Alexandria (schooner) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Launched | 1929 |
| Fate | Foundered and sank, 9 December 1996 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Three-masted topsail schooner |
| Length | 125 ft (38 m) (sparred) |
| Beam | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| Height | 85 ft (26 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) |
Alexandria was a large sailing ship known as a schooner. She had three masts and was built in Sweden in 1929. Her first name was Yngve. She also had a small 58-horsepower engine to help her move.
Contents
A Ship's Journey
The Alexandria had an interesting life with several changes and adventures.
Early Years and New Names
Around 1937, her sails and ropes were changed to a different style called a ketch. In 1939, she was sold and given a new name, Lindö. For many years, she worked as a coastal trading ship in the Baltic Sea.
Across the Atlantic
In 1975, the Lindö made a big trip across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City. In 1976, she was rebuilt. Her sails were changed back to her original three-masted topsail schooner style.
She then took part in a famous event called Operation Sail in July 1976. This was a gathering of many large sailing ships. She also participated in a similar event in Boston in 1980.
Becoming Alexandria
In 1984, a group called the Alexandria Seaport Foundation bought the ship. This group is a non-profit organization in Alexandria, Virginia. They renamed the ship Alexandria.
The foundation used her as a floating museum in Alexandria. She also sailed as a special ambassador for the city. She joined in many races and tall ship gatherings. She sailed as far north as Boston and as far south as the Gulf of Mexico.
How She Sailed
During this time, the Alexandria had a bowsprit (a pole sticking out from the front). She had three masts: a foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast. All three masts had topmasts and gaffs for her gaff sails. The fore topmast also had three yards for her topsails.
Her sails included four headsails at the front. She had three gaff sails and three gaff topsails, one on each mast. There were also upper and lower square topsails on the foremast. Two staysails were placed between the masts.
Movie Star Ship
The ship was featured in the 1980 movie "The Island." In the film, she was still called the Lindö. She played a big role in a scene where pirates captured her. The Lindö was easy to spot because of her bright red sails. You can find more about the movie on IMDB.
In 1993, the Alexandria was used in New Orleans for the movie Interview with the Vampire. She stayed in New Orleans for the winter. The next spring, she sailed back to Alexandria.
The Final Voyage
In early 1996, an inspection showed that the ship was not safe to sail. She needed a lot of expensive repairs. The Alexandria Seaport Foundation could not afford these repairs.
In the fall of 1996, the ship was sold to a new owner. This owner decided to sail the ship even though there were warnings about bad weather in the Atlantic. On December 9, 1996, the Alexandria began taking on water all night. Around 6:30 AM, she sank off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
The Coast Guard rescued all seven crew members. Five were rescued right away. The other two were saved after being in the water for six and a half hours.
