Ahoy me hearties

Saturday, 05 February 2011 15:52

Take a step back in time and appreciate Victoria's Shipwreck Coast when the caravel Notorious is launched today in Port Fairy.

The full-size sailing ship, a 15th Century caravel recreation from the Age of Discovery, will be launched tomorrow at Port Fairy's Martins Point.

Known as Raven during her construction, the caravel was designed and created by amateur boatbuilder and enthusasst Graeme Wylie at his nearly Bushfield property.

The timber used is reclaimed Monterey cypress, (Cupressus macrocarpa), collected locally from garden parks, homesteads and farms.

The keel, laid in April 2002, is ironbark salvaged from the Viaduct Road at the Warrnambool breakwater. Graeme completed the sawn frames, (ribs) at the end of 2003.

In October 2008 the ship was opened to the public at the construction site, with the planking still to be completed.

Notorious will begin her journey to the sea early Sunday, 6th February 2011, on the back of a truck. She will be launched the next day and has been deconstructed for her journey, with her quarter deck and masts to be replaced and restepped this coming Wednesday.

The caravel will be berthed at Martins Point, Port Fairy until sea-trials in the summer of 2011.