Excelsior LT472
Where History Sets Sail
Step aboard a piece of working maritime history.
Excelsior LT472 is not a replica. She’s the real thing — one of the last surviving Lowestoft fishing smacks, built in 1921 to trawl the southern North Sea and still sailing today under traditional rig. From her hand-crafted timber hull to the scent of salt and rope on deck, sailing on Excelsior is not a tourist trip — it’s a return to the raw, elemental life of the sea.
“Being on Excelsior is like living off-grid in a moving museum — you don’t just learn about history, you breathe it in.”
A Vessel with a Voice and a Soul
Excelsior’s story is one of resilience, reinvention and return.
Built by John Chambers & Co of Lowestoft in 1921, she worked hard trawling the southern North Sea before being sold to Norway in the Great Depression. There, renamed SVINØR, she swapped sail for engine, carrying cargo along the wild coasts of Scandinavia — and surviving near-disaster while evacuating the town of Bodo during the Second World War.
By the 1970s, with coastal trade dwindling, her working life was nearly over. But a chance discovery by architectural student John Wylson led to an extraordinary reversal of fate. He brought her home to Lowestoft — and re-rigged her back to her original glory as Excelsior LT472.
Today, over 100 years since she first launched, she sails again — not as a museum piece, but as a living platform for adventure, education, and inspiration.
Fall in Love With the Boat, the History, and the Sea.
Excelsior isn’t just a boat — she’s an experience.
Whether you join us for a day sail, a week-long voyage, or one of our unique heritage programmes, you’ll:
- Work the ropes, haul sails, and steer a traditional working vessel
- Live simply and sustainably, off-grid and in tune with the weather
- Connect with others across generations, backgrounds and beliefs
- Discover your strength, your rhythm, and a timeless sense of purpose
From corporate partners and schools to volunteers and artists, Excelsior welcomes all who value authenticity, adventure, and the call of the sea.
🧠Ready to Explore Further?
- Meet the crew The Skipper... The Mate... The Bosun... Shore Crew
- Discover our programmes
- Step aboard for your own voyage
- Support the last of the Lowestoft smacks
Excelsior is more than a vessel. She’s a story you can sail. Come and be a part of it.
“Restoring Excelsior took 16 years and over 120 people worked on her during this time… Finally, in 1988, The Princess Royal commissioned Excelsior as a sail training ship and the following year she started a new career. ”
Present day
After the creation of the National Historic Ships Register of Historic Vessels Excelsior was included as one of the ‘National Historic Fleet’ – a title presently bestowed upon just 202 ships!
In 2021, Excelsior celebrated her Centenary and was displayed at Lowestoft’s Heritage Quay between July and October. The public came onboard and discovered this piece of Maritime History, talked to the crew and enjoyed a day’s sailing experience. Please contact us for information about our future voyages.
