World’s Oldest Sailing Yacht - San Diego’s Star of India

Just as many of us often do not have an easy start in this life, so it was with the oldest, still-working ship in the world. The Star of India, as she is now called, hails from a different time when the gods of the wind and sea had more power over the lives of men than they do today.

She began life as Euterpe (the Greek name of the muse of music) - way back in 1863. Even at birth she was somewhat unique, being a lady made of steel at a time when most of her compatriots where still being hewn of wood. The tough beginnings included a collision, mutiny, de-masting, and the death of her captain, who was then buried at sea.

The Star of India has completed many hard voyages in her life, beginning as a cargo ship hauling goods to and from India. In 1871 she embarked on a 25-year career carrying immigrants and freight for the New Zealand emigrant markets. In 1901 she began carrying canned goods and supplies north to the Baring Sea each spring and then returning with her holds full of canned Salmon. She continued this last career until she was sold to the San Diego Zoological society in 1926, having made 21 circumnavigations in all.

For many years she languished in disrepair as other world events took precedence, including the Great Depression and World War II. Thus it was not until 1957 that repair work began, and 1976 finally marked the date she was put to sea again. Today, the Star of India graces the harbor skyline in downtown San Diego as a “living” museum. She is open to the public, and sails several times a year, offering interested volunteers the opportunity to learn how to operate the vessel.