SAN DIEGO — The Star of India is celebrating her 160th birthday with its first voyage in five years this weekend. In this Zevely Zone, I preview this weekend's festivities and take a look back at the ship's incredible history.
It sounds like a bunch of hot air being blown into historic sails but it's all true; the Star of India survived a mutiny, a cyclone and the withering punishment of time and yet her legend lives on.
Maritime Museum of San Diego, the 501c3 non-profit waterfront Museum which enjoys an international reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining, and operating historic vessels sailed the world's oldest active sailing ship Star of India November 11 and 12, 2023. CBS 8's Ariana Cohen was aboard the ship on Saturday.
WATCH: World’s oldest active sailing ship, Star of India, sets sail for 160th birthday with CBS 8's Ariana Cohen
The Star of India is a San Diego success story. In 1863, five days before President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, the famous ship was launched and poised to make history. "The Star of India is the oldest active ship of any kind in existence that is a big deal," said Ray Ashley, the President and CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Ray said the ship must be charmed because she was never, "Rammed by another ship, caught on a reef, trapped in the ice," said Ray. Instead, the Star of India breezed through her life circumnavigating the globe 21 times because she was built to last.
In 1863, most ships were built with wood, but this ship was built with an iron hull that was expected to last only 12 years, but here she is all of these years later getting set to sail yet again.
"If you take a look around, I would say 500 years from now that is the only thing that will still be in the frame of view all of these building that you see here none of them will last five hundred years," said Ray. The Star of India arrived in San Diego in 1927, CBS 8 has video from her 100-th birthday in 1963, when San Diego volunteers brought her back to life.
The Star of India has sailed off our coast only 39 times. In 2000, CBS 8 tagged along as San Diego's centerpiece was towed out to sea and set loose. San Diegans stood in awe as she sailed by La Jolla. She then rounded Point Loma and headed back to port. We have footage from her last voyage in 2018 too. This Saturday and Sunday, San Diegans will enjoy a similar sail. "Surprisingly she actually sails really well in light wind," said Ray.
With a crew of 100 volunteers, Ray Ashley once witnessed the ship speed right past 100 boats in a yacht race. "She went right through a fleet of racing sailboats in the middle of a regatta," said Ray. The Star of India was born to sail, and no ship afloat has been doing it longer.
With cooperating winds, San Diegans and visitors to our region alike will have the chance to see Star of India leave the Maritime Museum of San Diego at 9:00 a.m. each day and under tow move through San Diego Bay until reaching a position two to three miles west of Point Loma.
When possible, Californian and San Salvador will sail in close company with Star of India. At approximately 3:00 p.m. Star of India, Californian, and San Salvador will assemble at the entrance to San Diego Bay. Star of India will secure her berth at Maritime Museum of San Diego at 5:00 p.m. There will be good viewing opportunities along Harbor and Shelter islands and the San Diego waterfront.
A limited number of tickets are available for Star of India 160-year Birthday Celebration Sail experiences allowing guests an opportunity each day on Saturday and Sunday, November 11 and 12, 2023 to accompany Star of India and sail aboard three tall ships. For more information click here.
WATCH RELATED: World’s oldest active ship sets sail for 160th birthday