#tallships – The impressive historic tallship Belem (1896), once the private yacht of the Guinness family, which opens to the public in Galway (see report) will also welcome on board those when docked in Cork on 28 July, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The opportunity to set foot on the timber decks of this 121 year old grand lady of the sea with three towering masts will take place when Belem berths alongside Cork’s North Custom House Quay.

This city-centre location will be convenient to access. In order to visit however you must register through the Alliance Française Cork by emailing: [email protected].

There is a maximum of 60 seats on this visit, all registered guests are asked to be there at 5.30pm sharp. The visit will last half an hour.
For more information from Alliance Francaise in Cork, please check this facebook page here. 

Noting that an admission price of €6 per person applies. This is to enable covering costs put towards the maintenance of the historic tallship that was built on the banks of the Loire estuary at Dubigoen. The yard is located close to the city of Nantes.

Belem begin a career transporting cocoa beans from her Brazilan namesake city to France. On arrival in Europe, this involved heading upriver on the Seine to supply the cocoa for a Parisien chocolate maker.

After a career sailing between South America and Europe, Belem was transferred to the British flag having became the property of the Duke of Westminster, who converted her to a luxury pleasure yacht.

She was subsequently renamed Fantôme II having been sold to the Hon. Arthur Ernest Guinness. The tallship took part in the Cowes regattas. In addition the Guinness family made a world cruise between 1923 and 1924, this saw his wife and three daughters also take to the seas to see the world.

For more on the career of this visit Afloat’s previous report here in addition to the current owners, the Belem Fondation website here.