Star of India

[rpcrowe]

The Star of India is a three masted iron hulled sailing ship, built in Scotland in 1863, that has made multiple trips around the world when she was part of the active merchant fleet. She is the "star", pardon the pun, of the San Diego Maritime Museum and is the oldest ship in the world that sails at regular intervals. However, she hasn't set sail in five years and I was a bit excited to see this grand old ship under billowing canvas.

However, I was quite disappointed to see her with all sails furled being towed out of San Diego Harbor by a tug. She did not get under sail until she was to far out in the ocean to get a decent shot...

Here she is passing the San Diego Coast Guard Station...



And here she is in the channel between Point Loma and North Island...





Although I was disappointed, I have a hunch that a local television news crew was more disappointed. The Star of India was supposed to sail at ten thirty AM which would have had her passing Point Poma at about eleven AM. The news crew arrived at about 10:15 nut, the Star had left an hour early and was already at sea when the crew arrived

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[george013]

When looking at the sails of that small ship on the left, she wouldn't manage to get out of the harbour with sails. Sometime when they have a motor on board they leave the harbour motor sailing.

George

[rpcrowe]

When looking at the sails of that small ship on the left, she wouldn't manage to get out of the harbour with sails. Sometime when they have a motor on board they leave the harbour motor sailing.

George

This was shot in 2015 when the Parade of Sails entered San Diego bay. The Star of India had not put to sea that day. A sailing ship looks far better when she is under full sail than when she has her sails furled and is towed by a tug...



Obviously a better shot is from a lower position. However, I was hoping that the ship would unfurl her sails further on out of the Bay (she had done so in the past) and the only location to get the shot was from the Cabrillo National Monument which overlooks the Bay.

This was also shot much later in the day and the mist had burned of and the light was a lot better,

[Jim A]

A nice series and story, Richard. I particularly like the first image as it gives a good picture of the event.

[george013]

I've been looking if that ship has been in Amsterdam during the Sail Amsterdam. I couldn't find him. But I found that the Stad Amsterdam, a replica, is a ship like the Star of India. It has been in San Diego this year I believe. I just read it.
One has always be lucky to see those ships with full sails.

George