James Craig Sails Again – The Story of a Restoration

DVD
Rating E
Approx. 92 mins
RRP A$35.00 ea

In early 1972 a young Sydney-based maritime museum, in search of a tall ship, located the derelict century-old rusting iron hull of the barque James Craig aground in a remote bay southern Tasmania. Built in Sutherland, UK in 1874, James Craig had had a busy working life, shipping cargo to the four corners of the globe rounding Cape Horn 23 times. But as tramp steamers took over the commercial shipping
routes the role of the majestic tall ships came to an end. James Craig was ignominiously retired as a coal hulk and was finally beached and abandoned in Recherche Bay. Most tall ships didn’t survive, but James Craig did. For almost 30 years a small group of dedicated Volunteers battled the difficulties of re-floating
the hull, towing it to Hobart, making it seaworthy for a tow to Sydney and then carefully and authentically restoring the ship to fully operational sailing condition. Today, as a proud member of the Sydney Heritage Fleet, the magnificent James Craig sails again, a tribute to the volunteers, supporters and donors who played such a vital part in an incredible, painstaking and meticulous restoration project.

This film tells the story of that restoration. Proceeds from the sale of this DVD go to Sydney Heritage Fleet.