









 |
Seraph
– The Name.
Seraph is the shortened version of Seraphim – one of the Archangels
who protected God in Biblical lore. A six-winged Angel, the
Seraph sat at God’s right hand. His upper pair of wings
were to cover his eyes (he may not look at his Master), the
middle pair were for aeronautic
purposes with the lower pair to cover his ‘private bits’. SY
Seraph sails with a full complement
of six sails/wings.
Seraph – The Early Years.
Seraph was launched from a shipyard just outside Copenhagen
in 1906 as a Ketch Rigged Fishing Boat destined to work for
the next 70 years in the North Sea. Her initial role would have
been as a ‘buy boat’, sailing out to meet the trawlers, transferring
their catch to her large storage hold (which would have been
partially flooded to keep the fish fresh) and returning to port
to sell the catch at market.
By the late 1970’s she was bought by a Dutch couple who took
her to Holland and converted her into a Liveaboard Schooner
with a Marconi Rig. They took some considerable time cruising
the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean before arriving in Thailand
in the late 1980’s.
|
|
Seraph – The Phuket Years.
Seraph suffered a temporary setback in 1991 when a squall drove
her onto a reef in the Similan Islands, from where she was recovered,
restored and re-rigged in her current configuration – Gaff Rigged
Schooner. She spent the next 11 years carrying thousands of
Liveaboard Diving customers the length and breadth of the Andaman
Sea.
She has subsequently retired from this type of
work and her present owners have, after
a
major refit (2005), tasked her to entertain visitors on the
waters surrounding Phuket and Phang Nga Bay – a role for which
she is ideally suited as she passes her one hundredth year afloat.
Seraph – Today.
Seraph is a ‘no compromise’ Schooner whose sailing
systems are based on those developed and perfected by the North
Atlantic Fishing Schooners of the mid-nineteenth century. All
sails are hoisted, trimmed and dropped manually by the crew
and numbers of very willing volunteer guests who enjoy this
unusual type of exercise known as ‘sweating the lines’ – for
obvious reasons!
Her decks are large and uncluttered with an awning
covering approximately 25% of the area of the deck, providing
cover from the elements for 30 people or more. Should anyone
wish to expose themselves to the tropical sun, huge forward
areas for ‘cooking’ are available!
The only compromise to modern times can be found below decks
where a well equipped galley is able to provide excellent catering
and two electric heads (toilets) have been installed. Plus air-conditioned
cabins.
Her Skipper and Crew are highly experienced local mariners who
understand the geography, tides and winds of the region and
are able to deliver the best possible experience to our guests
(up to 40 maximum per trip) on Seraph – the most loved of Phuket
Yachts.
|