Captain Cook's ship docks for refit

The Endeavour is in Cardiff for over three months

A ship built to replicate the craft Captain James Cook used 200 years ago has docked in Cardiff for a 15 week stay.

The vessel, built as a copy of the one used by the 18th Century explorer, has been the feature of a BBC Two series to retrace Cook's epic voyage around Australia and New Zealand with a modern day crew.

The ship will be open to the public

But following the journey, The Endeavour, is in need of a major refit and has moored in Mount Stuart Graving Docks for the work to be carried out.

From Saturday visitors will be able to explore the ship as it opens for an 18-day public exhibition.

Members of the public will be given the opportunity to stand at the helm of the ship, visit the crew's sleeping quarters and the gallery.

The ship will be open to visitors until 1 January when preparations for the renovations will be made.

The refit will begin on 6 January for 10 weeks and marquees will be erected on the dockside for special exhibitions showing examples of the work being done will be held.

The crew slept in hammocks during the voyage

While the work is carried out, crew members will hold demonstrations of how the splicing, rope twisting and knotting, re-rigging, sail repair and traditional carpentry will be done.

After the work has been completed, the ship will be reopened to the public for a week before it leaves the Bay on 24 March.

Cardiff council cabinet member, Marion Drake said: "It is great news that the Cardiff Harbour Authority is bringing this incredible vessel to Cardiff Bay."

Converted

The original Endeavour was used to sail around Australia and New Zealand in the 1760s.

She was converted from a coal carrier in Deptford, south London in 1768 and reached Australia two years later.

Her crew set sail from Plymouth on 8 August 1768, arriving in New Zealand a year later and in Australia by 1770.

The vessel had a hold filled with food to last for three years, provisions and gunpowder.

The ship will be open every day except Christmas Day from 0900 GMT to 1600 GMT until 1 January