Prince Philip renamed the world's oldest clipper ship "City of Adelaide"

The City of Adelaide on a barge.

According to mariner superstitions, to rename a ship without appeasing the gods of the sea and the winds will bring bad luck to the ship at sea. In 2001, the clipper's name reverted to City of Adelaide but without a ceremony. After having been named Carrick in 1923, a renaming ceremony is now needed as the City of Adelaide is about to proceed on her first international voyage since 1893.

Prince Philip during the renaming ceremony.

On Friday, 18th October a Renaming Ceremony was held in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT in front of the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich, hosted by the South Australian Agent General and Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd. (CSCOAL).

The City of Adelaide was built in 1864 and carried migrants to South Australia in the late 19th century.

In the 1920s she was renamed HMS Carrick and used as a navy training ship in Scotland, and was left there to rot until a restoration project began.

Prince Philip bestowed the clipper's original name.

During the ceremony, Prince Philip bestowed the sailing ship's original name back upon her.

After a long battle the clipper is now returning to Adelaide via London. It is hoped it will be back in Australia early next year.

Federal support had been held up since the change of government in Canberra, but now has been finalised.

Commemorating the ceremony.