James Craig (barque) facts for kids
James Craig in Geelong in 2006
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name |
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| Owner |
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| Builder | Bartram, Haswell & Co, Sunderland, England |
| Cost | £11,375 |
| Yard number | 75 |
| Launched | 18 February 1874 |
| Maiden voyage | England to Peru |
| In service | April,1874 |
| Renamed | James Craig, 1905 |
| Reclassified |
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| Reinstated | February 2001 |
| Homeport |
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| Identification |
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| Status | Museum ship since 1972 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Iron-hulled barque |
| Tonnage | 671 gross tons |
| Length |
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| Beam | 31.3 ft (9.5 m) |
| Height | 108.2 ft (33.0 m) at mainmast |
| Draught | 12.3 ft (3.7 m) |
| Depth of hold | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Sail plan | Barque rig, 21 sails |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Capacity | 1,100 tons |
| Complement | 16 |
James Craig is a three-masted, iron-hulled barque (a type of sailing ship). It has been carefully restored and is now sailed by the Sydney Heritage Fleet in Sydney, Australia.
Contents
The Ship's Early Life
James Craig was built in 1874 in Sunderland, England. The company Bartram, Haswell, & Co. built her. Her first name was Clan Macleod. She was designed to be a "workhorse" ship. This meant she was built to carry all sorts of cargo cheaply. She transported things like coal, salt, grain, and cotton goods all over the world.
Voyages Around the World
This amazing ship traveled a lot! She sailed around Cape Horn (the very southern tip of South America) 23 times. This happened in just 26 years, up until 1900. In 1900, a man named Mr. J. J. Craig bought her. In 1905, he renamed her James Craig. She then started sailing between ports in New Zealand and Australia. She made 35 trips across the Tasman Sea (between Australia and New Zealand) until 1911.
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From Sailing Ship to Storage Hulk
In the early 1900s, steamships became much more popular. They were faster and more reliable than sailing ships. Because of this, many sailing ships like James Craig were no longer needed for trade. In 1911, she was turned into a "storage hulk" in Port Moresby. A hulk is a ship that is no longer used for sailing but serves as a floating storage unit.
However, during the First World War, there was a big shortage of ships. So, in 1918, James Craig was given new masts and sails. She was fixed up to carry goods again in the Pacific Ocean. But this return to sailing was short-lived. Steamships soon took over again. By 1925, she was put away (laid up) and used as a hulk once more. Eventually, she was left behind at Recherche Bay in Tasmania. To stop her from floating away and causing danger to other ships, a large hole was made in her back (stern).
Bringing James Craig Back to Life
The idea to save James Craig came partly from Karl Kortum. He was the director of the San Francisco Maritime Museum. He had also encouraged Australians to save another ship, the Polly Woodside, in Melbourne.
The Restoration Journey
The work to restore James Craig began in 1972. Volunteers from the Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum (now the Sydney Heritage Fleet) started the huge task. They refloated the ship and towed her to Hobart for the first repairs. In 1981, she was towed back to Sydney. Her hull was placed on a special floating platform. This allowed workers to fix the bottom part of the ship.
Over the next 25 years, the ship was slowly brought back to her former glory. Most of her hull (the main body of the ship) had to be replaced. Both paid experts and many dedicated volunteers worked on the repairs. The ship was put back in the water in 1997. The restoration work was fully finished in 2001.
James Craig Today
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Today, James Craig is docked at Wharf 7 in Darling Harbour, near the Australian National Maritime Museum. You can visit her and even go for a sail! She takes passengers out on Sydney Harbour and sometimes even further out to sea.
Volunteers and Maintenance
The ship is sailed by amazing volunteers from the Sydney Heritage Fleet. Keeping her in good shape costs over $1 million each year. The ship earns money from visitors, special events, and regular day trips with up to 80 passengers.
James Craig has made many special trips back to Hobart (in 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2023). These trips often happen during the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, which is one of the biggest in the world. She has also visited Port Philip (Melbourne and Williamstown) in 2006, 2008, and 2020. In October 2013, James Craig took part in the International Fleet Review in Sydney, Australia. This was a big event with many ships from different countries.
Why James Craig is Special
James Craig is very important historically. She is one of only four 19th-century barques in the world that still sail regularly. In 2003, the World Ship Trust gave James Craig a Maritime Heritage Award. This award was for her amazing and accurate restoration.
A Link to the Past
This ship is a living link to a time when huge sailing ships carried most of the world's goods. Thousands of similar ships sailed the oceans in the 1800s and early 1900s. They connected countries all over the globe. James Craig is sailed in the same traditional way as ships from the 19th century, mostly by volunteers. She has 140 ropes (running rigging) that are tied to special pins. In February 2006, she reached a speed of 11.3 knots on a trip back from Melbourne.
Engineering Heritage Award
James Craig also received an Engineering Heritage National Marker from Engineers Australia. This award is part of their program to recognize important engineering achievements.
Images for kids
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James Craig during restoration at Darling Harbour in the 1980s
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Sydney Maritime Museum + James Craig under restoration, 1990
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The stern (back) of James Craig
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The quarterdeck of James Craig
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Amidships (middle part) of James Craig
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The foredeck (front part) of James Craig
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James Craig leaving Forgacs Dockyard in 2007
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Line art of James Craig
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