HMS Bounty - one year since her tragic sinking
by Lee Mylchreest on 27 Oct 2013
Rescue Bounty - went sailing into the edge of a hurricane SW
In two days time it will be just 12 months since the HMS Bounty disappeared into the Atlantic Ocean taking her skipper and one crew member with her. HMS Bounty had touched more than the usual number of lives since she was launched back in 1960.
She was one of a kind, a constant reminder of the infamous story of the mutiny aboard the original ship by her crew, their survival intact on South Pacific Islands to this day, and the incredible effort by Captain Bligh and his loyal crew who sailed in an open boat to South East Asia.
HMS Bounty was built by Smith and Rhuland Ltd in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. She had been commissioned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio to be built for the 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty.
From the archives of the original ship’s drawings, this vessel was built to specification although the waterline length, rigging and beam were all modified.
The end result was a magnificent replica of the original 1787 Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty. Her deck length was 120 feet and height was 111 feet, and she was powered by two John Deere diesel engines with 375 HP.
Being a fully rigged ship, her sail area was 10,000 square feet and she manned a crew of 12-14. Her home port was Greenport, New York, but she awed spectators wherever she travelled.
Being such a famous movie vessel, the Bounty always attracted many interested participants who boarded this ship that once was the set that accommodated such talented stars as Marlon Brando in Mutiny on the Bounty, Charlton Heston of Treasure Island and Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
How exciting to tread the same wooden deck planks as those well-known actors.
No doubt anyone who took photos of this unique ship will treasure them forever as duplicating them now is totally impossible.
Acting as hosts in pirate costumes and guiding landlubbers to her deck in 2012 were John Zeppa and Sally Toivonen.
Tim Murphy in replicated Captain Jack Sparrow garb lived his role completely as he entertained those on board with his antics and posed for numerous photos.
Of course, children really got into the act by dressing up as pirates for this special occasion too.
On the 29th of October 2012, Hurricane Sandy was the cause of the HMS Bounty’s demise. She sank off the coast of North Carolina.
Unfortunately, this hurricane not only claimed the beautiful Bounty but also the precious lives of Captain Robin Walbridge and one crew member Claudene Christian who were enjoying what they loved, sailing.
The HMS Bounty now rests peacefully in Davy Jones’ Locker. She is gone forever but due to the magic of film, her memory will sail on eternally in the movies.
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