Sydney's tall ships in dry dock

Sydney’s two famous tall ships make an impressive sight when positioned side-by-side in the Captain Cook dry dock on Garden Island for routine maintenance and survey docking, says the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM).

HMB Endeavour, a replica of the original ship that sailed into Botany Bay and owned by ANMM, and the 19th century barque James Craig, owned by the Sydney Heritage Fleet, were out of the water in dry dock for two weeks.

"These two vessels are of exceptional maritime and historic value to Australians and the rest of the world; living links to our past which are meticulously maintained and preserved for future generations," says Endeavour’s Captain, John Dikkenberg.

"Both vessels are usually open for daily public visitation in Darling Harbour, but are also fully operational sailing ships, regularly voyaging out at sea. As such, they require ongoing servicing and maintenance," says Dikkenberg.

Endeavour is the most accurate replica of a tall ship, and last underwent a major refit in 2010 after her two round-the-world voyages. More recently, the ship followed Captain Cook’s 1770 voyage, tracking the transit of Venus through the Pacific.

James Craig is an 1874 original, fully restored by volunteers during a 28-year project that was funded by $30 million in donations and completed in 2001. James Craig makes regular voyages from Sydney to Hobart and Melbourne.

"These two ships represent over 100 years of sailing technology, and when side-by-side the advances in sailing methods and design are clearly evident, with James Craig featuring a more modern and faster hull," says Dikkenberg.

Dry docking Endeavour and James Craig allows for close inspection of the condition of their undersides and the removal of a build-up of marine growth and paint below the waterline. The hulls will be repainted, the sail yards restored and revarnished, and the sea valves will be removed for pressure testing.

"As seagoing ships, these two historically important vessels need to be safe and robust. Maintaining them to this standard means these beautiful sailing ships will remain available for the public to enjoy for many years to come," concludes Dikkenberg.