Gótheborg at Tower Bridge, London
Götheborg of Sweden is a sailing replica of the Swedish East Indiaman Götheborg I, launched in 1738 (not to be confused with the larger Götheborg II built some decades later). All sailors survived[6] when the original ship sank off Gothenburg, Sweden, on 12 September 1745, while approaching the harbour on her return from a third voyage to China. Construction of the replica started in 1995, with the hull launched in 2003, and the rig fully tested for the first time in 2005. Much of the time was spent researching how to rebuild the replica. In 2008, Götheborg completed the first Baltic Sea Tour.[7] It is one of the world's largest operational wooden sailing vessels.[8][9]
Original ship
Götheborg was built at the Terra Nova shipyard [sv] in Stockholm and launched in 1738. According to writer Björn Ahlander, it only took about one and a half years to build a ship of this size in the 1700s. It was built in the Swedish capital and named Götheborg because the Swedish East India Company resided in Gothenburg, and all expeditions began and ended at this port. The ship had a tonnage equivalent to about 830 t (1,830,000 lb). On its maiden voyage in 1739, the ship carried 30 cannons and an initial crew of 144.[14]
The ship made three journeys to China and in 1745, it sank on its way into Gothenburg harbor. After 30 months at sea, and with only 900 m (3,000 ft) to go before the vessel reached its berth, it crashed into the Knipla Börö, a well known rock. Although it remains a mystery how this could happen theories abound. The ship remained stranded on the rock while much of the cargo, consisting of tea, porcelain, spices and silk, was salvaged. The ship was clearly visible above the surface of the water for many years, but in time the remains sank to the bottom.
Gótheborg at Tower Bridge, London
Götheborg of Sweden is a sailing replica of the Swedish East Indiaman Götheborg I, launched in 1738 (not to be confused with the larger Götheborg II built some decades later). All sailors survived[6] when the original ship sank off Gothenburg, Sweden, on 12 September 1745, while approaching the harbour on her return from a third voyage to China. Construction of the replica started in 1995, with the hull launched in 2003, and the rig fully tested for the first time in 2005. Much of the time was spent researching how to rebuild the replica. In 2008, Götheborg completed the first Baltic Sea Tour.[7] It is one of the world's largest operational wooden sailing vessels.[8][9]
Original ship
Götheborg was built at the Terra Nova shipyard [sv] in Stockholm and launched in 1738. According to writer Björn Ahlander, it only took about one and a half years to build a ship of this size in the 1700s. It was built in the Swedish capital and named Götheborg because the Swedish East India Company resided in Gothenburg, and all expeditions began and ended at this port. The ship had a tonnage equivalent to about 830 t (1,830,000 lb). On its maiden voyage in 1739, the ship carried 30 cannons and an initial crew of 144.[14]
The ship made three journeys to China and in 1745, it sank on its way into Gothenburg harbor. After 30 months at sea, and with only 900 m (3,000 ft) to go before the vessel reached its berth, it crashed into the Knipla Börö, a well known rock. Although it remains a mystery how this could happen theories abound. The ship remained stranded on the rock while much of the cargo, consisting of tea, porcelain, spices and silk, was salvaged. The ship was clearly visible above the surface of the water for many years, but in time the remains sank to the bottom.