Carlisle

Current boat name

Carlisle

Boat class

7589

Function

Service

Type

Open boat

Length (m / ft)

9.45 / 31ft

Beam (m / ft)

2.46 / 8ft 1in

Leeward

Keel

Propulsion

Oar/Sail

Designer

Traditional

Date of build

1950 c

Place of build

Tristan da Cunha

Present use

Museum/NMMC

Built in the early 1950s by the islanders of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic. This type of boat is unique to the island where it is used for inter-island travel and off-loading stores from visiting ships. They are built from materials available locally, including driftwood. Their frames are covered with canvas treated with oil and painted to make it waterproof. They are light, surprisingly strong and easily handled. The rig is a dipping lug main with a small jib, and oars are used when necessary. CARLISLE takes her name from HMS CARLISLE, one of the Royal Navy ships which helped evacuate the islanders following a volcanic eruption of 1960. She was shipped to the UK for presentation to H M The Queen as a gesture of thanks. GH