Just before my time at Bristol...

I just realized, reading the text in the description, that I was actually on the Sunclipper in that black and white photo above. The date is November 1966! It wasn't long after that shot was taken that we smashed into the side of the dock in Avonmouth and sent the local dock hands running for safety.

I crossed the North Atlantic in this ship in November 1966. I had just finished high school and I managed to get work on this vessel through a friend of my father. Halfway across the Atlantic a connecting rod broke and we sat in a storm without power for several hours as it was being replaced. The spare had to be block and tackled into place. We bobbed away on 30ft waves and I was 17 and sure I was going to die. We finally made Avonmouth, England, 3 days late, and they couldn't get the damn thing in reverse gear to slow us down as we entered port. We wound up smashing into the dock at a shallow angle and it was fiction that eventually stopped us before we tail-ended a parked ship. I boarded her in Montreal, we sailed up the St Lawrence, turned left up the Saguenay to take on aluminum. We were already carrying onions and grease in 44 gallon drums. One of the crew told me he's been on it for 18 years doing a Montreal, England, British Guyana run ... over and over again.

Thanks for posting the only picture I've ever seen of her since I went on that adventure, which put me off sailing and ships for ever. I was sick as a dog and didn't really get a chance to work, which all seemed fine by the captain. I slept in the clinic room, away from the rest of the crew, who were from all corners of the world.

Kirk Lorange

Thanks for sharing this gem Malcolm, an interesting comparison.
Kind regards
Ken

Tall masts and kingposts,long cargo booms and lots of curves to the superstructures are trademarks of the beautiful German designed and built cargo vessels of that aera.

This vessel came regularly at La Baie des Ha Ha (Saguenay fjord) Beautifull image of SunClipper.
Michel b

Nice one Malcolm

Nice picture Malcolm .I know this vessel as Bruxelles in the 60's

What a classic eyes-pleasing profile!

Very nice post of her catching the glint of the low winter sun I think.