The Leeuwin – what will her future be?
Freo Today. 7 May 2025. The STS Leeuwin II is tied up alongside Victoria Quay. Looking less forlorn than before, but still demasted and disabled. We all look forward to hearing more about her future. Wonder what it will be? Well yesterday, Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation announced that:
Over the past six months, significant planning and preparation have taken place behind the scenes.
Leeuwin Ocean Adventure is delighted to confirm that progress has been made on our insurance claim, allowing us to move forward with our comprehensive 2025 rebuild and refit plans.
We have now committed to a 19th May haul-out date for our out of water refit to commence.
Key components of the rebuild include:
3000 lineal metres of Douglas Fir timber for the yards, topmasts, booms and gaffs have ordered from British Columbia, Canada and are being loaded onto sea containers to be shipped to Fremantle
Sewage system upgrades are being ordered
A full set of replacement sails are currently being sewn by Peter Ripley and his team
Digital plans of the ship’s masts and rigging have been produced
Assessment and Load Testing of Rigging is underway
Our working shed has relocated to the North Quay. The Leeuwin Rig Shed will be the home of all rigging work for the project, and we are currently picking over the recovered rigging – measuring, counting, and assessing what we have, and what we need to produce over the coming months
Our office relocation to a temporary site next to E Sheds is set to happen in the next couple of weeks, ahead of a more permanent office space being developed in the Port in 2026
We have an excellent space to do all the work needed, so we invite any volunteer who wants to be part of this historic effort to reach out to alex@sailleeuwin.com for all volunteering.
For those with a passion to build trade skills in Rigging, Carpentry or Sailmaking, please apply to our Trade Skills Volunteering Program online.
This next chapter in Leeuwin’s journey reflects not only our commitment to maritime youth development, but also the strength of our community and partners who’ve stood by us during this time of uncertainty.
We look forward to welcoming trainees, volunteers, and supporters back onboard very soon
.