Sea town relives Bounty history

The replica of The Bounty will visit Maryport on Saturday

Cumbria is commemorating the actions of one of its most famous sons with a visit by a replica of Fletcher Christian's Bounty.

The tall ship was due to sail into Maryport harbour on Tuesday as part of the Sea Britain 2005 festival.

But heavy winds in the Irish Sea have forced the replica of an 18th Century British man o' war to head for Silloth for three days.

Weather permitting, it will finally arrive in Maryport on Saturday morning.

Paul Sherwin, Allerdale Borough Council's entertainments manager, who helped organise the visit, said: "We are very disappointed because we were looking forward to it coming today.

"We are expecting three very good days at Silloth and we expect a lot of people at the quayside when it gets to Maryport."

It is time that West Cumbria's role in the story is fully explored Paul Sherwin, visit organiser

Fletcher Christian, born near Cockermouth, led the famous Pacific mutiny in 1789.

His father was born at Ewanrigg, near Maryport.

The ship will be open to visitors in Silloth all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before travelling along the coast to Maryport where it will be open all day Saturday and Sunday.

Actors will replay scenes from the 1789 mutiny, when Fletcher Christian took control of The Bounty from Captain Bligh.

The replica includes displays of weaponry, the harsh discipline meted out to sailors and an insight into living conditions and navigation.