One of the most popular attractions during the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival this year, tours of the tall ship Phoenix, in Ballycastle, County Antrim have been extended due to popular demand.
The Phoenix is a 111ft square-rigged tall ship built by Hjorne and Jakobsen of Frederikshavn, Denmark, in 1929 as a Baltic Trader. Instead of working the traditional trading routes, she set off as an evangelical mission schooner which she did for 20 years until she was used for cargo for many years.
She was first converted in 1974 before being bought by Square Sail in 1988. She had a lot of work done at that time and was converted to her current configuration to be used in film work. She has appeared in many feature films and television dramas, giving her a fine reputation as an adaptable and effective filming platform. Filming she has worked on recently includes In the Heart of the Sea, Poldark, Taboo and Frontier.
In 1991 The Phoenix was converted into the C15th Caravel Santa Maria for the Ridley Scott film 1492 Conquest of Paradise. By 1996 she had been converted into a Two Masted C18th Brig, and as this rig, she starred in the following:
Horn Blower series, Captain Sabretooth, Voyage of Discovery, Moll Flanders, Frenchman’s Creek, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
A spokesperson for Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival (RSMF) announced the extended tours this afternoon, Thursday 1 June, saying:
"We are delighted to announce that The Phoenix Tall Ship is now offering additional tours this weekend including a unique opportunity to watch a movie on the ship!"
"The star of numerous television productions and big screen movies, the tall ship has remained a beautiful backdrop as part of the maritime celebration. The ship was used to film scenes from the movie, "In the Heart of the Sea" which will shown on the ship for a unique viewing experience."
Details of the tours extension are as follows:
FRIDAY 2 JUNE - 7pm - 10.30pm
Enjoy a tour of the ship and watch the movie "In the Heart of the Sea" (Ballycastle only)
£40 pp
SATURDAY 3 JUNE
Visit and tour the ship in Ballycastle
Every 30 minutes from 10am - 7pm
£10 pp
SUNDAY 4 JUNE
Visit and tour the ship on Rathlin
Every 30 minutes from 10am - 7pm
£10pp
To book a tour or the Friday movie night, please call Ballycastle Visitor Information on 028 2076 2024.
If the line is busy do leave your name and number and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.