Built at Blennerville
Fitted at Fenit Pier
Jeanie's Sea Trials
Built at Blennerville |
Fitted at Fenit Pier |
Jeanie's Sea Trials |
 |
| Message Board - please post | Links to related sites | | Jeanie & Kerry Post Cards | Our Guestbook - please sign | | Jeanie Johnston E-Mail | Subscribe to this site | |
The Jeanie Johnston ChronicleJeanie commences9th April, 2002 |
 |
| This page has a large number of graphics and is 250k, please be patient when downloading. The Jeanie Johnston felt the open ocean for the first time last Friday, 6th April, when she sailed out onto Tralee Bay. This followed a day of intensive examinations at her moorings by the Dept of the Marine. She was pulled to the end of Fenit pier by a barge then ventured out onto Tralee Bay powered by her diesel engines. Jeanie was put through her paces rigorously for about 6 hours, back and forth across the Bay, and a project spokesman told me that she had taken every test and manoevre they put her through with the greatest of ease. He said that Captain Forwood was very happy with the way she handled at sea. |
 Onlookers await Jeanie's departure for Cork |
 Captain Forwood looks on as the stern lines are cast off |
Tuesday 9th April saw the Jeanie Johnston head out to the open ocean for her maiden voyage to Cork. I joined an enthusiastic group of onlookers at the dockside and watched as the Captain and crew made their final preparations for the voyage, including a safety briefing for all hands. Buses had brought local school children to witness this historic event and every-one was in great form, chatting to the people nearest them and cheering and clapping as the chequered green and gold Kerry flag was hoisted to the top of the main mast. At just after 1pm the crew took in the gangplank and cast off the bow lines. Jeanie slowly turned towards the harbour exit, her diesel engines could be felt vibrating the dockside with their power. Then the stern lines were cast off,the ship needed no tug to help her to the pier's end this time as she headed for open water majestically. |
| Everybody on the dockside waved and shouted their good wishes, and Captain Forwood and his crew waved back at us. Jeanie turned round the end of Fenit Pier and headed towards open water and the Atlantic ocean, unfurling her mainsails as she went. Then she headed straight out from Tralee Bay, on her way to Cork, where she will have her hull checked in dry dock. Her voyage to Cork will take 24 hours, conducting further tests along the way, and she is expected to return to Fenit in about two week's time. |  Jeanie heads slowly for the harbour exit |
 Jeanie unfurls her mainsails |
As Jeanie sailed southwest out of sight, I chatted with Dr. Henry Lyons, who has been with the project since its inception. He told me that Jeanie had passed all her tests so far, with flying colours, and they were very pleased with her handling. Asked about the ship's future, he said that when she returned to Fenit in a fortnight or so, Jeanie would be open to the public, whilst plans were finalised for a proposed round Ireland voyage. After that, the project's future will be decided by Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council, as the ship's main underwriters, and it remains to be seen what plans they have for her future uses or voyages. |
| More pictures of Jeanie's departure from Fenit on her maiden voyage to Cork | |
 Captain Forwood makes final preparations with crew members |
 Jeanie leaves Fenit harbour |
 Jeanie heads out past groups of schoolchildren brought to Fenit for the occasion |
 Jeanie rounds the end of Fenit pier and turns to head for open ocean |
 Silhouetted against the mountains that surround Tralee Bay |
 Last sighting of Jeanie as she heads for Cork and further sea trials |
| <<< Onboard visit 9th July 01 |
>>> Cork dry dock 6th May 02 |
Like This Internet Resource? Click to Recommend-It to a friend.