She was built under yard No. 453 as an auxiliary schooner by N.V. Scheepswerf van .J Smit Czn at Alblasserdam for Andreas Hammerstein of Rotterdam.
19 August 1909 launched under the name SAN ANTONIO, named after the holy man San Antonio.
Tonnage 410 gross, dim. 165.0 x 27.3ft.
October 1909 delivered to owners.
11 September 1909 towed from the builder to Amsterdam, there she was fitted out with the famous engine "Scheepsdiesel No. 1" from Werkspoor, the first diesel ever built by them.
05 November 1909 the first engine trial took place.
From 1910 till 1913 used as a cargo sailing vessel with voyages to the Mediterranean - South America - Northsea and Baltic waters.
25 January 1914, she ran aground on the coast of Morocco near Rabat, refloated under her own power.
1922 Owners were given as N.V. Hammerstein Reederijbedrijf, Rotterdam. Winter 1929 capsized near Copenhagen with a full cargo of timber, was salved.
1938 The SAN ANTONIO was re-engined, and rigging removed, I believe she then got the 6-cyl SA Humboldt-Deutz diesel engine installed of 330 hp, speed 9 knots.
1940 During World War II she escaped to the U.K together with her owner, and used there for coastal service until 1945.
1947 Sold to Olaf Laurell at Oskarshamn, Sweden, renamed BUDDI.
1955 Sold to Rune Johansson at Klädesholmen, Sweden and renamed SANTONI.
1957 Sold to John Hjalmar Thorsson at Skillinge, Sweden, renamed SAN ANTONIO.
1966 Sold to Knut Werner Sandberg at Hovenäset, Sweden, not renamed.
August 1973 in a neglected condition bought by Captain Hartmut Paschburg from Hamburg on orders of a group of German shipowners from that town for 275.000 SKr., converted at the yard of Kroosz at Wischhaven and at the Stader Schiffswerf to an auxiliary three-mast schooner, and to use her as a cruise vessel. Registered owner Andreas J Zakariassen, and she was registered at Panama, renamed ARIADNE.
Used for cruise voyages with paying guest, during the summer in the North Sea and Baltic during the winter season in the Mediterranean or Caribbean waters.
October 1981 chartered at Piraeus by the Ariadne Windjammers S.A. Panama (managed by H. W. Jansen at Elsflet, Germany.
When in January 1982 the Schulschiffvereins "Grossherzogin Elisabeth" e.V was founded the vessel was transferred to this society and
She was renamed by Herzogin Ameli von Oldenburg. She was named GROSSHERZOGIN ELISABETH after a former famous German trainingship, which today you can find in France under the name DUCHESSE ANNE.
June 1983 ownership of the vessel was transferred to Landkreis Wesermarsch. They bought the vessel for 1.2 million DM. Used for training voyages by the German Merchant Marine Academy at Elsfleth, in the North Sea and Baltic. During the winter season used as a floating boarding school for young seaman. 31 March 1993 when laid up during the winter at Elsfleth and during an overhaul on the shipyard of Elsfleth she caught fire and burned out. She was repaired on the Elsflether Werft, the repair bill was 4.3 million DM. Managed by the Schulschiffsvereins "Grossherzogin Elisabeth". Now she regular takes part in the Kieler Woche, Hanse Sail Rostock, Sail Bremerhaven. 1996 Took part in the Cutty Sark Tall Ship Race from Rostock to St Pietersburg. 1998 She sailed in the 2nd Hiorten regatta from Karlskrona to Rostock.
Her details are now given as: 399 gross, 214 net, 540 dwt, dim. 63.7 x 8.23 x 2.36m. (draught) Sail area 1.010 m². One Caterpillar diesel, 400 hp.
2005 Still used for voyages in the North Sea and Baltic waters.
Azerbaijan 1996 400m sg 352. 1997 400m sg 393.
Grenada 1980 50c sg 1094B.
Germany 2005 0.55 + 0.25 Euro sg?
Source: Tallship Fan web-site. http://www.grossherzogin-elisabeth.de/cronik.html
Register of Merchant ships completed in 1909. De Laatste Grote Zeilschepen by
Otmar Schäuffelen.