The world's tallest cruise ship has sailed into Falmouth with the arrival of Golden Horizon.
She evokes memories of the halcyon days of sail, when large sailing ships arrived from all points of the compass.
At 162 metres long, the five-masted sailing cruise ship is 48 metres longer than the Pamir and other barques from “Grain Race” era, when Falmouth witnessed the final epoch of sail.
Golden Horizon can carry 272 passengers in luxurious accommodation with 159 crew. The hull is strengthened to Ice Class standards for voyages to the Arctic and Antarctica regions.
The concept for this amazing ship was hatched in 2015 when Star Clippers announced that it intended to build a replica of the 1911 sailing ship the France II.
When built in 1911 the France II was the second largest sailing ship in the world, the Preussen being the biggest afloat at that time. France II a behemoth of the square rigged world came to an ignominious end in 1922 when bound for Europe laden with chrome ore she grounded on the Teremba reef 60 miles north west of Noumea, New Caledonia.
Picture: Kathy White
Golden Horizon, with over 6,000 square metres of sail, which can see her achieving 16 knots under sail alone, was simply known by her shipyard number Brodosplit 483, as she was being built at Brodosplit, Croatia,
The ship is from the design stable of world famous Polish naval architect Zygmunt Choren. He has designed many of the tall ships in operation today, Pogoria, Kaliakra, Dar Mlodziezy, Druzba, Mir, Pallada, Frederyk Chopin, and Nadezha to name but a few all of which have graced our harbour over the years.
Golden Horizon, the world’s largest sailing cruise ship cancelled her weekend call due to technical reasons. Appears that the company is working flat out to amend cruises and itineraries. Lovely photo of Falmouth, Antigua in the advert for a south coast cruise instead of our beloved port.
Tradewind Voyages has confirmed that the ship will also call here on July 27 and August 9.
Picture: Kathy White
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