A Walk Through the Thomson Ship Collection

Tucked beneath the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Thomson Ship Collection rewards sailors with museum-quality models that trace war, trade and bluewater adventure across three centuries.

By
Eric Andrew Wallace
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2
Detail, Melpomene (1876). (Photo/ Steve Niilo)

The waters roared off the coast of Sicily as the Grafton, Captain, and Breda closed in. They had set sail from England almost two months earlier with orders to defend Sicily from the Spanish. Now, after a long game of cat and mouse, they had caught their opponents out of formation. The British ships finally had the Príncipe de Asturias in their sights.

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Eric Andrew Wallace
I'm a writer and avid sailor based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On most weekends, you can find me working on my yellow sailboat No Frills or sailing Lake Ontario, the 13th largest lake in the world. I currently serve as Rear Commodore of Safety, Security, and Environment for the Canadian Forces Sailing Association Toronto. I'm also a proud crew member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Boat Equipment 2IC for Toronto Search and Rescue (Marine). In a past life, I worked as a hardware engineer and product tester for electromechanical systems, and continue to hold the C.E.T. (Certified Engineering Technologist) designation.
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2 COMMENTS

  1. Every sailor should build one model. Something classic, not their own boat. I built a few. My favorite was a model of the schooner Bluenose. Then I realized I could build a good sailing dinghy in less time! The tiny rigging details were the worst.

    • That’s a great idea. While I was examining these ships, my first thought was, there’s no way, I don’t have the patience for this kind of intricacy. But then I recalled how I had purchased a little model boat from an old sailor named Pawly in the park last summer. It’s really quite simple compared to the ships on display in the Thomson Collection, but I love it nonetheless and it has great sentimental value to me now. So, a model doesn’t have to be complicated to be worthwhile. It’s very doable for anyone.

      Pawly, if you’re reading this, I hope you’re well.