First Sail -Transported Cargo Of French Wine In A Century Will Arrive In Dublin This Week - Times

[hatrack]

A British schooner docked in Penzance yesterday carrying 30,000 bottles of wine on a voyage that enthusiasts believe will herald a return to wind power in merchant shipping.

The first commercial cargo of French wine to be transported by sail in the modern era is due in Dublin this week after a six-day journey, which is being touted as a green and ultimately cheap alternative to fuel propulsion.

The 108-year-old, wooden, triple-masted Kathleen & May has been chartered by the Compagnie de Transport Maritime à la Voile (CTMV), a shipping company established in France to specialise in merchant sailing. “This is beyond anybody's dreams,” said Steve Clarke, the owner of the Kathleen & May, which was built in 1900 in Ferguson and Baird's yard at Connah's Quay near Chester.

“When I bought this boat in 1966 it was going to be cut up with chainsaws. Nobody ever imagined it would ever sail again.” He said that amid high fuel costs and concern over carbon emissions, commercial sailing ships could have a future. “I think they might have hit on something.”

EDIT

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4380921.ece

[Xipe Totec]

1. Alert the Pirates of Penzance! nt

[Xipe Totec]

2. All joking aside, this is a great idea

and about time too.

I wonder if they're publicly traded.

[dipsydoodle]

3. If you like tall ships keep an eye on this

from last week :

Thousands on board for tall ships

Tens of thousands of people are in Liverpool to see one of the largest fleets of tall ships ever assembled in the city.
>
More than 70 ships are berthed along the Mersey's banks until Sunday, before a "Parade of Sail" on Monday.
>
After Liverpool, the ships will gather off Northern Ireland for the start of the first race leg to Norway.

The ships will then cruise to Bergen for the second leg of the race to Den Helder in the Netherlands.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7515403.stm

Surely a sight to behold.

[Nihil]

5. It's pretty impressive!

Some of my family live in that area and will usually try to
get to see the Tall Ships whenever they can. I went to one
a few years back and it was an amazing sight - would recommend
it to anyone in the area!

:hi:

[dipsydoodle]

7. Even awesome

:hi:

[XemaSab]

4. French wine?

Why would anyone want to drink such a thing? :shrug:

[Nihil]

6. "Garcon?"

"A saucer of milk for my friend s'il vous plait?"

:P