Bark Europa

As the summer season draws to an end, so too the number of visiting vessels wanes.  One of the last to be visiting us before winter is the square rigged sailing ship the Bark Europa.  She was built in 1911 in Hamburg, and began her life as a light ship on the River Elbe.  Europa's transformation to her current form was completed in 1994 when she had 3 masts fitted and was fully converted for ocean sailing.  Today she girdles the globe with a crew of 14 and up to 48 "guest crew" providing passengers a unique way of reaching remote parts of the world, like South Georgia and the Antarctic Continent.  Robert the GO, Ashley and Myself went round on a wet and fridged morning to tend her lines.  We had great fun trying to find things large and sturdy enough to tie her too.  Much of the old jetty has collapsed, and stout looking lumps of concrete are about the best bet.  Bits and bollards are not always bolted to the ground anymore!  It was an interesting spectacle for us, as when she was alongside at Tijuca Jetty at Grytviken she really did look like the whaling ships of old, and the cove was cast back to the pioneering early days.  She did not stay long, and that very afternoon she cast off bound eventually for the Antarctic Peninsular.  She celebrates her Centenary in August this year.  See http://www.barkeuropa.com for more info.