James Craig's Importance to Australia

James Craig sails once again.

There are only four operational barques from the 19th Century still capable of sailing - the Star of India in San Diego, California, (1863), Elissa in Galveston, Texas, (1877), Belem in France (1896) and James Craig in Sydney (1874). Of these, James Craig is the only one in the Southern Hemisphere, and is the only one in the world which regularly carries members of the general public to sea. Though her days of sailing around Cape Horn are probably over, she has 23 roundings to her credit.

She is a true restoration, not a replica. Other Australian tall ships are either replicas such as Bounty and Bark Endeavour, ships built this century such as Our Svanen and One and All, static museum exhibits such as Polly Woodside in Melbourne, or abandoned unsavageable wrecks, such as Santiago in Adelaide.

James Craig is a representative of the great sailing vessels from a bygone age, the ships which moved produce from the emerging colonies and brought manufactured goods to our shores. She is a tangible link between modern Australia and the days of sail during which this country developed into nationhood.

Australia is one of the very few nations to have the good fortune to have a vessel from a bygone age sailing in our waters, and for this we are the envy of maritime nations around the globe. The James Craig is hailed as a model of all that is expected of a sensitive, authentic conservation, a symbol of what can be done to preserve our heritage.

In 2003 she was awarded the World Ships Trust Medal for authentic restoration. She joins a select band of restored ships throughout the world, including the Mary Rose(UK 1510), Vasa (Sweden 1627), USS Constitution (USA 1797), Great Britain (UK 1843) and Cutty Sark (UK 1869), which have received this honour.

James Craig is owned by the Sydney Heritage Fleet, a community based, non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of Australia's maritime heritage. It operates what is thought to be the largest fleet of operational heritage ships and boats anywhere in the world.

James Craig is proudly supported by

Last modified on Saturday, 17-Mar-2012 09:38:06 EST