Endeavour Runs Aground at Botany Bay

The replica of Captain James Cook's 18th-century sailing ship, the Endeavour, was to be welcomed back in Sydney this afternoon when it struck a sandbar and ran aground at Botany Bay on its way to Sydney Harbour.

The Endeavour had spent the past five months in Whitby, Cook's hometown in England.

In a surprising coincidence, the Endeavour replica ran aground in Botany Bay where the original Endeavour first reached Australia in 1770, landing on April 28 in the area that is now Botany Bay national park.

The ship was found to have suffered only superficial damage and made its way tonight to the Australian National Museum at Sydney's Darling Harbour.