Photo: Ted Walton/Maritime Museum of San Diego
This weekend, the Maritime Museum of San Diego is celebrating the 155th birthday of the Star of India by taking her for a sail. The museums other ships Californian, San Salvador, and America are sailing along with with the Star of India.
It has been five years since the grand old iron ship, built in 1863 as the Euterpe, was last fully underway under sail. The Star of India is the oldest ship still sailing regularly and also the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still floating. The ship circumnavigated the globe 21 times.
A video of the Star of India tacking and wearing from 2011.
And all without an engine other than the wind bloody wonderful
As I wrote earlier:
“All without and engine other than the wind bloody wonderful”
There is hope for Falls of Clyde yet let us not give up on her
Star of India has an engine for harbor use. She had an engine when I visited in 1976. Something about state law of California or Coast Guard requirements.
They take her out for the tourists. Otherwise she sits at a wharf with several other craft getting daily tours. Its like old Ironsides on the pacific coast.
A very succinct and easy sailing lesson.
Happy birthday.