A word from Captain Woods
Welcome aboard the Southern Swan.
One of the greatest enjoyments of owning and skippering a historic ship is the pleasure of sharing the experience with the passengers who sail with us. I have spent more than twenty years working in sailing ships, and while I love the ships and the ocean life, it is really the people who make it worthwhile. I left school at sixteen to serve an apprenticeship in ship building at Cockatoo Island. After the launch of HMAS Success I joined the First Fleet Re-enactment in 1987 as a trainee crew. It was this event that gave me a rich appreciation of life aboard a square rigger.
It was a fantastic time, and I went on to spend many years sailing around the South Pacific and even around the notorious Cape Horn to Europe and America. I later gained maritime qualifications, became a tall ship Captain, sailed the Soren Larsen around the South Pacific Islands and met my wife, Liza. I was also Master of the Bounty replica before she was sold to China in 2007.
It was a tragedy to lose such a wonderful ship to foreign ownership, and when Southern Swan went on the market that same year, I knew that the only hope of keeping her in Aussie hands would be for me to purchase, restore and operate the ship myself. I didn't exactly have the money, but I had the skills to restore the ship and fortunately David and Alison Warne came aboard as co-owners, with skills to cater and market the ship.
The Southern Swan is a gem, but it's the crew that make it a magical experience for the passengers. A key personality on board is First Mate (and relief captain) James Parbery, who I met on the First Fleet Re-enactment. We were little more than kids then, and we have since followed similar paths; sailing the world sometimes together in these magnificent sailing ships.
James (also known as Jimmy Parbuckle) is a professional sailor, marine artist and entertainer. I am delighted that I was able to snatch him back from the coast of New Zealand to join me aboard Southern Swan. His eccentric character makes it a lot of fun for the passengers; whether he's telling salty sea tales to guests, leading vigorous team building events, or playing pirates with the children. James has even recorded two albums with his band The Reeelers and insisted that I join him on the vocal tracks!
The rest of our crew are mostly young travellers seeking adventure. They are here because they love the ship as much as we do, and we are all looking forward to sharing that experience with you.
See you at the helm,
Captain Marty Woods
