About Us
WE PROVIDE THE EDGE
Youth Programs
STS Leeuwin II is Australia’s largest sail-training tall ship, a beautiful three-masted 1850’s-style barquentine built, owned and operated in Western Australia by the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation Limited, a registered Western Australian charity.
STS Leeuwin II is used to run programs aiming to develop core skills or support high school students with their WASSA and WACE units. Joining a Leeuwin Explorer Voyage will have a life-changing impact on any young person, building resilience giving them the edge and boosting their employability. Give the gift of opportunity – a voyage on Leeuwin!
It is the best thing I have ever done. I learnt so much, especially about myself — Kacey from Leederville, November 2018
Leeuwin Ocean Adventure is a Registered Activity Provider for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award through Awards WA. The Duke of Ed Award is a global non-formal education framework which challenges young people to discover their potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world. The Duke of Ed Award offers international currency and credibility – across the world, an Award stands for something and showcases success.
Day Sail
STS Leeuwin II offers a unique opportunity for everyone to sail on-board a magnificent tall ship and take away memories life. Whether with friends or family, get involved with setting the sails or just feel the wind on your face – tall ship sailing is not quite like anything else you can do on the weekend.
STS Leeuwin II is an accredited Blue Flag vessel. Find out more about the Blue Flag network, a world renowned eco-label operated under the auspices of the Foundation for Environmental Education, headquartered in Copenhagen.
Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Funding
Leeuwin Ocean Adventure is a registered charity based on Victoria Quay in Fremantle. Since 1986 we have welcomed more than 40,000 young people on-board STS Leeuwin II to take part in extraordinary, ocean going adventures.
Leeuwin Ocean Adventure relies upon the generosity of its corporate sponsors and generous donations from the community to supplement income from the sale of voyages.
In 2018-19, 54 different organisations and individuals sponsored young Western Australians to take part in Leeuwin Ocean Adventure voyages.
Leeuwin Ocean Adventure has Deductible Gift Recipient status. Donations over $2 are fully tax deductible.
The Ship
This ship will bond you to her for life – Roger Hales
STS Leeuwin II is a three-masted sail training ship designed in an 1850’s barquentine style. The ship was launched in 1986.
It is 55 metres long and 33 metres tall. It has 16 sails with a total of 810m2 of canvas.
Sail training tall ship STS Leeuwin II
- Specification: Three masted barquentine, 1850’s style rig
- Launched: 2 August 1986
- Construction: Steel hull, teak deck
- Length overall: 55 metres
- Length on deck: 40 metres
- Beam: 9 metres
- Draught depth: 3.4 metres
- Height of the main mast: 33 metres
- Displacement: 344 tonnes
- Sails: 16 sails, over 810 square metres of fabric
- Accommodation: 15 crew and 40 trainees
- Designer: Len Randell A.R.I.N.A
- Builder: Transfield (ASI) Pty Ltd, Henderson WA
- Survey: 1B, 1D
- Safety System: Australian Maritime Safety Authority ISM Certification
Our history
What’s in the name?
The original Leeuwin (Dutch for “Lioness”) Galleon was a Dutch ship that discovered and mapped some of the southwest corner of Australia in March 1622, only the seventh European ship to sight the continent.
The Leeuwin Galleon’s logbook has never been recovered, so unfortunately very little is known about the voyage, including the name of the Captain. Interestingly, Dutch East India Company letters indicate that the Leeuwin’s voyage from Texel in the Netherlands to Batavia (now Jakarta) took more than a year, whereas other vessels made the same voyage in less than four months. This suggests that poor navigation may have been responsible for the Leeuwin’s appearance at Australia’s coast.
The south-west corner of Australia has historically been referred to by the Dutch as’t Landt van de Leeuwin (“The Land of the Lioness”) which was later shortened to “Leeuwin’s Land” by the English. In addition to STS Leeuwin II, the name Leeuwin still survives in the name of Cape Leeuwin, the most south-westerly point of the Australian mainland, so named by Matthew Flinders in December 1801.
Awards and recognition
The Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation has received acknowledgement through many local, national and international awards throughout its many years of operation:
- Sail Training International – Sail Training Volunteer of the Year: Under 25 | 2019 | Cody McDermott
- Volunteerin WA – People’s Choice ‘Spirit of Volunteering Award’ nominee | Peter Graham
- Sail Training International – Sail Training Volunteer of the Year | 2018 | Peter Graham
- Sail Training International – Sail Training Volunteer of the of the Year: Under 25 | 2016 | Winner Rachel Norrie
- WA Industry Collaboration Award WA Training Awards | 2016 | Finalist
- Corporate Social Responsibility Award Fremantle Chamber Business Awards | 2015 | Winner
- Billy Can Award Australian Sail Training Association | 2014 | Winner
- Gold Medallion Bravery Award Royal Lifesaving WA Bravery Awards | 2014 | Winner
- Outstanding Personal Achievement Award Fremantle Chamber Business Awards | 2014 | Winner – Captain Sarah Robinson
- Corporate Social Responsibility Award Fremantle Chamber Business Awards | 2014 | Finalist
- Supporting Volunteers Award Department of Sport and Recreation Awards | 2014 | Finalist
- Orange Seed Project Grant Award Jack in the Box and Seven West’s Orange Seed Project | 2014 | Finalist
- Corporate Social Responsibility Award Fremantle Chamber Business Awards | 2013 | Winner
- Sail Training International International Sail Trainer of the Year| 2013 | Winner – Captain Sarah Robinson
- Fair Go Award Pride of Australia Awards | 2013 | Winner – Captain Sarah Robinson
- Sail Training International International Sail Training Organisation of the Year | 2010 | Winner
