- Tradewind (schooner)
The Tradewind is a Dutch topsail
schooner . She was built in theNetherlands in 1911 as a herringlugger named "Sophie Theresia".In 1952, she was refitted for use as a coastal merchantman and an engine was added. She was renamed "Aaltje en Willem". In the 1970s, when it was no longer economical to run her as a commercial vessel, she was converted to a house-boat, then later to a charter boat.
In 1986, the ship was sold and renamed the "Tradewind". She was restored as a topsail schooner. In 1987-88, she sailed from
England toAustralia as part of the First Fleet Re-enactment for Australia's bicentennial celebrations.The "Tradewind" remained in the South Pacific during the late 1980s and early 1990s, based in
New Zealand . She was used for charter cruises to the Sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand, and aroundFiji . During this period, she appeared in the romance adventure film "Return to the Blue Lagoon ".Returning from one of the voyages to the Sub-Antarctic Islands the "Tradewind" ran into a storm south of New Zealand and was struck by a
rogue wave . [Conversation with the then captain of the "Tradewind", Mark Hammond, Dec 1991.] The radar, situated 14 metres above thewaterline , was carried away and the charthouse was flooded. The ship was knocked down, with the mastheads in the water, but righted itself. Only one crew member, thehelmsman , was on deck at the time the wave struck. He saved himself from being washed overboard by thrusting his arms through the spokes of the wheel, although he was injured.In late 1991, the "Tradewind" left New Zealand to sail around
Cape Horn to join thetall ship fleet sailing fromEurope to America in commemoration of the 500th anniversary ofChristopher Columbus 's arrival in the Americas. During the voyage to join the tall ship fleet, she visited theAntarctic Peninsula and theFalkland Islands .After the Columbus celebrations in 1992, the "Tradewind" returned to England where she was sold to a Finnish owner. She was used for charter cruises around the
Baltic Sea and theNorth Sea .In 1998, the "Tradewind" was sold to a Dutch owner and renamed "Sodade". She was refitted and used for charter cruises in the Cape Verde Islands. By 2003, the condition of the ship had deteriorated and she was laid up in the island of Sal. In late 2003, she was taken over by another Dutch owner to save her from a horrible fate on the Cape Verde Islands. She was sail to and refitted in the
Canary Islands . After this refit, she was renamed the "Tradewind" again. In early 2004, the ship made an atlantic crossing to the carrabian, azores, baltic and eventually back to the NetherlandsIn 2006 under the care of "Stichting Loggerbehoud Nederland" a complete refit started again. She is currently being rebuilt under BV class for world wide service. This project should be finished around sept. 2008.
References
ources
* [http://www.schoonerman.com/trade.htm Schoonerman Tradewind page]
* [http://www.zeilschiptradewind.com Tradewind website]
*cite book|last=Schauffelen|first=Otmar|title=Chapman Great Sailing Ships of the World|publisher=Hearst Books|year=2005|pages=p 242|isbn=1588163849|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=QgMRudqoLGQC&pg=PA242&lpg=PA242&dq=schooner+tradewind+%22home+port%22&source=web&ots=9RyzTOBO8f&sig=uRikCjU8za3LDNXY9Jsst-pf01I&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|accessdate=2008-10-07
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