Serena

Hello,
It is astonishing to see a barque from 1864 with double topgallants and without royals ("baldheaded&quot. She must have been rerigged thus in her later days, but why? It is most exceptional! If the picture really shows the SERENA, then here is some information. Built 1864 by G.R.Clover & Co., Birkenhead. Iron barque. First name EIVIR, but already in 1865 renamed SERENA. First owner: Nicholson, Liverpool. Then W.Nicol, Liverpool,since 1879. Bought 1890 by W.C.Fox, Plymouth. Finally bought by captain T.Symons, Plymouth, in 1894 or 1895. Tonnage: 523 grt and 472 nrt. Dimensions: 153.4 x 27.4 x 17.5 ft. In August 1903 she was condemned and broken up at Appledore.
Regards,
Luc,Antwerp

Hello Luc,
That's her. In my file I have something that says Plymouth to her. I do'nt know why she had been re-rigged but it's not uncommon.
Is there something in your files that tells, that David Morgan was her last Captain. Otherwise he was Captain on the 1866 built Serena by Wiilam Pile,
Thanks in advance and kindest regards,
Melle

Hello Melle,
The last captain of the 1864 built iron barque SERENA was the last owner himself, captain T.Symons. David Morgan was captain of the composite barque SERENA (built by Pile,1866).
Best regards,
Luc,Antwerp

She's not from 1864. I can't find her, but I would consider her as most likely built 15 years later or more. Considering the possibilty that she was built with a "Jubilee Rig" (few ships that were not ever had their masts shortened), then one may note that Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee was in 1887.
Here's a ship named Serena that well could have been built in 1864: http://peoplescollectionwales.com/Item/8245-painting-of-the-three-masted-barque-serena-ar

In 1898 there was an American barque named Serena reported wrecked at Leixoes, on a voyage from Philadelphia for Oporto. And in 1907 the barque Serena of Greenock lost 4 men overboard off the Horn. (The episode is mentioned by Villiers in his "The War with Cape Horn," page 171-2.)

Hello,
The painting in the site to which Stein refers is the Swansea composite barque SERENA, captain David Morgan. She was built in 1866. The same painting appears in Joanna Greenlaw's book The Swansea Copper Barques & Cape Horners.
Regards,
Luc,Antwerp

Hello Stein,
The American barque lost in 1898 was named SERENE, not SERENA. She was built in Baltimore in 1867 and was wrecked near Leixoes on January 1st.1898. Cargo of petroleum from Philadelphia for Oporto.
Regards,
Luc,Antwerp

Hello,
Stein says that the picture of the SERENA is not the barque from 1864. I fully agree with him. I had considerable doubts about a 1864 barque being rigged or rerigged as a baldheader with double topgallants. The picture also does not show the composite barque SERENA from 1866. I searched my files and photographs and I can now confirm with certainty that the photo shows the steel barque SERENA, built 1893 by Russell & Co.,Port Glasgow. It is also to this barque that Alan Villiers referred concerning the loss of some crew members in 1907 (captain Dagwell). She later became the Norwegian ALCYON and finally MATTANJA. She was broken up in 1925.
Regards,
Luc, Antwerp

To Norway in 1909, bought by Bruusgaard & Kjøsterud, Drammen and named Alcyon. Then to Fredrikstad in 1922, I. W. Olsen & T. Wilhelms owners, new name Mattanja. Sold foreign in 1924, new owner unknown. This from "Fredrikstadskuter på de syv hav," page 544, where it is told that she was handed over in Aarhus. This book has her as broken up in Emden in 1928.

On this page from "Norske Seilskuter" the information is that she was sold to the breakers Petersen & Ahlbeck in Copenhagen in 1925: http://www.seilskuteklubben.no/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=218&Itemid=346

Gentlemen, many thanks for your research, re. the Serena, later Alcyon and Mattanja.
I have some nice pictures when she was ALCYON and sailing for Sigurd Bruusgaard. (1909-1923)
I will post one asap.
Regards,
Melle.