Eye of the Wind, taking part in the parade of sail, during the Tall Ships Festival, Greenwich.
Image details
Contributor:
John Gaffen / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
E8E017File size:
55.5 MB (2.3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5418 x 3578 px | 45.9 x 30.3 cm | 18.1 x 11.9 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
9 September 2014Location:
The Thames Path, Greenwich, London.More information:
The Eye of the Wind is a ship built in 1911 by C Lühring of Brake, Germany, originally as a topsail schooner named 'Friedrich'. The 'Friedrich' was initially used as a schooner for the South American hide trade. In 1923 she was registered in Sweden and under the name “Merry”, and was used for transport in the Baltic and North seas, and for fishing herring off the coast of Iceland in during summer. In 1969, then stripped of her masts and sailing as a motor vessel, she was severely damaged in a fire that all but ended her days on the sea. In 1973 a group of sailing enthusiasts, including Anthony "Tiger" Timbs, who later became her Master, starting the great task of rebuilding her as a sailing ship in Faversham England. In this restoration she was rigged as a brigantine by Master Rigger Wally Buchanan. After the restoration was completed she was given the name Eye of the Wind, inspired by Sir Peter Scott's book published in 1961. In October 1976, three years and eight months after her purchase by the new owners, Eye of the Wind set sail for the first time since the restoration, on course to Australia. In 1978 she set sail from Plymouth as the flagship of Operation Drake, a 2 year sailing expedition, which brought her back to London in December 1980. In the years to follow she sailed the seas, manned by the people who had restored her in Faversham and a group of people who had fallen for the old lady and her great crew. While under the care of Tiger Timbs the ship was hired for several film roles. During one, the film producers had it fitted with a tan coloured sail set in order to be able to play two different ships. This noticeable colouring was maintained thereafter making the 'Eye of the Wind' very distinctive. In 2001, she was taken over by a new owner and registered in Gilleleje, Denmark. Her interior underwent a substantial renovation, introducing a more luxurious accommodations. Also, the new owners decided to call her rig a brig.