SHIP AHOY.
At about 3.20 this afternoon ( 19/7/07 ) my phone rang to tell me a 3 masted sailing ship with sails unfurled was heading towards the harbour. Thanking the friend I hastened seawards and by the time I reached the end of the West Pier it was sailing by. By now the sails were furled but it was nonetheless a beautiful sight as it glided between the two outer piers heading for the lock gates, its crew of sea cadets standing smartly to attention on board.
It had entered the inner harbour by the time I caught up with it again but the name was now clear. It was the training ship Royalist .
There was a young cadet perched on the part that projected from the bow of the ship and he was armed with a flag so perhaps he was the eyes of the captain as the vessel manoeuvred towards it's berth!!!! If so he did a grand job as the lengthy vessel rotated with grace and edged towards the Sugar Tongue.
Once berthed the young crew clambered up the rigging to secure the sails and beating these while chanting something or other , they pressed the air out of the sails and made them fast .It was a delightful hour on the harbour and I look forward to finding out more about the crew , their ship and purpose in port. Perhaps the evening papers or Border TV will tell us that!!!!
