The Lady Nelson

What a wonderful way to spend an hour and a half in Hobart, sailing up the Derwent River on a full size replica of the original Deptford Built Brig square rig ship The Lady Nelson. Our cruise started at 1:30pm on Sunday and we motored towards the mouth of the Derwent from the picturesque Hobart waterfront, then once there, the crew hoisted the sails and we turned back towards Hobart to sail home.

The Lady Nelson is a training ship with an all-volunteer crew and the AUD10 cost of the sail goes towards keeping the ship in tiptop shape. There are pirate sails for the kids and all sorts of longer voyages from a few hours to a few weeks for anyone willing to join the crew. Even on our $10 sail, the crew invited us to join them to help set the sails or take a turn at the helm if we wanted, or just sit back and enjoy the feel of a traditional sailing ship at sea.

Most Saturdays and Sundays, the Lady Nelson sails at 11:30 am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm depending on the weather. There are many other types of sails all through the year and it’s best to check the timetable to find out what sails will be on when you want to visit.

If you come to Hobart and have ever wanted to sail on a traditional square-rigged ship, then Lady Nelson could be just the thing for you.

Some Specs for you:

Original Vessel

Built: England 1798-99

Tonnage: 61 Tons

Length: 52’ 6” (16.15m)

Beam: 17’ 6” (5.38m)

Armament: 6 guns (carrondade)

First Captain: Samuel Johns

Crew: 12

Replica

Built: Tasmania 1987-88

Keel and frame: Tasmanian Blue Gum

Planks and deck: Celery Top Pine

Length: 16.7m

Beam: 5.4m

Draft: 2.8m

Keel: 12 tons lead

Engine: Gardiner 118 HP

Displacement: 60 tons

Crew: 6-10

Passengers: up to 34 Day sail, 10 overnight

... and a little of the history:

The original Lady Nelson

1798: The original vessel was built on the River Thames at Deptford and launched on November 3rd 1798; built with 3 sliding keels to facilitate survey work in the colony of New South Wales.

1800: On March 18 Lady Nelson sailed from Portsmouth, under the command of Lieutenant James Grant with a crew of twelve, arriving at St Jago, Cape Verde Islands on 13th April. Leaving Cape Verde Islands on 27th. April, the Lady Nelson arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on July 8th. and departed on October 7th. On December 3rd land-fall was made near Mount Gambier and the Lady Nelson arrived at Port Jackson on December l6th, completing her maiden voyage in ten months.

1803: The Lady Nelson, accompanied by the whaler Albion, sailed to the Derwent River to establish the first European settlement in Tasmania.

1804: The Lady Nelson involved in establishing settlements at Hobart Town and on the Tamar River.

The Replica

1983: The Tasmanian Sail Association Ltd. announced their wish to build a replica of the original vessel.

1986: First cut made in the 50 ton log for the keel by the late Sir James Plimsoll, then Governor.

1988: The Lady Nelson launched.