City of Adelaide clipper's homecoming a 'dream come true' for late captain David Bruce's great-granddaughter

THE City of Adelaide clipper ship is just days from arriving in Adelaide and the great-granddaughter of the historic ship's first-ever captain can't wait.

THE great-granddaughter of the first captain of the City of Adelaide clipper ship says its arrival in Adelaide this weekend will be a "dream come true".

The clipper, on board the heavy-lift ship the MV Palanpur, is expected to arrive in Adelaide on Monday or Tuesday.

Tbe 1864-built ship was initially expected to arrive by the end of this week but its journey has been slowed by strong winds, reducing its speed to 8-9 knots instead of the regular 13-14 knots.

There was also a delay in off-loading cargo on the MV Palanpur at Port Hedland, in Western Australia.

The vessel is remain off the Western Australian coast, west of Geraldton in the Indian Ocean.

City of Adelaide Preservation Trust director Peter Christopher said the delay was disappointing but understandable.

"It would have been nice for it to arrive on a weekend when a lot more people could see it, but what people have experienced in the last few days is what the people involved have experienced for the last 14 years," Mr Christopher said.

"After 14 years, if it's another day or two, frankly that's life."

As well as being the ship's first caption, 84-year-old Pam Whittle's great-grandfather, David Bruce, was the clipper's part owner when it was commissioned in 1864.

He was also at the helm during the first four years of its operations between England and Adelaide and his sons Alex and John later took over as captains.

"Just thinking about it now I get excited," the Erindale woman said.

Mrs Whittle said her stomach was "doing somersaults".

"It's like a dream," the Erindale woman said.

"Just thinking about it now I get excited."

MORE: Historic City of Adelaide Clipper finds temporary home at Port Adelaide

It was only through a chance discovery that Mrs Whittle, 86, found out about her family's connection with the clipper.

Her husband Robert found a lithograph of the ship and Captain David Bruce which had mistakenly been placed inside her mother Minnie's incinerator.

Soon after they travelled to where the clipper was moored in Scotland and saw its condition.

"It had all sorts of horrible things happen to it," Mrs Whittle said.

"It sank twice - the last time it was underwater for 18 months."

After returning to Adelaide, she has since supported the City of Adelaide Preservation Trust in its 14-year fight to bring the clipper back to Port Adelaide.

"It was a nightmare for a while but now it's a dream come true - when it comes here it will be."

MORE: City of Adelaide Preservation Trust calls for more donations

The City of Adelaide is one of only two surviving wooden clipper ships in the world and brought thousands of South Australians to their new home between 1864 and 1887.

She hopes to be see the clipper unloaded at Outer Harbor.

"It's going to be an absolute stomach-churning thing I think," she said.

"I can't believe it's happening - it's been an amazing journey."

Maritime volunteers are appealing to the public for extra donations as they prepare to welcome the City of Adelaide back to SA for the first time in 127 years.

The City of Adelaide Preservation Trust has raised just $156,000 of its $750,000 fundraising goal to pay for the costs of bringing the 1864-built ship to Adelaide, preserving it and preparing a site for it.

Mr Christopher said some of the shortfall was covered paid through loans.

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