Movie star tall ship set to sail from harbour

12:32pm Friday 25th April 2008

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A TALL ship which has appeared in Hollywood films and television shows is sailing into Weymouth.

Earl of Pembroke is stopping off at the town's harbour in May and July.

Residents will be able to sail on the ship in a series of three-hour trips. But Earl of Pembroke will also use the harbour as a base from which to sail to maritime festivals in Ostend and Brest.

The ship appeared in blockbuster films including Mansfield Park and Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, as well as BBC television series Hornblower, starring Ioan Gruffudd.

Captain Francis Browne said: "This ship is not a museum piece but a living, working ship.

"Visitors and passengers get to experience and understand what it's like to sail on a classic square-rigger such as this."

Earl of Pembroke started life in 1948 in Pukavik, Sweden, where she was known as Orion.

Her current owners, Square Sail, purchased her in 1979 and the ship underwent a restoration.

Three-hour sails will take place twice daily from May 15 to May 18, and again from July 5 to 7.