Dorjun

Dorjun revisited

I originally posted a photo of Dorjun, a beautiful boat built in 1905 here. I wasn’t totally happy with the shot because I wasn’t able to do her justice. But I found her in the water in Port Townsend a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t resist trying again.

After her service with the U.S. Livesaving Service, Dorjun was sailed through the Strait of Magellan.

She’s 26 feet long and has been beautifully restored.

Boat lovers like to see a boat out of water, all the better to see what’s under the waterline. But I rather like seeing this beautiful boat launched and ready for another adventure.

Dorjun caught my eye during a visit to Port Townsend this year and became even more interesting as I learned her history. She was built in 1905 for the U.S. Lifesaving Service, the precursor to today’s Coast Guard, until she was retired in 1937. After that this 26 foot wooden boat was documented by National Geographic as she sailed through the Straits of Magellan at the tip of South America.

In 1946, like many historic working boats, she sank and was abandoned for several years on a mudbank. She was eventually rescued and has since been restored a couple of times. As you can see, she looks pretty good for a lady of 109 years.