The four-masted barque built in 1902 as CHAMPIGNY, by Chantiers de la Mediterranee at Granville for the Societe des Longs Courriers Francais 3,112gtns. L.95.1m. B. 13.7m. Dr. 7.2m
She undertook her maiden voyage on the 18th June1902, from Le Havre to Penarth in South Wales. Leaving Penarth on the 1st August 1902 for Honolulu via Cape Horn arriving 10th December. She carried on sailing around the horn to Australia and the west coast of America until 1917 when she was sold to the Societie Generale d' Armement, of Nantes. She made only two voyages for her new owners she was laid up for a year.
She was then bought by the Finnish School Ship Association in July 1923 and renamed FENNIA. From that time she was put into trading around the Horn with a crew and cadets. In 1927 she took shelter in the Falklands after being dismasted outward bound from Cardiff to Valparaaiso with a cargo of fuel and coke. She remained there and was used as a store ship and hulk until 1966 when San Francisco Maritime Museum found her.
In November 1967 she was towed from the Falklands to Montevideo with the woefully unsuccessful attempt to restore her in America. She ended up in a breakers' yard in Uruguay.
Ted Evans, Liverpool.
Falk Is SG620