Associação Nacional de Cruzeiros
The Briggantine Gazela I, was constructed at the J. M. Mendes shipyards in Setúbal, Portugal. Records related to her present form, are dated from 1901. However, good evidence exists that she was built on the remains of the keel of a Brigg called Gazella (with 2 LLs) which was constructed in 1883 in Cacilhas, Lisbon. Portuguese Pine was the main wood type used on Hull and Deck construction, whilst the masts and yards are of Oregon-pine or Dougles-fir.
The Gazela I was constructed to carry fishermen to the cod fishing at the Great Banks in Newfoundland. Together with Argus, Creoula and others, was part of the the last most symbolic fleet of sailling ships in the world. The famous "White Fleet", the portuguese cod fishing fleet.
Every spring Gazela I departed Lisbon with 35 doris stacked on deck just like cups in one another and a crew of 40 people (where 35 fishermen/deckhands, 2 cooks, 2 mates and the capatain were included.) She carried salt which would be later used to preserve the captured fish (cod, sole, flounder, halibut, haddock and perchpalmeta). Only the Log books of 1903 and 1904 survived, so we known little over the Briggantine's first years. In 1903, the captain was Paulo Fernandes Bagão and he started his the Log on ther 18th of May of that year. With a crew of 50 people, heaved anchor at 5 in the morning, and was towed down the river Tejo. Took a westerly course along the 38th parallel until he reach deep waters. At an average log of 100 miles a day reached the Great Banks on the 7th of June, after having covered 1900 sea miles. The 126 days that followed were spent on that area, placing the doris daily (weather permiting) on the water and effecting occasional trips to St John's for supplies.
The ship's capacity was of 350 tons, but the fish would loose twenty per cent of it's weight through dehydration and shrinking. Therefore the actually weight of fresh fish carried was actually much higher. The balance of the waves would also tend to help the settling of the fish in the hold, thus increasing the hold's capacity. With favorable westerly winds, she could reach land in 13 days, offload the fish and pay the crew. Through the course of winter the ship's masts would be removed and the ship would be entirely maintained and refitted ready for the following season.
On the 19th of May 1904 Gazela I set sail again down the Tejo and 20 days later reached the Great Banks, having covered 98 miles a day. Fishing activities run for over a month and a half without any problems. However, on the 21st of June, in spite of calm weather and good visibility, 3 doris never returned. One never got to know what hapened.
These journeys to Newfoundland continued until the thirties, when the Great Banks started to give signs of running out due to over fishing, agravated with the apearance of motorised trawlers and modernised net-fishing systems. The fleet started then to turn to waters as far north as the Davis Straight, between Baffin Island and Greenland. Around 1938 it was evident that Gazela I would have to be equiped with an engine due to the to severe weather and navigational conditions of those waters. The ship was then elongated a further 2 meters and received a 180 HP diesel engine. She could make 7 knots on motor. However, to reduce costs the sails continued to be her main source of propulsion. She received also a radio and a generator which supplied light and refrigeration. A cabine was also built to protect the compass and the wheel. Another improvement was the fitting of a diesel motor to turn the anchor winch.
The last Gazela I trip as fisher took place in 1969. The capitain, Aníbal Carlos da Rocha Parracho open his log book on the 25th of May, and 15 days later arrived at the banks. Due to bad weather - fog, strong winds and storms – and a broken winch, fishing did not render much and the ship moved to the Virgin Rocks. But the weather continued to cause problems: of the 123 following days, only on 76 was possible to fish. Finaly, on the 14th of October, iniciated the return journey to Lisbon which lasted 11 days. She was still in a good state to sail but could no longer economically compete with the Trawlers.
At this time the Filadelphia Maritime Museum was looking for an old wooden sailing ship and, on the following year Gazela was aquired for the Museum by the filantropist William Wikoff Smith. On the 24th of May of 1971, with an american crew and her old portuguese machinist, the Briggantine left lisbon with course to her new home in Filadelphia, where she arrived on the 8th of June. Once here, she received a few changes in order to be able to accommodate visitors. A small portuguese Whale fishing boat Gazelita was also added to the Museum.
Since then she occupies most of her time at a Filadelphia quay as tourist attraction or sails for honorary or didactic purposes, or participates in diverse film productions.
Specifications:
portuguese Tallships
Main page of A.N.C.
Place your Mail, suggestions or information here.