Schooner Derwent Hunter

12/06/2024

More needed for the book Pacific Lady... When she was painted black, whilst we know about the "gun running" to East Timor... some say it was a sly run, others say it was a Government Contract... what say Ye? Something we didn't know about was her working Pearl's in Broome in the 1970's? Anyone have any information on that one?

31/01/2024

https://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/charter-yachts/wilson-bros-topsail-schooner/304159

Wilson Bros Topsail Schooner. Are you looking for the ultimate sea change in the beautiful Whitsundays? An exiting opportunity exists to enter the marine...Find out more

12/01/2024

Happy 2024 and the Schooner Derwent Hunter is for SALE. To all our valued supporters and followers... it is time for the Schooner Derwent Hunter to gain new custodians after 3 years of ownership by our small family. We have thoroughly enjoyed owning this ship, it's challenges and it's rewards from Cooktown, Cairns, the beautiful Whitsundays, sailing the Great Barrier Reef, seeing whale after whale in Airlie Beach, taking passengers out into the beautiful sunsets and twilights and more... who is next to take on this adventure?

02/12/2023

20/11/2023

Historic Topsail Schooner DERWENT HUNTER in the latest edition of SIGNALS Magazine and of her acceptance into the Australian Register of Historic Vessels (HV0841)

07/11/2023

Trainee Youth Deck position available on the Schooner Derwent Hunter based in Airlie Beach. Great working conditions, great trips including sunsets, cruise ships, day tours, private charters...

01/11/2023

Drink the same wine we serve on the Schooner Derwent Hunter and help save 3 historic Pearl Luggers and a Mission Ketch. Buy now and get it delivered straight to your door and know each sip is helping the restoration of historic Australian ships.
https://www.thewinepoint.com.au/shop/fundraisingwines/saltwater/

20/10/2023

A potential low may turn into a cyclone early next week (yes October) the earliest a cyclone has formed in 50 years. Affecting Vanuatu from Sunday.

The Schooner Derwent Hunter uses Predict Wind to provide forecasts for the next 10 days.

18/10/2023

Trainee Deck Crew needed

16/10/2023

A 30 second cut of video footage from the 1988 Tall Ships Race start with the Schooner Derwent Hunter alongside many famous Tall Ships from around the World... Owner was Ian McCormick. Full video in comments.

24 seconds · Clipped by Sailing Pacific Lady (Schooner Derwent Hunter) · Original video "The Tall Ships In Tasmania (1988)" by Libraries Tasmania

14/10/2023

18 : 35 THE UNANSWERED QUESTION: The sail numbers on the main sail are 18 : 35... Can anyone can tell us the origin of these numbers? Pictures are from 1988 and 2006.

11/10/2023

THE UNKNOWN OWNER 1974 - 1977

Does anyone know who this owner might have been?

Putting all the pieces together and thanks to Bern Cuthbertson's book, there was a period of 2 - 3 years when an unknown owner and his family purchased the Derwent Hunter in Darwin in about 1974 or 1975.

In Darwin, he and his family lived on board and worked ashore, according to Bern. This owner bought the ship in the water and had never seen it out of the water. In fact Bern found out that it hadn't been out of the water for 3 years until it was put up for sale in early 1977. She was on the Cairns Slipway, full of Toredo worm and getting covered in lead tingles when Bern came to inspect, gave him a hand putting the tingles on then gave in and purchased her, taking her back to Tasmania.

Picture attached is her slipping in Brisbane in early 2021.

11/10/2023

Schooner Derwent Hunter at the Cooktown Wharf

27/09/2023

Seeking more stories, information and history on the Schooner Derwent Hunter for her upcoming book The Pacific Lady. If you have stories, a history with her, old photographs etc please get in touch.

https://tallshipadventures.com.au/ship-history

13/09/2023

Last jobs left from the last slip... main and mizzen booms and gaffs... repairs, new varnish, new paint and new leathers all round. Next job is the masts...

07/09/2023

A schooner is a type of sailing vessel with fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts, the foremast being shorter than the main and no taller than the mizzen if there is one. While the schooner was originally gaff-rigged, modern schooners typically carry a Bermuda rig.

Such vessels were first used by the Dutch in the 16th or 17th century. They were further developed in North America from the early 18th century, and came into extensive use in New England.

The most common type, with two masts, were popular in trades requiring speed and windward ability, such as slaving, privateering, blockade running, and offshore fishing.

Schooners were also popular among pirates in the West Indies during the Golden Age of Piracy, for their speed and agility. They could also sail in shallow waters, and while being considerably smaller than other ships of the time period (such as frigates and galleons), they could still hold enough cannons to intimidate merchant vessels into submission.

A schooner /ˈskuːnər/ is a type of sailing vessel with fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts, the foremast being shorter than the main and no taller than t...

29/08/2023

Awesome full or part time Youth Deck Trainee position is available on board the legendary Schooner Derwent Hunter in the beautiful Whitsundays... Message to get more information.

19/08/2023

Whales at Sunset

16/08/2023

We love going slow... no motor, just the wind... we know others love going fast... For those that are in too much of a hurry to get somewhere please keep an eye out at all times for whales, turtles and dugongs, particularly in the late afternoon when they may be sleeping on the surface!

Concern for injured humpback whale and its calf spotted off Queensland coast

Boaties and fishers are being warned to stay clear of an injured humpback whale and its calf spotted off the coast of Townsville on Wednesday. Locals believe the whale may have been struck by a boat.

13/08/2023

Went out Saturday to watch the Airlie Beach Race Week racing before the winds drop off and got interrupted by whales in the middle of the course.

09/08/2023

Slip into Sunset, Sail into Twilight... join the best sunset sail in the Whitsundays on the legendary Schooner Derwent Hunter. Just awarded 20 Years Hall of Fame for Ecotourism Australia.

Sail into the sunset and slip on into twilight on the Whitsunday's best Tallship DERWENT HUNTER. Our signature sunset sail is just the thing to wind down.

09/08/2023

Tall Ship Adventures and the Schooner Derwent Hunter are one of twelve eco and nature-based tourism businesses to cement their legacy as leaders in Australia’s sustainable tourism industry by achieving 20 years of ECO Certification and entering Ecotourism Australia's prestigious Hall of Fame. Ferral Flynn