3 Night Whitsunday Sailing
"Solway Lass"

Overview

If you are after a leisurely paced adventure on a large Square Rigged Tall Ship, which represents a bygone era with sailing styles and provides comfort through air/cond cabins, then 'Solway Lass' is perfect. Life is fun on Solway with the crew encouraging pirate fun and antics, plus the occasional flogging.

This year Solway is 102 years old, however major restoration between 1983-85, plus refits in 1999 and 2002 present Solway today in beautiful condition.

Itinerary

This itinerary is an example only, and on most tours you will find that there should be more stops. On almost every tour we will spend a few hours at Whitehaven Beach, an important feature of a Whitsunday Visit. Tours are subject to weather and tidal conditions and the Captains professional judgement. Where we have guests who are doing 2 x 3 night trips, to make a 6 night combined tour, we mix up the itinerary and stop in different bays to provide variety for the guests.

Anchorages: (1) Western Side of Hook Island. (2) Nara Inlet at Hook Island. (3) Cataran Bay on Border Island. (4) Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. (5) Cid Harbour on Whitsunday Island. (6) Mantaray Bay on Whitsunday Island.

The Vessel

Specification

Length 127ft including Bow Sprit (33m) and beam of 20ft with a weight of 170 tonnes. Two masts and 10 sails with a sail area of 5500 square feet. 11 Air Conditioned Guest Cabins, fully covered Saloon/Bar Area complete with Bar. Separate Male and Female Bathrooms with domestic style toilets and hot showers. 240V Power Available.

Charters

During 1998 Southern Cross Sailing Adventures purchased Solway Lass from Matilda Cruises Sydney. Early 1999 Solway Lass was remodelled for overnight 3 day & 3 night sailing holidays in the Whitsundays. Solway Lass is AIR CONDITIONED and has 11 cabins. These cabins are private double/twin and share and feature teak and cedar feature walls along with Jarrah timber trims. Solway Lass also has a bar area serving icy cold drinks and an outdoor dining room which boasts the most beautiful Whitsunday views.

History

Built in Holland in 1902 of German Steel with Timber decking as a sail powered cargo vessel. Originally named Stina. In 1905 sold and renamed to "Adolf", working in and around the Baltic and North Sea. In 1915 Solway Lass was seized as a prize of war by the British and used as a Q-Ship during WWI. At the end of WWI, "Solway Lass" (SL) worked as a coal merchant, produce and stone carrying vessel between Liverpool England and Scottish Ports. In 1924 sold to a Scottish firm in the Solway Firth where she was renamed SL.

When WWII broke out the Germans seized SL as a prize of war where she was used to supply their armed forces. During the war SL hit a mine and was badly damaged, however the Germans refloated and repaired her because SL was useful as a sail-powered icebreaker. After WWII Solway Lass served in the South Pacific as a Cargo Vessel. In 1983 a Sydney Businessman purchased SL in Fjii. Between 1983 and 1985 SL was totally rebuilt and in 1988 took pride of place in the 1st Fleet re-enactment of the Tall Ships into Sydney Harbour.