With weekend visits from tall ships arriving at Dublin Port, taking berths on either side of the Tom Clarke (East-Link) toll-lift bridge, they made for an uplifting ambience in the capital, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Berthed upriver of the bridge, Pelican of London, having spent a winter layover across the Irish Sea at Barrow-in-Furness, arrived in the capital on Friday. The class ‘A’ sail training vessel (STV) barquentine was back in Irish waters as a regular visitor, with its pelican figurehead at the black bow contrasting with its all-porthole white wheelhouse.
The 45-length overall (LOA) square-rigger occupied a berth along Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, from where 30 trainees assisted by a permanent crew of 13 were engaging with the public, inquiring about its presence. Normally, such port visits go around the UK, Ireland, and Europe each year, and are operated by Adventure Under Sail Ltd., also undertaking adventures as far as the Canaries and the Caribbean.
Trainees work with their watchleader and watchkeeper to take the helm, keep a lookout day and night, navigate the ship to its destination, pull on ropes, heave mooring lines, help in the galley, and do many more tasks. As for accommodation, students are based in four-berth rooms, many en suite.
Whereas less familiar to Irish ports was another Class A, the German-flagged Alexander von Humboldt II, a barque rigged in the ‘square’ sail style of a traditional sailing vessel, equipped with 24 sails and 1,300 square meters of sail area.
The distinctive green hull and yellow masts of the Alexander von Humboldt II make for a more notable presence in ports, with its last call being St. Malo, France. The larger vessel at 65m (LOA) is operated by the German Sail Training Foundation (DSST) and was only built in 2011 to replace the previous vessel of the same name.
The barque has four deck levels, giving more space, allowing additional room for classes, eating spaces, bunk cabins, social spaces, dedicated classrooms, and outside deck space. Likewise, of its nearby UK visitor, sailing students are accommodated in 4 bunk cabins, each with its own head, sink, and shower.
Pelican of London departed its Liffey quayside this morning, whereas Alexander von Humboldt II is to remain at its east-of-the-bridge berth at the North Wall Quay Extension. It will give pedestrians in particular an opportunity to observe before crossing the Liffey Bridge, as it is scheduled to depart on Wednesday.
