The Af Chapman, Stockholm, Sweden

THE Af CHAPMAN, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

The af Chapman was built in 1888 in the English town of Whitehaven and was then named Dunboyne. She was the last of this particular type of three masted fully rigged ship to be built. The pic shows the stern where the Captain's cabin is situated.

During her first 25 years service, the Dunboyne was a cargo ship, sailing first under an English flag and then a Norwegian one. In 1915, her last year under sail, she was bought by the Transatlantic Line in Gothenburg, rechristened G D Kennedy and converted into a training ship.

The Swedish Navy became her new owners in 1923. She was renamed Af Chapman and was used to train ship’s boys until 1934. She was then laid up in Karlskona until 1947, when she was bought by the City of Stockholm, and the Swedish Youth Hostels Association (STF) was invited to run the ship as a youth hostel. The hostel, sleeping 136, was opened in 1949. She has recently undergone extensive renovations to provide comfortable accommodation with a bar and restaurant on deck. The deck of the Af Chapman is moored opposite the Royal Palace in old Stockholm and commands stunning views.