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VIGILANT
The most famous
Baltimore Clipper
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About the
Schooner
Vigilant was a Baltimore Clipper:
The Schooner Vigilant was a
Baltimore Clipper that served as a
privateer as well as a US naval Schooner.
Baltimore clippers were first
built as fast sailing vessels for trade around
the coastlines of the United States and the Caribbean
Islands. Their hull-lines tended to be very sharp,
with a "V"-shaped cross-section below the waterline and
strongly raked stem. The
famous yacht America was conceptually conceived from the
Baltimore clipper. Many Baltimore clippers went to Australia
during the Australian gold rush.
In early 1825, as the much larger frigate was unable to
pursue its adversary among the small islands, Vigilant
was chartered to take advantage of her relative shallow
draft and superior sailing speed. Lt. Carl Irminger was
appointed commanding officer in charge of thirty
sailors.
Vigilant's first feast was simply beautiful! It was the
battle with the privateer Adolfo near Culebra Island in
Puerto Rico.
Because the Adolfo was much larger and better armed, the
Vigilant had to achieve the surprise factor. All
soldiers were hidden out of sight to make the Adolfo
believed Vigilant was an unarmed Danish merchantman and
ordered it to come alongside. Once alongside, Captain Irminger brazenly demanded Adolfo's surrender. Having
noticed the pirate was preparing to fire her large guns,
Lt. Irminger commanded his men to fire, and thereby
achieved complete surprise. The first volley killed
Adolfo's captain La Forcado and the mate; another mate
was seriously wounded and later had to have a leg
amputated. Several crewmembers were wounded and the
privateer soon surrendered. Vigilant suffered only one
casualty, and that was by drowning.
By the mid 1840's Vigilant was employed as the official
packet between Christiansted which was her home port,
and Charlotte Amalie. She made the trip in as little as four and a half hours.
Vigilant continued in service during the first decade of
the 20th century. At one time, the Danish East Asiatic Company sent the
motor schooner Viking out to replace Vigilant. After
only a few years of service the Viking was nearly
wrecked in 1912 and had to be sent back to Denmark for
extensive repairs. Vigilant once again was back plying
her old mail and passenger trade which she did with
dignity until the islands were sold to the United States
in 1917.
After 1917, no longer used in the passenger and mail
trade after the United States purchased the former
Danish islands, Vigilant was now employed as a local
trading schooner and occasionally chartered out to
adventurous tourists.
In the night of September 13, 1876, while lying at anchor at Christiansted, Vigilant sank
during a severe hurricane. A month later she was raised
and underwent extensive repairs by Captain Pentheny.
Again in October, 1916, the schooner went to the
bottom during a hurricane. Again she was raised and
repaired. On September 12, 1928, she again sank
during a severe hurricane in Christiansted harbor. This
time she was beyond repair.
In total, Vigilant sailed for 138 years -- an
outstanding achievement for a wooden ship which plied
the waters from the North to the South, especially in
the Caribbean where saltwater, heat, worms, etc. decimate any wooden
vessel. She outdated all other vessels by many
decades despite enemy fire, treacherous coral reefs, and
the yearly hurricane season.
There is little doubt that the Vigilant was the last
Baltimore Clipper. Her long pleasing lines and tall sharply
raked masts were a welcome sight to everyone in the
Danish West Indies for more than four generations.
About the construction of the
Vigilant
clipper
scale model:
- Built from scratch over
hundreds of hours by master artisans
- Double
plank-on-frame
construction (very
important)
-
Copper-plated bottom:
individual copper pieces that were weathered unevenly to
create a realistic look (no paint, no fake lines.)
-
Blackened metal cannons and wooden carriage.
- Authentic extensive rigging system comprised of many
different sizes of rope and features numerous blocks and
deadeyes
- Full length masts and bowsprit per construction plans
Dimensions and price:
32"
long x 25" tall x 10" wide
$3,570 
Shipping and insurance
in the contiguous US included. Other places: $400 flat
rate.
This model is in stock and will be shipped within 5
business days.
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