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James Cook and Tupaia - How did they navigate?

The vessel

HMB Endeavour is the vessel James Cook travelled on as he explored the southern hemisphere. The ship had initially been called the Earl of Pembroke and was built in the industrial Port of Whitby, England in 1764. It was used to transport coal, but its shape and size was perfect for a long voyage. So the Admiralty bought it and renamed it HMB Endeavour.

[icon] HMB stands for ‘His Majesty’s Bark’. ‘His Majesty’ referred to the British king at the time, King George III. ‘Bark’ describes a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.  

HMB Endeavour was 33 metres long and almost 9 metres wide. The tallest mast (in the middle) is 39 metres high. The ship’s top speed was approximately 13 kilometres per hour, roughly the same as a slow bicycle ride.

[icon] Go outside and measure out the size of HMB Endeavour. How many people do you think would fit comfortably in this space for a three year long voyage?  

A life-sized replica ship was constructed from the original Endeavour plans held by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. The replica Endeavour at our museum is one the world's most accurate maritime replica vessels. 

A replica of HMB Endeavour out at sea

HMB Endeavour replica sailing on open ocean under a full spread of white sails. The three-masted wooden ship rides across deep blue water, with rigging and canvas sails clearly visible against a bright blue sky scattered with light clouds. Viewed from sea level, the vessel dominates the scene as it moves through gentle swells.

HMB ENDEAVOUR voyage 2019.

Photographer: David Knight

On board the beautifully crafted ship, you can step into the shoes of an 18th century sailor and imagine what life was like sailing on the ship’s first voyage of exploration.  

The ship features:

  • almost 30 kilometres of rigging
  • 750 wooden blocks or pulleys
  • 28 sails that spread approximately 10,000 square feet (930 m2) of canvas.  
  • a state of the art (for 1768) fire hearth
  • reproductions of the rooms where Cook, Banks and the scientists worked and dined.

Cook’s voyage on HMB Endeavour took 3 years and took him across the Pacific Ocean in search of new people and places. 

Find out more about life aboard HMB Endeavour on Life aboard HMB Endeavour | Australian National Maritime Museum. 

You can explore the Endeavour for yourself, by taking a virtual tour of the vessel! 

Screenshot of inside ships cabin

Virtual Endeavour