carrying cargo around the world, and rounded Cape
Horn 23 times in 26 years. In 1900 she was acquired by Mr J J Craig,
renamed the James Craig in 1905, and began to operate between
New Zealand and Australia until 1911.
Unable to compete profitably with freight cargo, in later
years the James Craig was used as a collier. Like many other sailing
ships of her vintage, she fell victim to the advance of steamships,
and was first laid up, then used as a hulk, until eventually being
abandoned at Recherche Bay in Tasmania. In 1932 she was sunk by
fishermen who blasted a 3-metre hole in her stern. Restoration
of the James Craig began in 1972, when volunteers from the
'Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum' (now the Sydney
Heritage Fleet) refloated her and towed her to Hobart for initial
repairs. Brought to Sydney in 1981, her hull was repaired and
relaunched in 1997. In 2001 restoration work was completed and she
was able to set sail. The James Craig is currently
berthed at Wharf 7 of Darling Harbour, near the Australian Maritime
Museum. She is open to the public, and takes passengers out for
cruises on Sydney Harbour and beyond. She is crewed and maintained
by volunteers from the Sydney Heritage Fleet. |
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