Departs Gem Pier, Williamstown (bookings essential)
Why not bring your favourite bottle of wine or a couple of bottles of beer to help you relax and unwind (BYO plastic cups/glasses)
Experience the joy of sailing on a traditionally built and rigged wooden sailing ship!

Highlighted reviews

4.8/5

Based on 17 reviews

Read all reviews

Debbie

almost 5 years ago

We have loved all of the adrenaline adventures that we have done

Val Dowling

almost 5 years ago

Gained some idea of what it must have been like sailing the high seas except ours was a lovely smooth ride.

What you can expect

Our vessel (named Enterprize) operates her One Hour Sails from Williamstown. A sail on Enterprize is a great outing for all age groups, from 8 to 80 years (and beyond)! Whether you're pirate-obsessed or curious about the construction, or just looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, a One Hour sail might fit the bill! If you're keen to help out, the crew are always happy to share the workload - just ask one of our friendly sailors if you can have a go - they might even take you for a climb up the rigging! *Rigging climb at Master's discretion. Must be over 16, physically capable and wearing suitable footwear.

Info

Inclusions

1 hour sailing on a tall ship
Rigging climb (subject to Master's discretion)
Join the crew and help set sail
Learn about the history of the ship

What To Bring

Dress for the weather on the day
Bring sunscreen, hat and long sleeves and bottled water
Wear flat-soled shoes, no sharp heeled shoes will be permitted
Bring a camera! (wrist or neck strap recommended as you are on a moving vessel)
Why not bring your favourite bottle of wine or a couple of bottles of beer to help you relax and unwind (BYO plastic cups/glasses)

Additional Information

About Enterprize: Enterprize is an all-timber, carvel planked, two masted, topsail schooner. She is single decked, square transomed, with crossing yards on her foremast. She has been traditionally constructed using Australian and New Zealand grown timbers. The original Enterprize was built in Hobart in 1830 by William Harvey and William Pender as part of the early coastal trading fleets of southern Australia. At that time most bulk cargo was transported by sea. Enterprize carried cargo such as coal and, on one occasion, over 180 sheep. In April 1835, Enterprize was purchased by John Pascoe Fawkner to search for a suitable place to found a new settlement in the Port Phillip District. Enterprize sailed from Launceston on 21st July 1835, but only travelled as far as George Town in northern Tasmania, where Fawkner was forced to remain by his creditors. Enterprize then departed George Town on 1st August 1835 under Captain Peter Hunter. The Enterprize is a replica of the ship that brought the first white settlers to Melbourne in 1835 and is a member of the Maritime Museums of Victoria. The Original Enterprize 1830-1845: On board was Captain John Lancey, Master Mariner (Fawkner’s representative); George Evans, builder; William Jackson and Robert Marr, carpenters; Evan Evans, servant to George Evans; and Pascoe Fawkner’s servants, Charles Wise, a ploughman; Thomas Morgan, general servant; James Gilbert, a blacksmith and Gilbert’s pregnant wife Mary. Searching for a place to settle, the party looked first at Westernport and then at the eastern side of Port Phillip. They eventually found the Yarra River, and after warping (hauling on ropes attached to the river bank) the ship upstream, they moored the Enterprize alongside the river bank at the foot of the present day William Street. On Sunday August 30th the settlers disembarked and at once began to put up their tents, build their store and clear some land for growing vegetables. Permanent settlement at Melbourne had begun. After this, Enterprize continued operating as a coastal trading vessel for a number of years. She eventually disappeared off the shipping register in 1847, having been wrecked on the bar of the Richmond River in northern New South Wales, with the loss of two lives. The Replica Enterprize 1997-Present: The Replica Enterprize is held in trust for the people of Victoria by the Enterprize Ship Trust. Construction: It was determined that the replica Enterprize would be as close to the original ship as possible. This was not easy, as there were no copies of the original plans. However, painstaking work by naval architects and shipwrights using information gathered from the few paintings and sketches of the original Enterprize and shipping registration details from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, resulted in the plans which were used for the project. It was also determined that the replica would use the same materials that were used in the original ship where possible. This meant the sails would not be machine sewn from modern synthetic sailcloth, but hand sewn from flax cloth imported from Scotland. The standing and running rigging would not use modern materials of stainless steel wire and synthetic rope but natural hemp fibre, imported from Holland, protected with coatings of Stockholm tar. Wooden boat building methods have not changed very much over the years and so craftsmen with traditional skills were acquired. Much of the timber used in the construction of Enterprize was recycled from a variety of sources. Specifications: Her keel was laid in 1991 alongside the Polly Woodside, and construction was completed in 1997, when she was launched in Williamstown on August 30. Her keel is a single piece of blue ironbark, fifteen inches by thirteen inches and forty-five feet long. Her stem, sternpost and deadwoods are 100-year-old ironbark wharf timbers, supplied by Nullabor timbers of Echuca. She is built on laminated bent ribs. The outer three laminations are New Zealand Kauri, salvaged from the staves of old brewing vats. The top lamination is celery top Pine, as is her deck planking. Her hull is planked in Jarrah below the waterline. This timber was once the floor joists of a wool store in Fremantle, WA. Above the waterline, her hull is planked in Huon Pine. Her floor timbers are Jarrah, salvaged from Station Pier, Melbourne. Her stringers and beamshelf are Kauri. Her bulwarks are Cyprus Pine from the Royal Melbourne Golf Course. Her masts are Californian Redwood, planted by Melbourne Water in the 1920’s as an experimental timber crop at Kinglake. Her spars and deck beams are Oregon. She is bronze and copper fastened. Dimensions: Length over deck 16.1m (53’) Length overall 27m (88’6”) Beam 5.4m (18’4”) Draft 3m (10’) Height Mast to Deck 17.7m (58’) Height Mast to Waterline 19.1m (62’6”) Displacement 72 tonnes Sail Area 185 sq. metres (2000 sq ft) Engine Cummins 613 T Diesel Freeboard 1.4 metres (4’7”)

Terms And Conditions

No wheelchair access
No sailing experience necessary
Rigging climb at Master's discretion; climbers must be over 16, physically capable and wearing suitable footwear. Shorts or trousers recommended (skirts or dresses are not advisable!)
Seasickness is rarely an issue but if you feel that you are prone we recommend that you seek advice from a pharmacist/medical professional before you board the vessel
This experience is currently under maintenance and will begin operations in early 2022

Cancellation Policy

Change your booking up to 48 hours before the start time of your experience
Changes are not permitted within 48 hours of your experience
Late arrivals or no shows may result in you forfeiting your experience

Location

1 Syme Street, Williamstown, VIC 3016

Recent reviews

4.8/5

Based on 17 reviews

Debbie

almost 5 years ago

We have loved all of the adrenaline adventures that we have done

Val Dowling

almost 5 years ago

Gained some idea of what it must have been like sailing the high seas except ours was a lovely smooth ride.

Con

almost 5 years ago

Great low impact adventure for all ages.

From

$50.00

/ person

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.