Sail Back in Time
Welcome aboard the “Spray of the Coral Coast”, a 117 year old, classic 58ft gaff-rigged Huon-pine ketch with a fascinating history.
⛵ The Story of Spray of the Coral Coast
Our beautifully restored traditional sailing vessel, Spray of the Coral Coast, was first launched in 1925. She was built to the same plan as the original Spray — the yacht sailed by Captain Joshua Slocum, who became the first person to circumnavigate the globe between April 1895 and June 1898. Today, she is believed to be the oldest surviving Sprayreplica still sailing in Australia, and possibly the world.
In December 1896, Spray’s original owner met Captain Slocum in Melbourne while he was en route to making history. Slocum generously provided his yacht’s blueprints, allowing a replica to be constructed “in the Antipodes.” Over the years, she has carried remarkable stories — from photographs dating back to the 1920s and a 1933 bill of sale for just £250, to surviving storms, floods, and the test of time itself.
This grand old vessel has already lived through two near losses — a violent Melbourne storm in the 1940s that forced major modifications, and the devastating Bundaberg floods of 2013, when she broke free and was swept out to sea. Against all odds, she survived, leading one old sailor to remark that “Joshua Slocum’s good angel had taken her to safety.”
The Spray has undergone several restorations, the most significant in 2007, 2013, and again in 2020, when she completed an extensive commercial survey before being relaunched in Mooloolaba as a passenger vessel. In 2021, she was officially recognised by the Australian National Maritime Museum as a listed heritage vessel.
Today, under the care of Simon and his crew, Spray of the Coral Coast continues her remarkable journey — not just as a sailing vessel, but as a living piece of maritime history. Step aboard and experience the magic of a yacht that has truly stood the test of time.
