World news reports today that HMS Bounty has been abandoned off the coast of North Carolina amid Hurricane Sandy. The 1960 replica of the original Bounty found itself in trouble on Sunday evening when it was taking on water and lost power. By Monday morning the captain instructed all crew to enter the lifeboats.
Two of the sixteen crew members are currently unaccounted for. To see the full story visit the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20124128
The original HMS Bounty travelled to the Pacific Ocean to acquire breadfruit plants but the mission was never completed as disagreements between Lieutenant William Bligh and Fletcher Christian led to a revolt by half of the crew and the seizure of the vessel in 1789. This led to the famous Mutiny on the Bounty.
The replica HMS Bounty has featured in a number of Hollywood films since it was launched in 1960, including Mutiny on the Bounty in 1962 featuring Marlon Brando and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest featuring Johnny Depp.
News reports are currently unsure as to whether the ship is still afloat.
Suzanne Louail