About Our Ships

Wonder

History

Wonder is a replica design of an early 19th-century American coastal schooner. Wonder is a steel-hull gaff-rigged schooner that was built in 1988. Wonder’s original name was Virginia Rover before being bought from the Merritt Walter, who designed and built her. She was re-named Heritage of Miami and spent the 1990’s and early 2000’s based in Miami’s Bayside Marina. She was then sold, re-named Bloody Pirate, and relocated to Key Largo. During this entire period she spent her summers providing voyaging experiences for Boy Scouts through their Seabase program. We acquired her in May 2024 and changed her name from Bloody Pirate to Wonder.

Specifications

Design: Topsail Gaff-rigged Schooner

Designer: Merritt Walter

Total sail inventory: 10

Hull material: Steel

Length Overall (LOA): 82'

Length On Deck (LOD): 65'

Draft: 6'

Beam: 16'

Airdraft: 60'

Heads (bathrooms): 2

Engine: 215hp Cummins diesel engine

  • Wonder is a Coast Guard inspected vessel certified to carry 44 persons during the day and 24 persons overnight.

  • “Gaff-rigged” refers to the shape of Wonder's main sail, which is not a triangle. Instead, it is a trapezoid with its upper edge held aloft by a spar called a gaff. In total, Wonder can fly 10 sails when under full canvas, though wind conditions rarely make this an ideal sail plan.

  • Wonder’s construction is certified for offshore service by the Coast Guard and twice a year we sail Wonder between its summer home in Fairhaven and its winter home in Key West. Wonder has sturdy rigging that was completely rebuilt in 2023 and a powerful 215 hp Cummins diesel engine.

Jolly II Rover

History

Jolly II Rover is a sister ship to Wonder built several years later. Like Wonder, Jolly II Rover has been hosting Boy Scout programs for over 20 years. Jolly II Rover is the “most photographed ship in Key West” and operates a sunset sail business for a majority of the year. The Voyaging Institute has partnered with Jolly II Rover’s owner, Bill Malone, to offer Voyaging Institute expeditions throughout the year. Bill has maintained Jolly II Rover in absolutely immaculate condition so that the ship serves as a beautiful example of what a sail training yacht can look like.

Specifications

Design: Topsail Gaff-rigged Schooner

Designer: Merritt Walter

Total sail inventory: 10

Hull material: Steel

Length Overall (LOA): 80'

Length On Deck (LOD): 65'

Draft: 6'

Beam: 16'

Airdraft: 60'

Heads (bathrooms): 2

Engine: 150hp Cummins diesel engine

Service: Coast Guard inspected Subchapter T passenger vessel