Isle of Farquhar

Isle of Farquhar
Isle of Farquhar

Isle of Farquhar

, not to

be confused with the Farquhar Group, which is a group of islands, is a three-mast schooner moored at Les Mamelles on Mahé, the largest of the islands in

Seychelles

.

Built in 1909 in the

Netherlands

and originally named

Zeemeeuw

, this schooner changed owners, routes, and purpose several times before Captain Robertson Durup brought it to Seychelles, where it was used to carry labor, supplies, and produce from island to island. From its base there,

Isle of Farquhar

sailed all over the Indian Ocean, mooring at the Chagos Archipelago and

Mauritius

.

Throughout its life,

Isle of Farquhar

faced rough seas and weather, and prevailed so much as that it was nicknamed “The Unsinkable.” This was due to particularly sturdy design and steelwork but it was a cyclone that eventually got the best of it.  Yet, true to its moniker, the vessel didn’t sink.  The strong winds broke the masts, but

Isle of Farquhar

withstood the shock.

To these days, the broken masts rest along the hull.  Much of the steelwork is now rusting, and invading vegetation has made it an integral part of the inlet’s habitat.  There are plans to restore

Isle of Farquhar

in the near future.