Nowadays, it is rare to see a majestic ship with wind-filled sails billowing as it glides over the waves. If you live near Sidney, Australia, you can still see one of these wooden wonders, the Søren Larsen. Built in 1949, it was one of the last entirely traditional, cargo-carrying sailing ships made for Baltic Trade. This brigantine (two-mast) is one of the few authentic timber square riggers still operating in the 21st century.
Since it has a rich history, Søren Larsen has been featured in Films & T.V. such as, ‘French Lieutenant’s Woman’ and ‘Shackleton’. In 1982, during the filming of Shackleton, she became the first wooden sailing ship to reach Arctic Greenland in 70 years. In 1991, she was the first British Tallship to round Cape Horn in 68 years.
Restored and re-rigged in 1978, this major restoration gave new masts to the Søren Larsen. The mast heights were 100 ft (30.5 meters) and outfitted with 6,750 sq ft (627 square meters) of sail area. If surface wind for ships’ sails becomes absent, auxiliary power is needed in the form of a diesel propulsion system. The original propulsion drive, a 4-cylinder B&W (Burmeister & Wain) ALPHA diesel engine, was updated with a custom hybrid system in 2022.
The repower consists of a 350 hp (186 kW) Cummins engine, a modified WPT WPL 314 Pilotless® Mechanical PTO, a marine transmission, and a hybrid pass-through drive. The hybrid propulsion system allows silent, emissions-free harbor departures and arrivals. This is accomplished by disengaging the WPT Pilotless® PTO and operating from the electric drive only.
Today, the Søren Larsen home is based in Sydney and offers daily harbor sails and charters. This beautiful ship regularly goes to sea on voyages to remote tropical destinations in the Pacific and worldwide. WPT is extremely proud to be a part of its heritage.