Pull that rope there…….
The sailing ship Götheborg was open to the public last Saturday at the old Röda Bolaget pier on the fashionable northern shore of the Göta River in Gothenburg. They wanted 100 crowns to walk around the deck, and get a feel of the authentic East India company replica which has recently returned from a round the world cruise, at a cost of half a billion crowns, however the publicity generated and contracts signed in China where the ship sailed to are said to be worth 5 billion crowns, so I’d say it was worth the money. Taking 100 crowns a head on the day for a tour of the ship was only crowd control really.
She was looking a bit battered from her journey but that it made the whole voyage in more or less one piece is remarkable, her predecessor sank on the way in to Gothenburg in 1745 after her third voyage from China, loaded with spice and silk and China!
It’s a pity the Irish ship Dunbrody couldn’t get sailing, it feels a bit of a waste to build a sea going ship for it to sit tied up in New Ross getting sea grass on the hull. Maybe they could take a leaf from the Götheborg story.
Update I have received info from Jim see below that the Dunbrody has actually been sailing, glad to hear it. I would like to hear about an Atlantic voyage like her namesake did in the 1800’s, does anyone know if that is on the cards?
Götheborg link www.soic.se
To the best of my knowledge, Dunbrody is at sea. Last year a group of locals from mackens made the voyage from Milford Haven to Cork. One of the inept sailors made the trip inspite of the knowledge he gets seasick crossing Wexford Bridge. I think they put him ashore at Waterford despite not being able to make sail due to calm conditions.
Good man Jim, thanks for putting me right there, will adjust the text accordingly.
The Dunbrody also put to sea briefly when the Tall Ships came to Waterford a couple of years ago.
I thought you might be interested in this. Its a bit older than the Dunbrody though
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6259760.stm