THE CAPTAIN of the famed HMS Bountywill welcome visitors aboard this weekend for a glimpse inside the Mutiny on the Bountyreplica docked in Cork.
Though it is twice the size of the original ship, a visit presents an opportunity to stand at the helm where stars including Clark Gable, John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston, Keira Knightly and Spongebob Squarepants have stood.
The helm formed part of the original 1935 film starring Clark Gable, before it was brought into production stages where it featured in every nautical film made between 1936 and 1982, according to Capt Robin Walbridge.
Originally built for the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty, the vessel has since featured in Pirates of the Caribbean II, in a documentary on legendary pirate Blackbeard, in a History Channel documentary on Capt Bligh and in the 2004 SpongeBob SquarePantsmovie.
Capt Walbridge admitted the ship was not a good replica of the original because of its scale. "If it was half the size, it would make a good replica, but what people are really seeing is a good replica of a frigate, the smallest of the line of warships." Visitors can explore the Bountyin their own time.
“It’s a self-guided tour but there are people stationed around the boat to answer questions,” Capt Walbridge said.
The vessel, which sailed into Cork from Puerto Rico via Plymouth and Belgium, will set sail for Belfast early next week. The Bounty will be open from 11am to 6pm tomorrow and Sunday, costing €10 for adults, €5 for children and free for under-fours.