The replica of the original Lady Nelson was launched from Ray Kemp’s ramp at Margate Tasmania in 1988. She began her voyages soon afterwards, first as a sail training ship in the Derwent, and soon afterwards sailing her first long voyage to Westernport in Victoria.
During the next five years, Lady Nelson sailed the eastern ports of Australia before returning to her home port of Hobart. From 1996 until the present time many voyages have been undertaken, including Hobart to Stanley in 1996, Hobart to Strahan in 1997 and Hobart to Sydney in 1998, followed by her first circumnavigation around Tasmania later that year.