Stad Amsterdam

Summary

The Stad Amsterdam (City of Amsterdam) is a three-masted clipper that was built in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2000 at the Damen Shipyard.

Stad Amsterdam
Stad Amsterdam in 2009
History
Netherlands
NameStad Amsterdam
NamesakeAmsterdam
OperatorRandstad Holding
Port of registryDutch
BuilderDamen Shipyard
Laid down1997
Launched2000
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
TypeClipper
Displacement1.038 MT[1]
Length76 m (250 ft)
Beam10 m (34 ft)
Draught4 m (15 ft)
Installed power749 kW
PropulsionSails and Caterpillar 1.014 HP engine
Sail plan29 sails
Speed17 knots max. under sail
RangeFully square rigged ship
Capacity28-115 passengers (long / short sailing trips)
Crew30[2]
Stad Amsterdam
Line art of Stad Amsterdam

The ship was designed by Gerard Dijkstra who modelled her after the mid-19th century frigate Amsterdam, but she is not a replica. A major difference is that the hull is made of steel. The owners call the ship a "modern extreme clipper in historical perspective", meaning that the construction method is a combination of the best qualities of clippers of the past, outfitted and built with modern techniques but with a classic "look and feel". She is a very fast ship, with 15 knots being a normal speed. She won the 2001 Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race.

She is rigged with double topsails on the fore and main mast and a single topsail on the mizzen. She has royals on all masts and a skysail on the main mast. The building of the hull in 1997/98 was used as a work experience project for the unemployed (e.g. metalworking and welding). The ship was first presented to the public at the 2000 edition of SAIL Amsterdam. During the 2005, 2010 and 2015 editions of the event she was the flagship.

The Stad Amsterdam is used for training and as a charter-ship for guests. The crew is international and the official language on board is English. Her home port is Amsterdam.

In September 2009 Stad Amsterdam was refitted to accommodate a televised research expedition, tracing the second voyage of HMS Beagle (1831–1836).[3] The ship re-sailed the route of the Beagle in approximately 8 months while collecting information to allow comparison between Charles Darwin's Beagle observations and the current ones. The show was aired by the Dutch public broadcaster VPRO as Beagle: In Darwin's Wake (Beagle: In het kielzog van Darwin).[4]

The Stad Amsterdam celebrated her 15th anniversary at the five-day SAIL Amsterdam 2015 tall ships festival in August 2015.[5] The occasion was commemorated with the publication of a book about the ship, with contributions from Eberhard van der Laan - then the Mayor of Amsterdam - and the co-founder of the ship, Frits Goldschmeding. The book was co-created by former quartermaster Bart Huijs, and the sculptor and photographer, Anthony Smith.[6]

Specifications edit

  • Full-rigged tall ship
  • Deck Length: 60.5 m
  • Length overall: 76 m
  • Beam: 10.5 m
  • Air draught (height): 46.3 m
  • Draught: 4.8 m
  • Sail area: 2200 m² (29 sails)
  • Crew: 32
  • Water displacement: 1083 m³
  • Tonnage: 723 BRT
  • Engine: 749 kW (1014 hp)
  • Speed under engine: 11 knots
  • Speed under sail: 16.5 knots
  • Passengers for daytrips: 120 max
  • Passengers multi-day trips: 58 max
  • Cabins for 2/4 persons: 13
  • Cabins for 3/6 persons: 1
  • Building cost: approximately €10 million

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The ship". Stad Amsterdam. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  2. ^ "Crew". Stad Amsterdam. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  3. ^ "Dutch Clipper 'Stad Amsterdam' traces voyage of Charles Darwin". The Netherlands official UK website. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Beagle". VPRO. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  5. ^ "SAIL Amsterdam 2015". Stad Amsterdam. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. ^ Stad Amsterdam book. A book about the Stad Amsterdam. Retrieved 25 August 2015.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Book about the Stad Amsterdam[permanent dead link]
  • Stad Amsterdam on DelfSail 09 by photographer David Dekel
  • Stad Amsterdam on Den Helder 08 by photographer David Dekel