Port Victoria Maritime Museum: Ron researches the history of the Cape Horners in the Yorke Peninsula region of South Australia
Port Victoria is a quiet little fishing town today but in its heyday it was a bustling port. In fact it was one of the busiest ports in South Australia as you'll see when you visit the Port Victoria Maritime Museum.
The Museum recalls the days of shipping magnate Gustaf Erikson who owned the last great fleet of windjammers the world would ever see. 'The Last of the Cape Horners' - a DVD on sale at the museum tells the story of the last trade left to the old square-riggers - the carriage of grain from Australian to Europe by way of the treacherous Cape Horn. It was an often frightening ride for the young sailors as they set out on what was called "The Cape Horn Road".
We caught up with three Cape Horners as they reminisced about an adventure that would linger long in the memory of any old salt. Alf Jarvis, Keith McCoy and Maurice Corrigliano were all in their 20s when adventure called. Old Alf Jarvis' hands tell a tale. Many a time he's hung on for dear life amid the rigging as his vessel the Law Hill made its way to Europe after he'd met the Captain at a pub in Port Lincoln.
Alf Jarvis: "He said be on board Saturday afternoon. It was only 10 shillings a month - I was getting 3 pounds a week and my keep at the time. Why did I do it? I wanted the experience."
And an experience is what he got - as a 20 year old and without his parents' permission he found himself out at sea on a windjammer.
Alf Jarvis: "The first night out around Kangaroo Island was 'go aloft'. It means going up the sails 175 feet."
That was back in 1937 when Gustav Erikson's windjammers were fighting a last ditch battle with the newer and more efficient steam ships. To keep costs to a minimum, the sailors were mostly boys out for adventure and wanting to further their maritime qualifications.
Alf took the view that what didn't kill him made him stronger and so he and blokes like Keith McCoy got braver and better when it came to life as a 'monkey' amid the rigging. Keith remembers the second day on board The Pamir in 1949 at Port Victoria when he was told to climb to the top of the rigging.
Keith McCoy: "From the top of the mast in Port Victoria I could see Adelaide - that scared me a little bit."
From icebergs to the tropics these blokes saw it all. And when at sea, the sailors on board the old square-riggers came to rely on each other on the journey of a lifetime.
Maurice Corrigliano: "It was an amazing period I suppose. There were 4,500 ton ships being propelled simply by wind all the way to Europe."
For Maurice, Alf and Keith life at sea was hard but for all of them the memory of three whistles is still enough to get them bolt upright in bed.
"The third whistle was all hands on deck so you'd be lying back in your bunk without sleep for hours, wet and cold and pretty miserable. You'd hear the one whistle in your sleep and hear two whistles OK not my watch… but in suspense you'd be waiting for that third whistle. The ship was in danger and the sail had to be brought in very quickly."
These blokes are a part of history - a history that fades with each passing year but can still be re-lived at the Port Victoria Maritime Museum. It's located near the town jetty and is open weekends and public holidays or by appointment. More questions? email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Port Victoria Maritime Museum
Near Town Jetty
Port Victoria
Yorke Peninsula
Open Sat, Sun or Public Holidays 2pm - 4pm Or by appointment on 8834 2202Published 8th May 2011
