Black Pearl sets sail for Cumbria

The Bounty stars in the forthcoming third instalment of the films

A tall ship featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, starring Johnny Depp, is setting sail for Cumbria.

HMS Bounty, which stars as the Black Pearl in the second and third instalments of the series, will call into Maryport and Whitehaven.

Built in 1962 for the film Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Marlon Brando, the ship is due to arrive in August 2007.

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

Set adrift

Maryport will be the first port of call in the UK after the ship's estimated six-week voyage from New York via Nova Scotia.

After Maryport and Whitehaven, HMS Bounty will visit Liverpool, Bristol and London before setting sail from Portsmouth to re-create the original Bounty voyage to Tahiti via Tenerife, Cape Town and New Zealand.

Christian took control of the Bounty with 11 other mutineers during an ill-fated trip to Tahiti and the West Indies.

Captain William Bligh and 18 loyal crewmen were set adrift in the ship's 23-foot launch, eventually reaching safety.