Seaport in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Masting and Rigging
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Dismasting
South Street Seaport Museum
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Masting and Rigging
Wavertree is a full-rigged ship, meaning that she carries square sails on all three of her masts. The earliest full-riggers carried three yards (horizontal spars) on each mast, for a total of nine. This is possibly the origin of the phrase "the whole nine yards."
In Wavertree, the lower yards and masts are of iron while the upper ones are of wood. Many of the spars you see here are reproductions, but the fore and mizzen lower masts are original to the ship and made of rolled, riveted iron.
Dismasting
In 1910, on a second attempt to round Cape Horn in extremely violent conditions, Wavertree was dismasted. The mainmast broke above the deck, carrying with it the bulk of the upper foe and mizzen rigging. Tons and tons of iron, steel, cable, and canvas came crashing to the deck, crushing the compass platform, destroying deck machinery, and rendering the ship unable to sail. Remarkably, no one was killed or even badly injured. But it was the end of her career as a sailing ship.
Interestingly, this tragedy is what allowed Wavertree's survival today. Instead of being sailed aggressively by her owners and ending up as a hulk on a reef, broken up for scrap, or being lost at sea, she was converted, first to a floating warehouse and then
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Today Wavertree stands as a proud example of the ships that built New York, and represents the thousands of similar ships that connected a growling metropolis to the world.
"A heavy sea swept the men off their feet and smashed them against the wreckings that was everywhere strewing the deck. So violently were the men hurled by the sea that three of them had their legs broken Trouble upon trouble apparently came upon the unfortunate ship: the fore topmast came down from aloft and did further damage to the deck, while shortly afterwards the mizzen topmast was carried away. This ship was now helpless "
- The Falkland Islands Magazine and Church Paper No. 9 Vol. XII, January 1911.
Erected by South Street Seaport Museum.
Topics. This historical
Location. 40° 42.312′ N, 74° 0.172′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Seaport. It can be reached from Pier 16 south of East River Greenway, on the right when traveling south. The marker is onboard the Wavertree exhibit. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 89 South St, New York NY 10038, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cargo Hatches (here, next to this marker); Capstan (here, next to this marker); Welcome Aboard / Where New York Begins / Wavertree Today (here, next to this marker); The Saloon (here, next to this marker); Poop Deck (here, next to this marker); Boat Skids (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Cargo Hatches (a few steps from this marker); The Ship's Wheel (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
