A BEAUTY TO BEHOLD

PILOT STEAMER "CAPTAIN COOK"

First impressions are often lasting. The first impression of Sydney that hundreds of thousands of passengers on ships arriving off Sydney Heads received was the very beautiful Pilot Steamer "CAPTAIN COOK" coming out to meet their ship and to put the Pilot aboard to bring their ship into the glorious haven that is Sydney Harbour.

In the following photo, "CAPTAIN COOK" is seen again at her mooring in Watson's Bay. She had a remarkable elegance of line and was only rivalled in elegance by the Steam Yacht           "LADY HOPETOUN" (built and launched in 1902) intended for Vice-regal use. She is still in existence and owned by the Sydney Heritage Fleet  and is hired out commercially for Harbour cruises.

                                              Steam Yacht "LADY HOPETOUN" 
                                              at festive occasion on the Harbour,     
                                                           off Farm Cove

Sadly , "CAPTAIN COOK" did not enjoy the same fate.  she was the third Pilot Steamer of that name.She had, despite her Victorian era appearance been launched in 1939 on the eve of the War and saw service through that incredibly busy period on the Harbour until well after the war when in 1959 She was replaced by three double ended Diesel powered cutters. The Harbour is the poorer for her loss, for, not content with de-commissioning her, the authorities had her sunk off the Heads