A FAMOUS tall ship that starred in a swashbuckling film starring Marlon Brando attracted crowds of people when it moored up on Weymouth’s harbourside.
The replica of HMS Bounty was built for the 1962 movie ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ with Brando as Fletcher Chris-tian and has since appeared in many documentaries and featured in films, such as the Edinburgh Trader in Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest with Johnny Depp.
The square-rigged tall ship sailed into Weymouth harbourside, near the Pavilion yesterday after being moored up in Weymouth Bay overnight.
Visitors can walk up the gangplank today and over the weekend from 11am until 6pm.
Third mate aboard the Bounty, Brandon Kelly of Santa Bar-bara, California said: “We’ll be here until Monday, possibly Tuesday.
“We started the season in Puerto Rico in April and have been to Belgium, Ireland, North-ern Ireland, Germany, Poland, Sweden and Norway before coming here.
“As soon as we anchored up we got a good response, it’s always good when you get the people crowding around right off.
“We’re all professional paid crew, there’re 21 of us on board including the captain Robin Walbridge.
“Most of us are American, the boat is now based in Puerto Rico and will be returning there as it’s the end of the season.
“It’s a privately owned vessel owned by Bob Hansen.”
Holidaymaker Rosemary King, aged 76, of Lincoln, said: “It’s absolutely magical isn’t it?
“It’s like a wonderful piece of history which is living.”
Helen Divall, who lives near Sherborne, said: “It’s lovely to see it come to Weymouth, it’s absolutely fantastic. My granddaughter Jasmine is into pirates so she’s been really excited to see it.”
The Bounty was a merchant ship that was purchased by the British Admiralty to go to Tahiti to collect breadfruit.
It is known for the storied mutiny that took place in Tahiti in 1789 on board the British transport vessel.
The 180ft replica ship is one third larger than the original Bounty, including headroom, and is a Hollywood version of an 18th century square rigger.
The Bounty is open daily from 11am until 6pm daily until Sunday.
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