Luna Moon was originally built in Haarlem in Holland in 1910 as an offshore pilot vessel operating in the English Channel assisting foreign ships to safely enter ports in Britain, France and the Netherlands. She was constructed using the riveted steel method that was common for that time period. She miraculously survived the deadly Spanish Flu and the first World War. The Netherlands was neutral during the 1st World War, so she remained safely docked during this period.
After the 1st World War ended, she was put into service as a herring fetcher, a vessel that was fast enough to sail out to the herring banks in the Baltic and collect the herring catch from stationed herring boats ensuring that the catch got back to market before spoiling.
At the start of the 2nd World War, she was owned by Cornelis den Dulk whose wife Judith Wassenberg was of Jewish faith. Luna Moon was named after the owners “Cornelis Judith”. The Netherlands was still neutral at the time and did not expect the Germans to invade. As such, she was once again laid up as she was in the 1st World War near Rotterdam. However, on the 10th May 1940 German storm troopers crossed into the Netherlands and the invasion and occupation begun. Many vessel owners including those of “Cornelis Judith” had the courage and foresight to purposely sink their vessels in order to ensure that she did not fall into German hands.
During the time of the invasion much of the naval archives were destroyed to keep information from the Germans. Luna Moon was sunk not far from the Hague in a creek close to Schiedam in the western area of the Netherlands and west of Rotterdam. Once the war had stopped the owners re-floated her and once again refitted her to transport and catch herring.
She was sold in 1947 to T de Haas and renamed the “Arie Nico” where she fished successfully for years until being purchased by Koos van Laar who used her as sports fishing boat and to smuggle supplies to Pirate Radio Ships operating offshore. During this period, she was named the “Tonijn”.
In 1982 She was discovered by the man that would change her course in history. A young marine surveyor by the name of Henk van Hoogendoorn noticed her potential as a top sail schooner and after a survey and full inspection he purchased her from Koos.
It took Henk and his team of 14 men and women three long years to covert her. At times they worked in freezing temperatures to convert the previous herring boat into the vessel of beauty she is today. Finally, after thousands of hours of labour she was completed in 1985 and renamed “Elizabeth Louw” after his grandmother. During Henk’s ownership she rose to fame with her competing in a number of Tall Ship events throughout Europe. Her sail number TSH414 proudly displayed on the foresail.
Once the darling of the Belgium and French coast she wore the insignia of the world-famous Schweppes brand on her sails acting as ambassador and flagship. Henk also attended the starts of the Whitbread Around the World Race as a VIP vessel.
During Henk’s ownership she was also used as a sail training vessel educating young sailors to navigate the marine environment safely. She had gained such notoriety over this period that gift and tourist shops sold post cards and other merchandise of her. You can still to this day purchase online glass bottles with Luna Moon models built inside the bottle for 9.99 Euro.
Sadly, she was sold in the mid 1990’s to a Seychelles charter company where she conducted charters until being purchased by the current owners in 2018.
(check our Instagram@lunamoonsailing for updates on the refit)
