IT WAS a sight straight out of the 19th century.

The Daily News spotted tall ship South Passage cruising north on its journey from Sydney to Brisbane past Snapper Rocks about 8am (Qld) Friday

It was, unbeknown to the Daily, at Snapper on an unrelated assignment, being skippered safely home to Manly by Fingal Head's own Bill Fenelon.

The Tweed Valley Sailing Club vice commodore has skippered the twin-masted, gaff rigged schooner for many years.

It most recently set sail from Sydney on January 15 after celebrating New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour and hosting training voyages for New South Wales coast school groups.

Mr Fenelon was unable to speak to the Daily today as he was dropping the South Passage's anchor in Manly.

Information sent to us by the sailing club's publicity officer on Friday stated rough conditions during the voyage's first few days made for difficulties.

"Stops for beach cricket were made to allow the novice crew to recover," it read.

"They sailed through last night with watch changes every four hours.

"Now they have well and truly found their sea-legs and will be sad to leave the ship on Sunday afternoon when she docks in her home birth in Manly."

It stated Mr Fenelon could be found passing on his knowledge and love of sailing to local youth through the sailing club.

When not skippering South Passage, of course.

The ship was created by Simon and Marilyn Steenland, who came to Australia in 1971, with help from marine designer Rick James.

Mr Steenland decided to build the schooner based on 19th century pilot ships sailing off the US's east coast.

She needed a shallow draft for safe sailing in Moreton Bay and along Australia's east coast, with a flexible sail configuration to suit many different wind conditions.

South Passage was built to suit 14 to 17 year olds, with all sails able to be managed from the deck.

She was launched on September 23, 1993, with an aluminium hull and modern materials, and named after the channel between Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands.

Owned by the Sail Training Association of Queensland, the ship is focused on youth development.

Sail Training International president Nigel Rowe said sail training was not exactly about training young people to sail.

"It's using that experience to develop life skills," Mr Rowe said.

"To give them a sense of self-worth, to have them understand the value of teamwork and leadership.

"It's such a powerful tool for achieving that and such a great adventure for these young people."

For more information visit www.southpassage.org.au or phone 07 3893 3777.

To enquire about the local sailing club phone 07 5524 5733 or contact info@writeon.net.au.