The amazing history of the world's oldest active sailing ship

7:54 PM Sat 15 Jan 2011 GMT

'Star of India docks at San Diego' .

If you believe the Guinness Book of Records, the full-rigged iron windjammer Star of India is the oldest active sailing ship in the world. She was built in 1863, making her an amazing 148 years old, and still sailing! Her home these days is the San Diego Maritime Museum in California, USA, but that's not to imply that she's moribund. This beautiful creation of ancient naval architecture meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements, undergoes routine maintenance, and is fully seaworthy ('Seaworthy' means being fit for a voyage, trusted to transport cargos safely, and operating effectively even in high seas.) She is ...

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by Des Ryan